Musician Jenny Lewis Sings From the Heart

By YourTango. Posted on Feb 7th 2006.

Indie girl Jenny Lewis, formerly of Rilo Kiley, on love, marriage and kids.

Are there people in your life who you think are making it work, finding that balance?

Certainly. Our bass player, Pierre [de Reeder], is a great example. He's an amazing father; he has a three-year-old daughter and he has balanced being on the road with having a family and a lovely girlfriend. I look at them sometimes and I envy it in a sense.

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But at the same time I think it's a different situation for a father. My mom kind of sacrificed her dream and her artistic goals for children. I feel that I owe it to her, almost, to be career-focused and allow myself to experience that. It must be very difficult for teenage girls in creating their identities when they're given someone like Jessica Simpson as—I guess—a role model?

I don't even know. I get mortally depressed when I thumb through a magazine and get to "Five great ways to enhance your orgasm!" I was just watching Laguna Beach before you called. Poor girls. Poor, poor girls.

Do you have any guilty-favorite love songs that take you back to being a teenager?

I don't normally listen to the radio, but the other day I was flipping through the stations and that song from Dirty Dancing, "She's Like the Wind," came on. Oh man, cool song. I wanted to be her [Jennifer Grey as Baby].

You grew up in Las Vegas. Have you ever been inside a quickie wedding chapel?

Yes, I have. My friends got married there—they are just friends; it was part of a bet. I'm not recommending this. Don't just marry someone because someone says "I'll give you a thousand dollars if you guys go and get married within the next 24 hours." I believe they're still married. It was kind of an interesting moment in thinking about marriage, the "sanctity of marriage," and how absurd it is that gay couples can't be acknowledged in that way.

Do you believe in marriage? Can you see yourself getting married?

I believe in it as a tangible gathering for your friends and family to acknowledge your relationship. I didn't go to my prom, and I regret that a little bit. If I didn't get married, I think I would forever imagine myself in a wedding dress.

You sing about the "slow fade of love." Do you think lasting love is this idea that we're all chasing in vain?

I think love is lasting, no matter what, but relationships are really difficult. I think it's important to find ways to keep things healthy and exciting. I don't know if I’ve accomplished that—I haven't been in very many long relationships—but I hope it's possible.