Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Q Public.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started playing music at a young age, which is pretty generic. I took piano lessons when I was little and always loved to sing. The turning point for me was combing those two passions, and being able to sing and accompany myself on piano. I fronted some bands in middle school and early high school, but those bands always played covers. I never really saw myself as a songwriter until I started my first year at Berklee College of Music in the fall of 2017. I had written some songs in high school but wasn’t really sure what the future held for me in terms of a career in music; I knew I wanted to perform, but the level of vulnerability required to play your own music made me uncomfortable. Being at Berklee was pivotal in my development as a songwriter.
When I first started writing, I wrote songs with really vague lyrical content. I relied a lot on my interest in poetry to writes lines with a lot of flowery language and words that sounded pretty. As I kept writing, I got more and more comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable, which is kind of the key to writing music that people connect with. Now when I write, I try to turn off all the mental editing and just write down the things I have to say, and the things that have happened to me. There is some truth about artists turning pain or disappointments into the best kind of art. So now when people hear my music they’re getting to know me on a pretty personal level.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There are a lot of no’s. And a lot of promises and potential opportunities that never come to fruition. It’s easy to become cynical and close-minded but at the end of the day you still need to jump at every opportunity. Or at least that’s how I operate. It’s draining to get stuck in the cycle of excitement and then disappointment but the key is to find the next thing to get really excited about. So psychologically things can get kind of messy. There is a lot of uncertainty and anxiety because there is no concrete path to get to where you want to be in the arts. It can be daunting, but when you’re controlled by the art you create, there isn’t really much of an alternative. At the end of the day, I love what I do, and no matter how scary or stressful it gets, it’s the only thing I’d ever want to do. It’s something I need to do.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
My band is Jane Q Public. I’ve always had trouble nailing down a genre for our music but I’d describe the sound as having roots in jazz and hip-hop aesthetics fueling a raw, yet charismatic neo-soul energy. It’s a pretty wordy description. The band is comprised of my best friends from school which I’m so incredibly grateful for. Being able to create music with the people you love is incredible, and I think our connection is evident to listeners. We’ve been working on finishing up an EP which we are all super excited to share, and I think we’re anxious to dig into our next project. Or at least I know I am.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I used to think a lot about that, and wish I could go back ten years with the experience and knowledge I have now and get a jump start. But now I’m not so sure. The mistakes I’ve made have turned out to be the most valuable lessons, and even though the learning curve can suck, it’s necessary. Everything I’ve done wrong has led me to where I am now, not that where I am currently is where I want to be forever. There are times I look back and wish I hadn’t been so timid or so untrusting of myself and the things I create. But having had those experiences helped shape the way I handle current situations, and how I will handle future ones. I wouldn’t change anything. And I’m glad I’m in a position now to be able to see dips and negative spaces as a learning opportunity rather than a permanent state. It would have been cool to have that insight a few years ago but I think it’s just a matter of maturing into your view. I wouldn’t have been able to appreciate that then, but I’m happy I can now.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whoisjaneq/?hl=en
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/48pbgHl1kHfeVM1wFk7B1D?si=a-Xf6C3KQ9iiWxG-u6tslA
Image Credit:
Kiyo Vigliotti
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