Singer

Jen Merchant

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About Jen

Jen is a versatile singer but specialising in jazz and vintage/ retro styles. She is available for a variety of events and occasions
Singer
Aldershot
Public liability insurance of £10 million

People often ask Jen when she started singing…the straight answer is, she can’t remember, but her mum tells her its from when she could talk! Jen has always been involved with music, singing and performing arts throughout her life. She studied for a degree in Creative and Performing Arts at The University of Portsmouth, graduating in 2010 and has gone on to gig professionally ever since. Whilst Jen has a very varied music taste, her real passion for singing is jazz/ swing and soul and this is what she performs most of in her sets (along with some 'doo wop', rock n roll and classic and contemporary pop) and She has a real love for vintage and retro styles (including her beloved retro style microphone). For the festive season, Jen has plenty of Christmas songs, it's her favourite time of the year! Jen can either perform easy listening background music, perfect for wedding breakfasts, cocktail parties and black tie dinners etc. or songs to really get people on the dance floor and get the party going, or of course a mix of both. Jen’s experience as a singer includes performing at some notable prestigious venues including The Royal Albert Hall, Guildford Cathedral, New Theatre Royal Portsmouth, Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) and many prestigious hotels amongst many more venues. She has developed a talent for performing which extends beyond her singing and never fails to delight and engage her audiences. Jen provides a PA system with all her gigs. Jen can also be booked as part of a discount, joint package with her other half, Sean, who is a DJ for the full party package. Jen can also be booked as part of 'JC Duo' with extremely talented pianist, Cornel Oprea. Please contact Jen for a full list of songs in her repertoire or let her know in advance if there is a special song that you would like performed at your event as Jen is forever adding to her set list! Jen is based on the Surrey/ Hampshire boarder but is happy to travel to all surrounding counties and areas (Berkshire, West Sussex, Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Kent, Dorset etc and beyond: Travel expenses may apply for travelling further than 40 miles).

Encore badges
Lightning fast responses
Average response time under 2 hours
5 gigs
Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore
Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
6th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 6 years
Musicianship
Genres:
Jazz, Pop, Cabaret, Modern jazz, Postmodern jukebox jazz, Swing, Motown, Soul, Vintage, Covers, Easy listening, 1920s era music, 1950s era music, 1960s era music, Christmas, Military, Film / TV music, Musical theatre, 1930s era music, 1940s era music, 1970s era music, 1980s era music, 1990s era music, Pop rock, Rock 'n' Roll
See all genres
Instruments:
See all instruments
Event types:
Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Cruise, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Actor, Dancer, Perfect pitch, Community music worker
See all skills

