Be the Wild in Me by JJ & The Foreign Cowboys

" JJ grew up listening to Casey Kasem's American Top 40 at the time when Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt were topping the charts. "I was about 7 or 8. I didn't know I was listening to Country music--I just loved the sound and I loved to sing along".

By the time she was performing clubs regularly and compiling her own repertoire; Shania Twain, Faith Hill, and the Dixie Chicks were all exploding. "They're some of my favorite performers. I really connect to that style, I cover them a lot, and it comes naturally to me. I would love to have a record on the Pop and Country charts--that would be a dream come true!".

JJ met Danish keyboardist/songwriter Jorgen Kjaer (now her husband) in 1997 while backing up another country artist. The two formed JJ & The Foreign Cowboys in late 1999, deriving the name from the fact that the band at the time was comprised of a mix of guys from Denmark, Finland, and England.

Jorgen (pronounced Yon) and JJ agreed to take their music endeavor very seriously--that meant gigging regularly and getting paid to perform right from the start. This required long sets coupled with energetic and engaging performances that grabbed attention and kept folks coming back. They secured the first of several long-term residencies at The Gold Rush in Hell's Kitchen where they covered artists like Deanna Carter, Kim Richey, Jo Dee Messina, Trisha Yearwood, and Martina McBride--eventually working their original material into the mix.

After being classically trained at The Royal Danish Conservatory and studying songwriting at Berklee College of Music, Jorgen admits, "There is no substitute for playing the bars. It is the best learning experience for any songwriter--you immediately know if a song works or falls flat".

Based in New York City, the group plays to a wide mix of audiences, and often faces crowds that aren't familiar with contemporary country music. They say the most frequent comment they get from new listeners is: I don't usually like country music, but I like YOU guys! or You make me like country music. "We think that's great! We really love what we do, and we just hope other folks enjoy our music and have a good time, too".

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