Backstage, in what appeared to be an abandoned, clinical kitchen at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, was actually quite the opposite, a vibrant, warm human being. In the corner, on a small plastic chair in what we call the green room, sat a striking neon-green head of hair. Lee Jennings, the lead singer of The Funeral Portrait, dressed in an oversized printed cardigan, was ready for his interview just hours before his gig. Lee radiated a humble, down-to-earth vibe and seemed excited to be interviewed.
Starting the conversation with Lee Jennings felt very natural. His calm presence immediately put me at ease, so I jumped right in. I was eager to get under the skin of Lee and discover The Funeral Portrait’s songs.
Each song features rich, layered lyrics. The genre of alternative rock, post-punk, and emotional hardcore (also known as emo) often involves storytelling from beginning to end. The Funeral Portrait certainly embody this.
Lee explained that the core of their song Voodoo Doll contains impactful storytelling. “Like any kind of drug, Voodoo Doll is about love addiction,” Lee says. “This is a big thing. It’s very close to me because I have struggled with love addiction for a long time.”
I wanted to offer some reassurance to Lee in his vulnerable moment, so I added that, of course, we can be addicted to almost anything. I felt we were beginning to have a good rapport as we discussed that being loved, feeling loved, or giving love is so important to us as humans.
One topic I was eager to learn all the details about was The Funeral Portrait’s latest single, Wierdo with The Rasmus. The collaboration was highly anticipated by both bands, and fans queued up outside.
When discussing this beautiful blend with The Rasmus, Lee appeared relaxed, but now a sudden sparkle lit up his eyes. “The Rasmus had signed with the same record label as us,” Lee said with increased energy in his voice. “The head of A&R reached out to me after signing with The Rasmus. We have this song called Weirdo.”
Lee continues, with excitement in his voice, “I recorded the vocals for it, they loved it, and it was like, OK, boom. It was really that simple.”
From passionate super fans to misfits who connect with the band’s lyrics, Lee was dedicated to expressing that, for him, the most important thing is what his music does for his fans. “Seeing how the music I created affects people,” he says, “changes their lives, or helps them become better people.” Lee is clearly aware that by putting himself out there, he can make a genuinely positive impact on his audience.
So, what’s next for The Funeral Portrait? As the interview draws to a close, a sense of anticipation fills the atmosphere. “We have a tour next year, but I never take anything we do for granted,” he says. “We could disappear tomorrow, you know what I mean? All of our worlds could change overnight. I live my life. I live my life every single day, one day at a time.”
As we share a hug and say our farewells, Lee politely asks for my name once more, and we share a moment. I tell him I look forward to seeing him do what he does best — being his authentic self on stage.
I am almost certain that, with his energy, calmness, and natural charisma, Lee will shine brighter with every gig he performs for his fans. You can check out The Funeral Portrait review from the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire here.
