Biography
Drawings by Brooke Pierce
Jenny & the Tide is, at its core, Dave Pierce (Teen Wolf, Chaz Rules), Charles Austin (Surprise Pink, The Super Friendz), and Jenny (Jale).
On their first recording, they were joined by Jordan Murphy on drums, Mike Farrington Jr. on bass, Jeff Gay on accordion, Jess Lewis and Josh Salter on backing vocals, and Roy MacLaren on tin whistle.
Their latest recording, Rhymes with Girl, comes out in October 2026. Jeff returns on the new record, along with Andrew Glencross on vocals and mellotron, Dave Casey on steel guitar, and Sarah Frank on viola. All this and a few surprises:)
Photo by Laura Stein
Jenny is a Canadian musician and songwriter who emerged as part of the 1990s Halifax music scene. Formerly of the indie bands No Damn Fears, Tag, Jale, The Certain Someones, and the Vees, her first recorded appearance was with Sloan, contributing backing vocals to their debut album Smeared, Twice Removed, and the Peppermint EP.
In 1992, Pierce co-founded Jale alongside Alyson MacLeod, Laura Stein, and Eve Hartling. The band released two full-length albums on Sub Pop (Dreamcake, So Wound), as well as the Closed EP on Murderecords. Jale toured extensively across North America and Europe before disbanding in 1996.
Following Jale, Pierce formed The Vees with Stein and drummer Mike Belitsky. The group released a self-titled EP on Murderecords in 1997 and toured Canada before dissolving in 1998.
In addition to Sloan, Pierce has contributed backing vocals to the songs of Al Tuck, the Local Rabbits, Ashley McIsaac, and Joe Pernice.
She returned to recording in 2024 as Jenny & the Tide, releasing the six-song EP Unsuitable. Their new release, Rhymes with Girl, is available now on Bandcamp, Subvert and Kofi.
Discography
Rhymes with Girl
Released October 2/2026
Unsuitable
December 2024
Music Samples
You can listen to a few highlights from the EP and the a live performance of a song from the new recording (Flowers) below.
All Souls Day
Old Man
Glendale Road
Dartmouth Tonight
Ship Builders
Live shows
May 1, 2026 at the Carleton in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Videos
Live from the Carleton "Flowers" from Rhymes with Girl
Dartmouth Tonight
Press
"Lived Through That” is the companion podcast to my book where I (Mike Hipple) look at influential musicians of the 80s and 90s and where they are today. On this podcast, we’ll delve deeper into a single pivotal moment in the lives of some of the artists I feature in that book, as well as other artists I love and admire. The stories they tell are open, honest, and inspiring.
This week I’m pleased to introduce – or maybe re-introduce –you to singer-songwriter Jenny Lynn Pierce. Back in the 90s, her band Jale emerged from the small local scene of Halifax, Nova Scotia along with other Canadian bands like Sloan, The Hardship Post, and The Super Friendz and scored a record deal with Seattle’s Sub Pop label. So, they not be a marquee name in the Sub Pop canon, but they have a devoted following, including myself.
Jale disbanded in 1996 and Jenny, along with Laura Stein and Mike Belitsky, formed a band called The Vees. The released a superb EP in 1997 – but then Jenny kind of disappeared from the music world. Call it kismet, but when I tracked Jenny down, she was just getting ready to finally release some new music.
Technically about Jale...but from this decade:)
Jenny & The Tide – “Ship Builders”
Our long time friend Jenny Pierce (formerly of the Halifax band jale) is back to recording after a hiatus of many years. This is my favourite track from her EP that was technically released at the tail end of 2024, but I’m going say it counts here! A gentle swaying track that wouldn’t sound out of place in the orbit of 90’s Scottish bands such as early Belle & Sebastian, but it makes me think of Nova Scotia. Glad to hear her making music again.