(Photo Credit - Bradley J. Calder)
Check out our Artist Spotlight interview with Jane. an L.A. based indie singer/songwriter!
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
"I was exposed to music as a full pursuit when I was in my first year of college. I obviously knew there were people who could do music as a career, but I had never seen anyone do it with my own eyes. Once I witnessed it happen for some friends of mine, I was able to observe different avenues of getting your music in front of people I started taking my creating more seriously. I immediately dropped out of college and decided this was my future. Music has been my full time focus for about 4 years now. I have been recording music for about seven years."
2. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
"It varies I guess. This record was mainly made alone in my studio at home in lockdown. I typically have an idea of how a song should sound in my head, instruments, melodies, general vibe of a song, and then I spent time recording it and kind of filling in blanks as I go. I wrote a song “inside your room” first, and it felt like an experiment a bit, and then I wrote “for you, for blue”. Once I had written both those I knew I needed to chase this down and the songs kept coming one after another."
3. What artists have inspired you in your career?
"I’m typically a fan of English bands. I’ve realized that even my own record is a challenge on the idea of what a singer songwriter is. When I think about some of my favorite musicians, (Thom Yorke, Richard Ashcroft, Peter Doherty, Noel Gallagher) they kind of do the same thing. Songs start simply on either an acoustic guitar or a piano, and they build them out from there. Now I imagine a lot of people would believe that’s how most songs start, but typically in modern music I find songs start on a computer or through some form of production. I feel so connected to these English 90s guys as you can here the song coming from the heart in their records."
4. Do you have any favorite music gear (guitars, amps, effects pedals, keyboards, etc.) that you love to use? If so, what’s the story on them?
"Oooo I love gear. I’m really into Cooper FX Generation Loss pedal, Zvex Lo-Fi junkie, Neon Egg Atrium. I like to find more boutique kind of weirder stuff to take something that I may record and to kind of just vibe it out I guess. It goes in line with the idea of pushing what a singer songwriter is. As far as synths go, I like Solinas, and we used a Moog Grandmother a lot on my record. I really like Teletone VST piano stuff, and Spitfire Audio's VST stuff is great also."
5. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
"I guess we’ll find out. I’m at the early stages of building my show right now. I want the shows to feel connected and cleansing. Communal even. I don’t know if I can say my records are healing, but I’m searching for some type of spiritual feeling in this music. I want that to come across. As far as venues go, i want to play this music in non traditional spaces. Ideally old churches, or cathedrals, outside somewhere. Somewhere natural. You can feel the energy from the night before In most venues. I’d love to be able to perform this music somewhere that feels fresh I guess."
6. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
"I'm just sharing what’s in my heart. There’s no gimmick here. I guess that’s the gimmick. I’m just someone sharing what’s on my chest and I wonder and hope people feel connected to that."
7. What’s next for you?
"I’ve begun chipping away at writing the next batch of songs. I’ve had to much stimulation the past month prepping and playing some shows in the Neighbourhoods live band at forest hills in New York and the Hollywood bowl in LA, that I’m just trying to center and settle again. Kind of clearing out my head so whatever needs to be presented to me gets presented."