Heavy hitting truths, loud guitars and an infectious energy make up the DNA of Phoenix, AZ’s modern rock band, Jane N’ The Jungle, formed as a garage rock band in 2013 with childhood friends Jordan White and Brian Dellis. The band has an unquenched thirst for communication that demands attention with powerful lead vocals and guitars that cut like a knife with a take no prisoners attitude influenced by a combination of alternative rock, metal and a touch of Punk. Jane N’ The Jungle creates an electrifying experience that leaves a lasting impression garnering them a growing fanbase Endorsed by Gibson Guitars. Recent shows with Escape The Fate, Saving Abel, Sammy Hagar & The Circle, The Warning, Lacey Sturm, There Is No Us, The Unlikely Candidates, Jinjer and Smash Into Pieces. Check out the exclusive interview below:
1. Your roots can often shape your journey. Can you share a story or moment from your early life that had a significant impact on your path into music?
Jane N’ The Jungle: I had a speech impairment growing up as a child and pronouncing words was difficult for me. When I was 2 years old I started singing with my Disney Karaoke toy and learned singing was easier for me to do than talking with words. I took speech therapy and eventually grew out of my speech impairment during elementary School. It made me quiet and shy because I was embarrassed of how I talked. I felt my truest self while I was singing early on and still till this day is the biggest way I emote.
2. Did your musical journey begin with formal training, or was it more of a personal exploration? How has that shaped your unique approach to your craft?
Jane N’ The Jungle: My parents put me in classical voice lessons in elementary school after they noticed my love for singing and I continued lessons until my senior year of high school. My dream was to be on Broadway and I enrolled into the first BFA program at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, and graduated from the Los Angeles campus in 2011. During my time there, I developed stage performance skills that I still very much use today. Even though I took classical voice lessons starting at a young age, I never could hone in on the broadway classical sound. I had my own vocal sound that took me many years to learn how to use. I began to appreciate the difference in my voice and that it was okay to not fit the perfect classical sound I was striving for throughout my training. My voice and sound with JNTJ soon found our way in the rock genre and I am grateful for all the support we have received.
3. Who were some of the most influential figures in your early musical life, and how did they inspire your sound? Also, what’s the story behind choosing the name ‘Jane N’ The Jungle’?
Jane N’ The Jungle: Celine Dion was one of my favorite singers growing up. I would sing her songs for hours. Looking back at it now, it was probably helpful learning how to sing along to her music at a young age. Growing up, I was also inspired by Pat Benantar, Queen, Bonnie Tyler, and powerhouse singers from the 80’s. In high school I started to be inspired by artists like Tori Amos, Alanis Morissette and No Doubt. The band name came in 2015, after people kept saying I reminded them of the Jane Porter character from Tarzan. They said I was proper, quiet and shy but then on stage I was a loud belting crazy woman like Jane in the Jungle. We liked the fun, free spirited theme of the name and became Jane N’ The Jungle soon after.
4. What do you believe sets your music apart? How would you describe your sound to someone discovering you for the first time, and what emotions or experiences do you hope to evoke in your listeners?
Jane N’ The Jungle: Brian Dellis and I developed a sound heavily inspired by 90’s alternative and grunge music while starting a garage rock band in 2013. My theater performance background with Dellis’s punk rock roots while blending our love for 90’s music definitely set our sound apart. Our lyrics and sound is emotional and dramatic, we often joke that it’s not for an easy listening type of crowd. In the more recent years, our music has leaned into the modern and hard rock genre that felt like a natural progression for us. We hope that our music can inspire conversations related to the different topics we write about, such as this release “Parasite” being about the negative effects of artificial intelligence.
5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as METAL?
Jane N’ The Jungle: For the longest time, I didn’t think I was inspired by anyone and wasn’t chasing a sound. I was just singing and writing what felt organic and natural at that moment in time. Now looking back, and with recent artist development classes, that can sometimes feel like therapy… I am now able to identify where my inspiration came from at a young age and now the artists that did pave the way to the sound we developed. I still think our sound is unique, and doesn’t sound like anyone else which has made us stand out. I didn’t think I was a metal singer but then people kept referring to me as one, so now I am happy if that’s what I identify with. It makes me want to lean further into the metal style as a singer and artist.
6. Music often transcends entertainment. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
Jane N’ The Jungle: I think there are lots of different underlying themes that can be related to current cultural or social aspects. I am inspired by our differences and I try to offer a different point of view or way to speak about a subject coming from a female perspective. Politically, I want to strive to bridge the gap between issues that divide us and celebrate the differences. I think humans are imperfect and it’s what makes us all unique. I think music can be a safe space and outlet for people to feel welcomed and as an artist you should always speak about subjects and issues that move you. Spiritually, I feel using my voice and platform as an artist is my calling and gift from God.
7. Do you feel the rewards of your musical career match the energy and passion you invest in it, or are there different kinds of fulfillment you’re still seeking?
Jane N’ The Jungle: Interesting, I’ve never thought of it that way… I always try to do my best in all aspects of the band. Every little win feels good, like our hard work paying off. When you are constantly working so hard at it, it can be easy to lose sight of the accomplishments and progress made. I still feel we have such a long way to go.
8. Can you walk us through your creative process? From the first spark of an idea to the finished track, what’s the most essential part of your process, and how do collaboration or external influences shape your work?
Jane N’ The Jungle: Every song is different. For “Parasite” it started with the theme and production pretty much going hand in hand to get the vibe.
It was our first time working with Cameron Mizell and Dan Pellarin on a songwriting collaboration, and we really enjoyed the process.
9. What’s been the most challenging hurdle in either your personal life or music career, and how has it shaped you as an artist?
Jane N’ The Jungle: I try not to dwell on the shortcomings because it’s easy to feel discouraged. I think the hardest part is when a creative relationship ends. We have had many talented musicians be a part of our journey that became our close friends. It’s a very emotional, sensitive space you create together and it’s a hard, long road that can feel not worth pursuing to someone at any given time. I am thankful for all the memories we have created and it makes me happy to have worked with so many great people, but during the times of saying goodbye was always the hardest.
10. On the flip side, what moment or achievement in your career so far has made you feel the proudest, and why? And let’s talk about your latest release and future plans.
Jane N’ The Jungle: I think one of my favorite highlights of the band that makes me feel proudest is when we played the main stage at SXSW in 2022 opening for The Warning and Sammy Hagar & The Circle. It was the largest crowd we have ever played to and our first Gibson collaboration performance and felt like we reached a milestone. It was a big deal for us and a show I will never forget. We are excited for our new song “Parasite” to drop on August 15th!! Brian and I have been working on a new hard rock project with producers we haven’t worked with before that will be under a new band name that we look forward to sharing details soon. It’s been fun to reinvent ourselves in a new way of artistic expression that feels heavier and authentic to where we are at today as artists. We are passionate about continuing to pursue Jane N’ The Jungle and hope this can help us further connect to Jane and our 90’s roots that inspired us to form the project out of my garage in 2013. You might be able to hear the pattern of Jane getting heavier, so we decided to explore the desire we had to go for a true hard rock, metal sound.
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