Jen & Abby: Bio
Jen & Abby
The story of Jen and Abby…
In April of 2005, a young talented musician with an Ovation met a young talented actor with some poems in a Starbucks on Hollywood Blvd. The young musician, having played for over 10 years, was hesitant about writing with the young actor, but she decided to meet with her once, and then tell her that it wasn’t going to work out. They met days later at the musician's little apartment in Valley Village and a little over an hour after they started ‘jamming’ had two songs under their belt. One of those songs has traveled with them all the way to their first album. In May of 2005, the musician and actor played their first gig and truly haven’t looked back.
Jen, the musician, and Abby, the actor, have played out at some well-known Los Angeles venues such as The Roxy, The Viper Room, Room 5, and their favorite spot, Hotel Café. They have had songs placed on Gilmore Girls and most recently on the indie features ‘Weather Girl’ and ‘Let the Game Begin.’
In December of 2008, Jen and Abby plan the release of their first album Cannot Rearrange.
They feel that although the songwriting process has been one worth celebrating, their favorite outlet is live performance. And although Jen and Abby are two very different beings (kind of like a bird from the sky drawn to a fish from the water), they are bound together with one common goal, to change the world through their music, one being at a time.
Abby Miller
Abby has an knack for getting herself into sticky situations. Born and raised in Nebraska, Abby developed what some like to call 'middle child' syndrome. It was discovered by her brother when he decided to get rid of her one day by pushing her down the stairs in their home. He was hoping to rid her of her demons – or at least make her stop talking for a bit – but the fall only increased the intensity of her need for attention. She began performing at the age of five in a sort of strip tease that turned into the star spangled banner – in front of her parents, no less. Unable to rid her of these demons, her family finally caved and allowed her to study theatre at the University of Nebraska. She found her home there and even moved to L.A. to pursue the 'big screen.' She'd been in the City of Angels for a little over a year and a half, mainly doing commercials and a couple recurring and co-stars on television, when she broke up with her beau and started 'writing poems'.... Ah! So stereotypical! What actor in L.A. doesn't 'write poems' in every Starbucks near you. But these poems were meant to do more, and when introduced to the Ovation and other birdfish, music was made. Sweet, sweet music. It’s been three and a half years. Abby still acts, goes by kitten from time to time (if you're lucky), and truly loves the stage. What can she say? Once the center of attention, always the center of attention.
Jen Trani
Born and raised in the glorious state of Colorado, Jen, was a feisty one. Upon interviewing her dear Uncle Dan, who spent countless hours baby-sitting Jen while she pierced various parts of her body, that’s the first word that comes to mind – feisty. She was a crazy maker, and it seemed the guitar was the only thing that could calm her. That and the smell of fire. She started writing songs at a very young age after watching Soul Asylum's guitarist play on Reality Bites. “'I can do that,” she said to her mum, and Jen began playing the next day. Sure, it was an air guitar, but a start nonetheless. A couple years later, it was time for Jen to take the next step if she wanted to be the female Dave Priner (from Soul Asylum.) Her mum suggested the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, but Jen respectfully declined. After another year of hard core push-ups and practicing, she was finally ready to reach for the stars and made the move to L.A. While studying at the Musicians Institute, she ran into a few hurdles – a challenging program that kicked her little rear, an obsession with Lucy Lawless that turned ugly, and a McDonald’s right next door. Oh, and let’s not forget her birdfish friend. Feisty Jen answered Abby's ad while walking the halls of MI three and a half years ago. Since then, she's written beautiful music, graduated with a BA from the Musicians Institute and can officially say she's been playing guitar for over 14 years. Wow. She's old. But really, really talented.