by April Scheinoha
Reporter
A lot has happened in the four years since The Jensen Sisters sang together for the first time on the Goodridge School stage. They have performed in various locales. They have their own radio show. And now they are releasing their first EP, “Highway Hippie.”
Hailing from Goodridge, The Jensen Sisters are Kendra and Kansas. Kendra is a freshman studying sales and marketing at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. Kansas is a sophomore at Goodridge High School. They are the daughters of Erik and Kelsey Jensen.
“Our parents never thought we would be singers. We didn’t either,” Kendra said.
Life has a funny way of changing people’s thoughts about the future. Just ask Kendra. In spring 2015, she and Kansas signed up to perform at the Goodridge High School Talent Showcase. Kansas thought that their mom forced them into performing at the event. Kendra recalled they signed up and then told their mom, who questioned what they were thinking.
Up until that point, Kansas was the one with the musical aspirations. At age 5, she knew she wanted to be a singer when she grew up. However, she realized that singing may not be a realistic career. On Career Day, she announced that she wanted to work at Dairy Queen. Her reason was simple: She enjoyed ice cream and still does.
Kansas nurtured her musical ambitions by singing in church with Kelsey. “Kendra would always sit in the pews,” recalled Kansas, who noted that her older sister was too shy to join them.
However, Kendra mustered up enough courage to perform at the showcase. That is not before many tears and telling her mom that she had changed her mind. Kelsey wasn’t having any of it.
“It actually went better than I thought,” said Kendra, a self-taught guitar player.
It wasn’t long before they were performing for a larger audience. In summer 2016, they performed at Fall Fest in Grygla. That performance marked a turning point. “We didn’t even know we were getting paid,” Kendra recalled.
It was the first time the sisters had been paid for a gig. The check was written to The Jensen Sisters. They now had their band name.
Their musical talents and interests soon took them to Nashville – as part of a family vacation. Kendra, a huge fan of the TV show, “Nashville,” was familiar with The Bluebird Cafe. The cafe holds an Open Mic Night in which songwriters perform their original music. Along with many other people, the sisters signed up and hoped to perform onstage. Ironically, they received the go-ahead phone call while they were standing outside of the Grand Ole Opry.
The Bluebird Cafe, a small venue, has a storied past. “You walk in the room, and music hits you,” recalled Kansas, who noted Garth Brooks signed his record deal in the cafe’s kitchen.
As Kendra matter-of-factly recalled, they were two kids performing before a group of Nashville songwriters. Afterward, they wondered what they would do next.
Since that time, the girls have been on a ride that has taken them to stages throughout this region. Both girls sing. Kendra plays guitar, and Kansas plays the tambourine.
“I always tease Kansas that she is the best tambourine player,” Kendra said.
The Jensen Sisters start every show with “Good Hearted Woman” by Waylon Jennings. “It’s our good luck charm,” Kendra said.
When asked to describe the genre of music they perform, Kansas said they usually ask people to listen to their music and then define it. Kendra described it as new wave retro country music.
The Jensen Sisters will promote “Highway Hippie” this summer. Recorded in Minneapolis, the EP features the sisters backed by a band.
“It’s so much fun for your hobby to be your job,” Kansas said.
Kendra said, “Music makes you feel good. I can’t imagine a world without music.”
Thirty shows have been scheduled between June and August. They also perform weekends during the school year.
A highlight of this summer’s performance schedule will be when they open for Three Doors Down and Collective Soul at Lakes Jam in Brainerd.
“Highway Hippie”
“Highway Hippie” is named after their first song on the project. Kendra noted that the song talks about being free and being able to roam wherever one pleases.
The EP also features “Ready Set Ramblin’.” The song’s title stemmed from a comment made by Kansas during one of their radio shows. Prior to announcing “Ramblin’ Man” by the Allman Brothers Band, she said the phrase. Kendra liked it, and a new song was born.
Kansas said “Ready Set Ramblin’” gets the feet tapping without a person realizing it.
“I smile every time I listen to it,” Kendra said.
“Highway Hippie” also features four other songs, including a cover of the Waylon Jennings song “Lonesome On’ry and Mean.” If you’re expecting Jennings’ version, Kendra warned that you’ll be in for a surprise.
A little over a week ago, The Jensen Sisters learned that “Highway Hippie” was the 10th most pre-ordered country album on iTunes. Others on that list were Thomas Rhett and Willie Nelson.
Kendra and Kansas weren’t expecting such an outpouring of support. They credit fans from their hometown. “We’re super thankful for our hometown support,” Kendra said.
When they’re not on the road or attending school, The Jensen Sisters host “The Gypsy Outlaw Radio Show” on Pioneer 90.1. The show airs Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m., and re-airs Mondays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. They perform their songs, play music from other artists and interview artists.
They have also found time to curate a clothing collection for Simply Boutique of Warren and East Grand Forks. Each sister picked six articles of clothing for the collection this past winter. Most of the clothing sold out. They are slated to pick an additional six pieces for this summer’s collection.
“Highway Hippie” drops Friday, May 31. It will be available through streaming services and www.jensensisters.com. Pre-orders may be made via those sites.