Jennifer Hope Releases “My December” for Music for Relief’s One More Light Fund in memory of Chester Bennington

JENNIFER HOPE LAUNCHES DOWNLOAD TO DONATE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO BENEFIT LINKIN PARK’S MUSIC FOR RELIEF CHARITY

Singer-Songwriter Jennifer Hope, has released her cover version of Linkin Park’s “My December” to raise awareness, and contributions for Music for Relief’s One More Light Fund in memory of Chester Bennington. The track is available for download until October 27, 2017 at GoFundfMe. A one dollar donation is all that is required to receive a download code, but any additional amount is appreciated and your extended generosity can further help many in their time of need. All donations go to the charity through the PayPal giving fund.

“Hybrid Theory”, Linkin Park’s album, shocked the masses by making good nu metal. This is of course subjective, but it’s definitely one of the most unique and successful albums from the genre at the time. Linkin Park did what most nu metal bands didn’t – they focused on hooks and melodies, not just pure anger.

Not that it was completely void of anger. The album did succeed for a reason though. These songs were memorable and relatable. But hidden in amongst the nu-metal songs on the album, the song “My December” appeared as a bonus track.

The bonus track version gave us Linkin Park’s earliest sign of maturity. This song was incredible with the pure unforced and restrained emotion in Chester Bennington’s voice against the soft instrumentation and production. In fact the song shone because it focused on Chester’s emotive vocal style instead of Mike’s furious verses. And when does briefly Mike rap on this song he sounds in pain.

It was that sonic shift in sound that promised something amazing for the band’s future. Jennifer Hope takes that promise and builds on it in the most poignant and personal way. She generates a powerful harmonic resonance with a sense of horizontal stream and an emotional melodic core that screams loss.

The original version alluded strongly towards solitude and loneliness, to a point of desperation, hence, “…give it all away, just to have someone to go to…,” is almost like saying, having anyone is better than this hollow, lonely feeling. It’s better to share happiness with someone than to be alone with it. Jennifer twists the slant and tone of the track towards the departed Chester. So when she gets to the part that goes: “This is my December. These are my snow covered dreams. This is me pretending. This is all I need”, the feeling is one of loss and the resignation of having to come to terms with that emotion.

As always, Jennifer Hope’s vocal delivery is impeccable as she conveys her heartfelt rendition of “My December” without the overblown melodrama that one would expect from a tribute song. Part of the answer can be found in the fact that Jennifer had already been planning a cover version of this track back in December 2016. “I always thought that this bonus track on the Hybrid Theory was underplayed, explained Jennifer. “After various delays, my cover version was completed on July 20, 2017. I heard about the passing of Chester Bennington shortly thereafter.” The rest of what makes this such an immensely discernible cover, can be found in the beautifully tailored instrumental – the dominant acoustic piano, the deeply resonating strings – and of course that  marvelous voice that reeks of honesty and integrity.

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Jennifer Hope is an Alternative Singer-Songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Known for her distinct ethereal/dream pop vocals, unique songwriting style and enchanting renditions of well-known songs, her tracks have been released on Cleopatra Records as well as her own label, Mystic Dreams Music. Of Jennifer Hope’s various releases, her LP, Velvet Fire and EP, X -Tremities were sponsored by Eddie Van Halen and produced by Warren Huart (Aerosmith, The Fray, James Blunt). www.JenniferHope.com

Music for Relief is a nonprofit organization, which was founded by the band Linkin Park in 2004 and is comprised of musicians, music industry professionals, and music fans. Since inception in 2005 Music for Relief has raised over $9 million for survivors of multiple natural disasters. MFR is currently sending aid to help families in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean to recover from the damages following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. In addition, Music for Relief has established the One More Light Fund in memory of Chester Bennington. The fund will honor his generous spirit and desire to help others. www.musicforrelief.org