CHRIS JEHNERT - THE HOLLOW EP
Chris Jehnert’s spine-tingling debut EP Chapter One: The Hollow is a tremendous introduction to an artist that shows no sign of slowing down.
Chris Jehnert is an artist who has done it all: acted in Lifetime Network films; toured internationally with the boy-band Larger Than Life; performed with Broadway stars. And now he’s released his debut EP Chapter One: The Hollow. With songs like ‘Ghost’, ‘Raise The Dead’, and ‘I Love You To Death’, there is a clear thematic element in this Halloween-appropriate EP. Following his first single ‘Welcome To The Hollow’ (which garnered over 100,000 streams), this EP dives deeper into Jehnert’s psyche with subjects of love, loss, isolation, and obsession. Chris Jehnert may look like a boy-band heart-throb, but Chapter One: The Hollow cements him as a true artist capable of emotional depth, one that is not afraid to access the darker and scarier parts of his being.
Chris Jehnert describes his debut release as a metaphor for his internal feelings and relationships, with the Hollow “being a cold and empty place that people are drawn to and trapped in.” Each track explores a different aspect of Jehnert’s world. ‘Welcome To The Hollow’, the most commercially accessible number, is a rock anthem warning listeners that he may be emotionally unavailable, equating himself to a dark and empty hollow. ‘Fine’, a ballad, tells of feeling left behind and stuck in unrequited love. The next song, ‘Ghost’, is a metaphor for ghosting in a relationship, and describes a scenario where Jehnert was unfairly accused of “ghosting” someone after ending a fling. Dark and creepy, ‘Raise The Dead’ talks about “resurrecting” an old affair and makes the case that some things are meant to be left buried. Finally, the standout ‘I Love You To Death’ is a synth-heavy alt-pop jam about fandom as a dangerous obsession. Chris Jehnert is no stranger to dealing with fans, some of whom have been borderline stalkerish, and he writes his closing number from the point of view of one such fan.
Chris Jehnert’s spine-tingling debut EP ‘Chapter One: The Hollow’ is a tremendous introduction to an artist that shows no sign of slowing down. Jehnert subverts all expectations of himself as a former Broadway/ Boy Band singer with a gritty, alt-rock sound and a thematic arc drawing inspiration from bands like Muse, Tool, and Mariana’s Trench. Jehnert is unafraid to delve into the deepest depths of his soul, and explore uncomfortable topics like loss, obsession, and heartbreak. Having just performed at Delaware Pride and with new films slated to premiere soon, Jehnert shows no sign of stopping his upward trajectory. Keep an eye out for this artist, and listen to his morbidly fun rock opera Chapter One: The Hollow to get you in the mood for Halloween! Who knows what he will be up to next? After all, this is only “Chapter One”.
Brendan Thabo
★★★★☆