Just received a really amazing review of ‘Time WIll Tell’ courtesy of Tony Cannella from Femme Metal Webzine. Â Quite a pleasant surprise as it’s been a year since it was released!
While you’re there, why not take 5 to find out about some of the other awesome female-fronted heavy bands that are getting showcased. Well worth a quick peek, I reckon 🙂
I first discovered the delights of Paul Rodgers’ voice in the late 80s when my friend decided to clear out his old album collection; like a magpie I swooped in for some shiny gems and there in the midst was a couple diamonds:
Free: Fire and Water
Bad Company: Bad Company
Stunning stuff. I lost count of the number of hours and plays those records got, whilst I sang along with my hairbrush in the mirror, completely lost in the music.
I raved to my friend about how awesome Free were, and scrawled the band name over my jeans in cheap biro just to assert how much I loved them. And of course a big part of that was Paul Rodgers. The voice, the hair and the tight cords all came together into the perfect rock frontman bundle.
Someone once described Paul Rodgers’ voice as ‘gravel and honey’, which I think’s a pretty much perfect description! He has got the smoothest gritty voice I’ve ever heard and I had the great pleasure of seeing him live for the first time only a couple years ago at Bournemouth. Vocally his performance didn’t disappoint; literally didn’t miss a note.
Although I don’t listen too often to the old stuff any more, as soon as ‘My Brother Jake’ comes on, I suddenly realise my brain has retained all that conditioning from years ago and I find myself still recalling all the words. Mr Big, Fire and water, Moving on, Ready for love, The hunter, I’ll be creeping; are all still filed away in my mental music library.
I still have huge respect and admiration for his passion and achievements, and without a doubt Paul Rodgers was one of my earliest and strongest vocal influences from a very young age.
I often get asked about my lyrics – what they mean, or what a certain song is a about.
So I thought I’d start a little series and post up some of my favourite lyrics over the next couple months. To start the ball rolling these are from my most recent single, Time Will Tell. I was inspired by the writing style of Ronnie James Dio on this song. Maybe you can tell!? Would love to hear your comments.  Are you surprised by what the lyrics actually are? Especially if you’ve been singing along something completely different! 😉
Yes it’s time for the Happy New Year blog overload!
Well, 2013 has been quite a year for me on the personal front, even if not so much on the musical front!
This year after years of uncertainty and problems, I’ve finally got a secure home, income and my health is now fully restored. Thank God! And I’m sure you’ll agree these three things are pretty important basics to get sorted! I’ve gotta say a huge thanks to everyone who has sent me encouraging messages and notes. And thanks for sticking by me in these rougher/quieter times. Some haven’t. So it certainly makes me grateful for the loyalty I have been shown by fans and friends J
Anyway, good news is that now all that ‘stuff’ is taken care of, I’m looking forward to having more time and resources to put into my main mission of music in 2014. HOORAY! My first priority will be to get my delayed EP recorded and released – based on the songs I’ve been gigging at acoustic sets over the last few months – cannot wait!
I’m also going to be going all-out to get a live line-up together, as well as exploring the possibility of writing songs for publishing – ie writing for other people – so lots in the pipeline!
God bless you in 2014! Hope you have a fantastic night tonight, full of laughter and joy, and that 2014 will see our lives rise higher with the sun shine on our backs.
I’m pleased to announce I’ll be doing a series of acoustic gigs across Bristol and Somerset over the autumn and winter to give my new songs an airing before I record them early next year!
More dates will be added as they’re booked, but take a look at the schedule so far – it’s on the homepage at janeysummer.com
I’ll look forward to seeing some of you out on the road!
If you’d like me to come to a venue near you (I can travel within reason!) please do let me know and I’ll see what I can fit in.
Lately I’ve been working on lots of new songs, and a recent change in my circumstances has meant if all goes to plan, I should be able to get into the studio by the end of the year to record and release a new EP. Â I’m very excited and happy about that at long last!
And I’m loving the new material! I have to warn you tho, my lovely people, that it is a bit of departure from the ‘straight’ rock you might all be expecting from me. Â It still shows my passion and heart, but its a little more pensive, thought provoking and got a definite ‘alt’ edge to it. Hopefully you will like it too.
‘Live’-wise, the ultimate aim is still to get a band line up established, but so far my efforts in that department haven’t proved fruitful. It’s frustrating at times, but I have too much of a drive and passion to just sit and wait around for other people! So meantime, I’ve decided to strip things back for a while and put together an acoustic set!
Could be interesting – it’s already having a positive impact and and opening up potential avenues for performances in places I wouldn’t be able to get into with a band – including the local prison!
All the while, it’s awesome and humbling to still have new people discovering the music, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the new stuff shapes up – both live and in the studio.
Seems like ages since I posted anything, but just wanted to let you know that afer a couple months of twiddling about, I have finally got the new website up and running at http://www.janeysummer.com
Feel free to check it out – the groovy new home page has a completely revamped look and feel, with a new gallery, gigs calendar and stores pages.
There hasn’t been much news to report on lately, but I have been busy behind the scenes writing some new songs, and really hope to head back into the studio soon, so the quieter times are coming to an end thankfully!
Thanks for all your support – please do visit the site and drop me a comment or a tweet.
Well, it’s hard to believe that this time last year I was sending my Christmas message to you from hospital! It was truly heart-warming to have so many encouraging and supporting messages rolling in.
It has taken a long time for me to recover, but am I nearly back to 100%, thank God.  As well my health crisis, this last year has been one of massive change for me – saying goodbye to relationships that it was time to move on from, and moving to pastures new. Lots of healing, but also lots of green shoots J
So, it has been a bit quiet on the music front since I released my EP last December. I’m sorry to those that have been eagerly waiting on new things; they are coming along, I promise! I feel confident that 2013 will see things rev up again with my new band, The Avowed.
Thank you all for your support over the last year, for your kindness, your emails, your comments, and the fun and laughs you’ve shared.
I hope that you and your loved ones have a truly blessed and wonderful Christmas – wherever you are, and whomever you’re with.
I first discovered the delights of Paul Rodgers’ voice in the late 80s when my friend decided to clear out his old album collection; like a magpie I swooped in for some shiny gems and there in the midst was a couple diamonds:
I still have huge respect and admiration for his passion and achievements, and without a doubt Paul Rodgers was one of my earliest and strongest vocal influences from a very young age.
Janey Summer 