Jen's Song list

Ain't got that swing- Ella Fitzgerald
Ain’t nobody- Chaka Khan
Ain’t misbehavin’- Fats Waller
Ain’t that a kick in the head- Dean Martin
All About That Bass- Postmodern Jukebox
All of me- Michael Buble
All my loving- Amy Winehouse
All That Jazz- Chicago
Almost there- From 'Princess and The Frog'
At Last- Etta James
Amazed- Lonestar
Another piece of my heart- Dusty Springfield
Be my baby- The Ronettes
Beggin’- The Four Seasons
Big, Bad, Handsome Man- Imelda May
Black Velvet- Alannah Miles
Blue Moon- Ella Fitzgerald
Blue Moon- The Marcels
Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison
Bye Bye Bye- Postmodern Jukebox
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You- The Overtones/ Andy Williams
Can’t Help Falling In Love With You- Elvis
Call Me Maybe- Postmodern jukebox 1920’s style version
Call Me Up- Mabel
Cheek to cheek- Ella Fitzgerald
Closest thing to crazy- Katie Melua
Come see about me- The Supremes Completely- Caro Emerald
Crazy little thing called love- Queen
Crazy In Love- Emeli Sande, Great Gatsby Version
Cry me a river- Diana Krall
Da Doo Ron Ron- The Crystals
Dance Monkey- Tones and I
Dancing in the street- Martha and the Vandels
Dance The Night Away- The Mavericks
Dancing on the ceiling- Lionel Richie
Delilah- Tom Jones
Diamonds are forever- Shirley Bassey
Do You Love Me- The Contours Don’t know why- Nora Jones Don’t stop- Fleetwood mac
Don’t tell mumma- Cabaret/ Liza Minnelli
Dream a little dream of me- Mamas and Papas Jazz Version
Ex’s and Oh’s- Elle King
Everlasting Love- Love Affair
Fever- Peggy Lee
Footloose- Kenny Loggins
Fly me to the moon- Frank Sinatra
Forget You- Cee-lo Green
For your eyes only- Sheena Easton
Get Ready- The Temptations
Goldfinger- Shirley Bassey
He's a tramp- Peggy Lee
Heard it though the grapevine- Marvin Gaye
Hey big spender- Shirley Bassey
Hopelessly Devoted To You- Grease
Hound Dog- Elvis
I Got Rhythm- Judy Garland
I just wanna make love to you- Etta James
I’m not the only one- Sam Smith (Postmodern jukebox retro version)
I Saw Her Standing There- The Beatles
I only want to be with you- Dust Springfield
I wanna be like you- Jungle book Ironic- Alannis Morisette (acoustic version)
I Love Rock n Roll- Joan Jett
I Know- Save Ferris
Isn’t she lovely- Stevie Wonder
Jailhouse rock- Elvis
Johnny B Goode- Chuck Berry
Lady is a Tramp- Ella Fitzgerald L-O-V-E- Joss Stone
Lovely day- Bill Withers
Let's face the music and dance- Robbie Williams version
Let's never stop falling in love- Pink Martini
Let There Be Love- Nat King Cole
Let’s Get Loud- Jennifer Lopez
Let’s stay together- Al Green
Liquid lunch- Caro Emerald
Life is a Cabaret- Cabaret/ Liza Minnelli
Livin’ La Vida Loca- Ricky Martin
Love Yourself- 1920’s, Postmodern Jukebox Version
Make you feel my love- Adele
Man! I Feel Like a Woman- Shania Twain
Mamma Mia- Abba
Moondance- Michael Buble version
Monkey Man- Amy Winehouse
Mustang Sally- The Commitments My Girl- The Temptations New York state of mind- Billy Joel
Nobody does it better- Carly Simon
No Diggity- Postmodern Jukebox
Nine To 5- Dolly Parton
Oh what a night- The Four Seasons
One fine day- The Chiffons
One way or another- Blondie
Only want to be with you- Dusty Springfield
Out of our heads- Take That
Oops I did it again- Vintage/ Postmodern Jukebox version
Perhaps, Perhaps- Doris Day
Puttin’ On The Ritz- Robbie Wlliams/ Fred Astaire
Put Your Records On- Corrin Bailey Ray
Proud Mary- Tina Turner
Que Sera Sera- Doris Day
Rehab- Amy Winehouse
Riviera life- Caro Emerald
Runaway- Elvis
Shake a tail feather- Blues brothers
Seven Nation Army- 1920’s Postmodern Jukebox version Shoop Shoop song- Cher Sir Duke- Stevie Wonder
Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay- Ottis Redding
Sorry- Justin Beiber (motown, Postmodern Jukebox version)
Son of a preacher man- Dusty Springfield
Songbird- Eva Cassidy
Somebody To love- Queen
Someone to watch over me- Amy Winehouse
Sorry (Justin Beiber)- 1920’s Postmodern Jukebox motown version Stand by me- Ben E King
Straighten up and fly right- Nat King Cole
Stuck in the Middle- Stealers Wheel
Sunny side of the street- Frank Sinatra Superstition- Stevie Wonder Sway- various artists
Sweet Soul Music- Arthur Conley Tainted Love- Imelda May version
Tangled up- Caro Emerald
Teenager in love- Dion and the Belmonts
That Man- Caro Emerald
Thank You For The Music- Abba
The way you look tonight- Frank Sinatra
The world is not enough- Garbage
These boots are made for walking- Nancy Sintra
Too Close (acoustic version)- Alex Clare
Twist and Shout- The Beatles
Valerie- Amy Winehouse Walk on by- Dianne Warwick
Walking on sunshine- Katrina and The Waves
We’ll meet again- Vera Lynn
What a wonderful world- Eva Cassidy
When you’re smiling- Dean Martin
Why don't you do right- Peggy Lee
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow- The Shirelles
Working my way back to you- The 4 seasons
Writings on the wall- Sam Smith
You Give Love a Bad Name- Postmodern Jukebox
You don't love me- Caro Emerald
You’re love lifting me higher- Jackie Wilson
Customer questions

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

I always try our best to be flexible to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. If timings change slightly in the run up to the event just let me know. I you require a longer booking then an adjusted quote can be discussed if necessary.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

Yes, no problem at all, as long as it has a mini jack connection socket.

How much time do you need to set up?

Comfortably 45 mins (depending on how easily accessible the venue is).

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

If there are certain must have songs or genres you would like in particular then of course, please do let me know. A lot of the time I will also gage crown reaction, so having every single song set in stone may not always work but I will of course endevour to include suggested songs to make your night truly special.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes, all I need is access to plus points.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

If enough notice is given then I will endeavour to learn your song for you. This does depend on if I can find the appropriate backing track, in the correct key etc and if I feel I can really do the song justice.

What do your clients love most about your performances?

I feel that clients like that I put my own spin on certain songs and have a wide range of styles to suit a variety of audiences.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Too many to count but some of my most notable venues include: - Highclere Castle (AKA Downton Abbey) - Portsmouth Guildhall - New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth - Solent Forts - Pennhill Park, Bagshot - Crazy Bear, Stadhampton - Woburn Abbey - East India Club, London - 34, Grosvenor Square, Mayfair -The Wisley, Golf Club - Great Fosters Hotel, Virginia Water

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Many! The list includes: - Ella Fitzgerald - Caro Emerald - Michael Buble - Frank Sinatra - Postmodern Jukebox - Stevie Wonder - Elvis - Dust Springfield

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

Performing at Highclere Castle (a.k.a Downton Abbey) on various occasions. Including for their Vintage Garden party, Valentines and Christmas Events and a pirate dinner party for Lord and Lady Carnarvon. Also, singing for The Chancellor's Dinner at Portsmouth Guildhall, for an audience which included Sir Lenny Henry, Kenya King (CBE) and Tom Ilube (CBE).

Jen's Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£100
Up to 1 hour£200
Up to 2 hours£250
Up to 3 hours£300

Add-ons

Cornel Opera- Pianist
+£200
Jen
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5 out of 5
9 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

Jen's Reviews

From Encore customers:

GS
Gail S
2 years ago
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5 out of 5

We hired Jen for my parents 60th wedding anniversary party. She was brilliant, professional and hot people singing and dancing. My parents loved it and so did our guests. They all said how brilliant Jen was and sang many genres. Thank you Jen. Will definitely be recommending.

AL
Alan L
4 years ago
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5 out of 5

Very Professional and a fantastic performer!

AT
Amanda T
4 years ago
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5 out of 5

Jen was great, I had really good feedback from all who attended the event about Jen, I would book her again

From other customers:

JA
Jean A
4 years ago, for a Wedding anniversary in Longmoor Road
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5 out of 5

Just wanted to say thank you so much for Friday night, everyone thought you were fab and had a great evening. I will certainly recommend you to all our friends and I think you said some folks took your card anyway Thanks again Jean

HH
Hayley H
5 years ago, for a Wedding in Farnborough
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5 out of 5

Jen! Wow! What a singer! Jen sang throughout various points at our wedding and was amazing. Her voice added a real vintage and classy feel to the day. All our guests commented on how brilliant she was. Sean was also our DJ, and what a great DJ he is! The dance floor was packed all night and he really listened to the type of music we wanted. I could not recommend SNJ entertainment more! They were organised, professional and superb at providing entertainment throughout the entire day.

Read all 12 reviews