BSM Episode 19 – Jennifer Benson | Just Ask: How Ignescent Built a Career on Bold Moves and Bigger Faith
Listen to this episode and subscribe on your favorite podcast channel HERE.
About This Episode
What does it really take to build a band from scratch, keep it alive through financial hardship, and land a record deal on your own terms?
In this episode of Backstage Money, host Jason K. Powers sits down with Jennifer Benson, founder and lead singer of Ignescent, a female-fronted hard rock band out of Chicago signed to Frontiers Music. Jennifer shares the raw story of building the band herself with no manager, no budget, and no roadmap, getting rejected by Frontiers the first time, nearly shutting the whole thing down, and then getting the email that changed everything. She also talks co-writing with Clint Lowery of Sevendust and Sameer of Flyleaf, the real economics of merch and touring, and what she would tell any young musician just starting out.
If you have a dream and you are not sure how to make it real, this episode is for you.
Topics include:
- Building a band from scratch with no manager and no budget
- Getting signed to Frontiers Music after years of rejection
- What the label deal looks like from the inside
- Co-writing with Clint Lowery, Sameer of Flyleaf, and New Year’s Day
- The near-breaking point that almost ended the band
- Why merch is still the most reliable income stream for working musicians
- The bad advice that cost money and what she learned from it
- Advice for young musicians, especially women, trying to break through
- The flying porta potty story from Rockfest
Follow Jennifer Benson and Ignescent
- Website: https://ignescentmusic.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/180259632048244
- Instagram (Band): https://www.instagram.com/ignescentmusic
- Instagram (Jennifer): https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbenson_ignescent
Backstage Money Links
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backstagemoney
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backstagemoney
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backstagemoney
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@backstagemoney
- X (Twitter): https://x.com/jasonkpowers
- Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast channel: https://backstagemoney.captivate.fm/listen
- Free guide for musicians: Download A Musician’s Guide to Financial Stability at https://1024wealth.com/music
