Did you know that “not all break-up songs need be depressing”? That’s the philosophy behind LA singer-songwriter Jenna Bryson’s song “Me Minus You.” The tune tugged at all the right heartstrings of the OurStage community with fans voting it to the top of the Pop Channel charts last month. Jenna was sweet enough to fill us in on the backstory of the tumultuous relationship that inspired her.
Jenna Bryson
I wrote “Me Minus You” in November of 2007. It was one of the first songs I wrote that was NOT related to or inspired by something personal in my life. Up until then, I had been very dependent upon my own experiences to give me inspiration to write.
And then one day, I was talking to a friend of mine who was trying to rid himself of a toxic relationship and failing horribly; she was no good for him, and he was totally wrong for her. But every time he had convinced himself that it was “really over this time,” she’d come-a-knockin’ and off they’d go again.
I remembered what it was like to be completely hung up on a person… you’re so entangled in each others’ lives that you just don’t know how to be without one another. So, I wrote a song for him, the lyrics being the words I wished he would say to her once and for all. And to give the words strength and the song a positive spin, I kept the melody up-beat and fun; I figured not all break-up songs need be depressing. I wanted this to be a song about moving on from a relationship with a smile on your face, as opposed to wishing there was a way the sinking ship could be saved. And I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!
“Me Minus You” was produced & mixed by Gary Tharp and featured the talents of some incredible musicians, including Craig Stull on guitars, Jamie Muhoberac on keys, Chris Chaney on bass and Matt Laug on drums.
