Alt-Pop solo artist Jenna Kay releases the emphatic sophomore EP, Smartsass, marking her first creative outing since 2025’s if i can’t. With rocked-up backbeats and stand-out, pop-laden choruses, the rising artist is continuing her bid to reshape expectations of what contemporary pop can sound like from Music City, cementing her status as one of its most vibrant emerging voices.
Blending sticky alt-pop earworms with a vibrant indie-tinged roar, Kay’s songwriting balances cinematic scope with unfiltered candour. Across Smartsass, she traces messy breakups, bitter truths and lingering unfinished business, presenting a body of work that underscores the boundless nature of her artistry. The six-track release moves confidently between rip-roaring, punk-inflected pop anthems and sentimental, stripped-back ballads, showcasing a sonic versatility that has fuelled her growing buzz as she sets her sights on 2026.
“You don’t have to shrink yourself to be liked,” Kay says, a mantra that anchors the project’s ethos. Expanding on the EP’s title, she explains, “Smartsass is my attitude in album form, it’s me owning my voice, saying the things I used to keep quiet. It’s confident, sarcastic, emotional, and unapologetically honest. These songs are about growing up, standing your ground, and realising you don’t have to shrink yourself to be liked.”
Originally from St. Louis and now based in Nashville, Kay describes herself as an indie-pop firecracker, fusing glittering hooks with a rock-edged attitude while paying homage to the people and experiences that have shaped her. She is also collaborating with Label 22 as their first and only pop artist, carving out a distinctive lane within the roster.
Kay’s relationship with the stage began early. At just five years old, she performed Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi, an experience she credits with igniting her love for live performance. Throughout grade school and high school, she gravitated toward any opportunity to perform, steadily building the confidence and presence that now define her shows.
After graduation, she relocated to Nashville to pursue music full-time. Within a few short years, she has evolved from newcomer to a rising regular on the city’s live circuit. Her songwriting draws heavily from lived experience, exploring themes of toxic small-town dynamics, envy, resilience and the awkward, often beautiful chaos of navigating one’s twenties.
Her 2024 debut EP, Icing on the Cake, introduced listeners to her emotionally charged storytelling through six tracks centred on love, heartbreak and fresh starts. With Smartsass, Kay signals both growth and self-assurance, pushing her sound further while sharpening her lyrical voice.
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