rock chicks
New tour dates added – and a great bit of press!
Ha! This made me smile so much – I’ve been listed by one promoter as
“Big, dramatic acoustic-rock. Think somewhere between the likes of Annie Lennox and Whitesnake. Then move the goalposts further.”
You’ve gotta love a good caption 🙂
New dates confirmed for my Acoustic Autumn – here’s the final dates! Check the calendar on the homepage for door times.
My Inspirations – David Coverdale
Yes, it’s the king of hair rock, David Coverdale’s turn in the spotlight of my inspirations this week.
I literally cannot tell you how many times I span my vinyl ‘Come An’ Get It‘ album; signing along with passion and heart yet coupled with pangs of awkward guilt at the content, but loving the absurd cheek of it all the same.
David Coverdale as frontman for Whitesnake was/is unashamedly sexual in his image and lyrics. Ordinarily that would put me off; that’s the main reason I find AC/DC so objectionable (there are other reasons too!), but in the case of Coverdale / Whitesnake, I just couldn’t write it off; I loved that voice, the blues-influences riffs and melodies, Bernie Marsden’s singing guitars – it all had me well and truly hooked.
Oh man did I ever face ridicule for it from my feminist friends; the assumption being that any intelligent woman couldn’t possibly take Whitesnake seriously. The thing is I don’t think Coverdale himself ever totally took Whitesnake seriously. He’s quote as saying ‘a lot of my songs are firmly tongue in cheek.’ Thinking about it, that comment could be tongue in cheek in itself!
I preferred his edgier early stuff, and so my enthusiasm started fade when they moved into the fluffy poodle-haired synth-soft-rock stage in the mid/late 80s with songs like ‘Is this love’ and the remix of ‘Here I go again’.
Probably my all-time favourite song – one that couldn’t in any way be seen as being sexual/sexist – is Child Of Babylon. In my opinion it still stands its ground as an epic classic rock song, brilliantly arranged and performed, and I would love to cover this one day, either live or on a record, and put all those hours of bedroom singing practise to the test.
Lyrics – Stranded
Working on some other things today, I visited my Soundcloud and noticed a comment on ‘Stranded’ saying “Wish I could read the lyrics.”
Well, I am to please – here they are!
Stranded is a bit of a tongue-in-cheek love-sick teen-angsty kind of a song! It was written about the ending of a relationship that was supposed to be ‘just for fun’, but after a while, surprise – I realised I’d got feelings for the guy, and it left me hanging in mid air wondering if he felt the same way. I’d be willing to bet I’m not the only one who’s ever gone through that scenario! Thankfully I’m older and wiser now 🙂
Lyrics – Seeing You
Next up in my series of ‘what are Janey’s songs all about?’ is Seeing You, from my album Along the Way and also featured on my first EP, Introducing.
I wrote Seeing You a couple years after I lost my brother. One of the themes of the song is about how we remember people we’ve lost. If we are open to sharing in such a painful time, we can hear so many different memories from family and friends. So, although we all knew him, we all did so in different ways. Talking to people about how they knew him was not only a fond way for us to support each other but, for me, it was a journey of getting to know and understand my brother in new ways.
New directions and new songs
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. 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. 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.
Much love x
It’s Christmas!
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.
Peace, love and light to you
Janey x
Actually Good News At Christmas!
Well it’s that awesome time of year again, and what a year it has been for me! Definitely NOT one I’d like to repeat; lots of illness, heartache and pain, but I’m so thankful to God that now Christmas is upon us I’m finally coming out the other side of it all. So I’m looking forward to some good times with my family and friends before a fresh (and healthier) start to 2012!
Meantime there’s some fantastic news for you to finish off the year…. My new single has now been released! Wahoo!
‘Time Will Tell’ is now available for download from my online store at http://janeysummer.bandcamp.com/ as well as all major download sites – take your pick, my friends; all the links can be found on my music page at www.janeysummer.com/music.html
As well as the new single for download, there is a bonus track, ‘On My Own Again’.
And I’ve pressed these two tracks onto some limited edition CDs available for just £2.50 plus p&p. – also available from http://janeysummer.bandcamp.com/
Thank you all for all your kind support especially over the last few weeks; it has been amazingly inspiring to receive so many good wishes; I’m feeling the love….
I hope you like the new songs; make sure you let me know what you think, and please spread the word!
Wishing you Peace and Love this Christmas,
Janey x
New songs on the way!
First off a big welcome to all the new fans that have signed up since the last news update; it’s really heart-warming to see the support network keep growing.
This is in no small part to fans spreading the word – so a huge thank you all for that! And also the amazing ongoing support I’m getting from so many DJs who just keep on playing my stuff to their listeners old and new – truly awesome stuff!
Those of you who’ve been fans for a while will know that I’ve been rather unwell lately, hence things being a bit quiet on the music front. Well, I’m pleased to say I’ve had my final yukky treatment today and have only 3 weeks to wait until I go in for my operation, so the next few months are going to pretty much revolve around me recovering in pyjamas! Nice.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel and as well as looking forward to being pain and illness-free (wahoo!), I have plans afoot for next year, including more tracks released, and getting a live line-up together, which I’m really excited about. I also plan to relocate to Bristol in the new year, which I hope will bring some fresh opportunities, so all looks good on the horizon!
Meantime, the good news is I’m off to Orchard Studios to record a couple new tracks! I know it’s been a long old wait and many of you have been champing at the bit for some new tunes, so, rather than make y’all wait until I’m recovered (which could be months!) I’ve squeezed in some studio time this weekend and next so I can two new songs released before Christmas. I hope you like them and it was worth the wait! Haha!
It’d be awesome if you want to follow progress on www.facebook.com/janeysummerofficial or on Twitter @janeysummer
Thanks again for all your support, please keep your emails and comments coming in; it’s always really cool to hear from you,
Love & light & rock & roll
Janey x
Janey Summer 