The Velvet Janes
Country of origin:
Australia
Type of music generally:
Urban acoustic pop/rock
Status:
Happily performing and making new music. Most recent release, Live at The Velvet Lounge, 2000; most recent studio album, Opus No. 3, 1999
See also:
CD Baby's The Velvet Janes' page
Comparisons:
One of the things that's great about The Velvet Janes is that they have their own sound. Pushed into a corner, I might say that The Velvet Janes are a mix of the Cowboy Junkies, Katrina and the Waves, and the Indigo Girls. (billonline@adlerbooks.com)
Covers/own material:
All The Velvet Janes' material is original (with the exception of one U2 song.)
General comments:
Kick your shoes off, lean back in your favorite chair, and prepare to have a fun time listening to The Velvet Janes. Some of their songs are high energy, rough and tumble, while others are sweet and melancholy. It's not that there's something for everybody on The Velvet Janes' CDs, it's that they are musically versatile and have a lot to say.
There are songs of love: "I Will Follow," on their Opus No. 3 CD is one of those. There are songs of family, such as "Purple," about Rose Farrow's mother, who was institutionalized, but shared her love of life even still, on the Opus No. 3 CD; songs about raising children—"Zac's Song," about the life and future of a nine-year-old boy. The Velvet Janes cover a lot of territory.
The lyrics are sharp, insightful, clever, and sometimes pointed and sardonic. They say that the best writers write about what they know, and it clear from listening to The Velvet Janes' music that Martine Locke and Rose Farrow have lived a lot and have a lot to share.
Take "Shame on Me," from their Venus Calling CD. It starts with a soft pop sounds, then builds increasingly more complex and angry, as the regrets become more self-evident: "Shame on me for kissing you with my eyes closed so tight; shame on me for assuming I was the only one in your life...now the shame is on me."
The Velvet Janes are willing to be bold and to innovate with their music. The Velvet Janes are edgy—not your usual Ecto fare, though some of their songs could definitely be classified as "high Ecto." In order of Ectoish, here's how I would rank their three CDs from most Ecto to least (more about these CDs later):Oh, and the harmonies. Martine Locke and Rose Farrow are joined at the hip when it comes to their music. Some songs are soft and lyrical; others fit more comfortably into the rock category. Either way, every song on each of The Velvet Janes' CDs is a treat.
- Live at The Velvet Lounge (2000)
- Venus Calling (1998)
- Opus No. 3 (1999)
The strong guitar strumming mixes well with their singing.
But who are The Velvet Janes? The Velvet Janes come from Alice Springs and Perth, Australia, respectively. According to The Velvet Janes, they're about "journey of two friends who moved across the country, divorced a husband, left secure (i.e., really well-paid) jobs and made a commitment to write the best damn songs they could, play the way they wanted, sing passionately about everything from dogs to death and each time give 100% to their audiences and take them on a journey that is as unique as each audience is."
The Velvet Janes are engaging. They're not the usual stuff you might hear in the pop-rock genre. Let The Velvet Janes accompany you on your next long drive, or just pop a Janes' CD on while you sitting around with friends—either way, you're going to have a damn good time listening to their tunes. (One word of caution: Don't put this CD on and listen to it for the first time in front of children. A few words on a couple songs were once banned by the FCC.) (billonline@adlerbooks.com)
Recommended first album:
I'd suggest Live at The Velvet Lounge, The Velvet Janes' third full length CD as the best one to start with. Live at The Velvet Lounge, a live recording, just like the title says, could just as easily have been called, The Best of the Velvet Janes. Live at the Velvet Lounge shows how much fun Martine and Rose must have performing in front of live audiences. (And how much fun their audiences must have listening them, too.) (billonline@adlerbooks.com)
Recordings:
- Venus Calling (1998)
- Opus No. 3 (1999)
- Live at The Velvet Lounge (live, 2000)
Venus Calling
Release info:
1998, Ripe Records/Passionfruit Produce
Availability:
Available on The Velvet Janes website, CD Baby, and elsewhere.
Ecto priority:
Recommended, but be prepared for something that's different from the usual Ecto fare
Group members:
Martine Locke—lead vocals and guitar
Rose Farrow—lead vocals and guitar
Guest artists:
Matthew Branton—bass
Hayden Meggitt—drums
Dave MacDonald—drums
Blair Venn—harmonica
Carol Hall—funny vocal noises, piano
Produced by:
The Velvet Janes
Comments:
A superb debut CD. A mix of pop, rock, folk and grunge, with a strong acoustical backbone. They sing about life and all its quirks with satisfyingly clever and creative lyrics. (billonline@adlerbooks.com)
Opus No. 3
Release info:
1999—Passionfruit Records
Availability:
Available on The Velvet Janes website, CD Baby, and elsewhere.
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Martine Locke—lead vocals and guitar
Rose Farrow—lead vocals and guitar
Guest artists:
Matt Branton—bass
Hayden Meggitt—drums
Gary Ridge—percussion
Orlagh De Bhaldraithe—Bodhran/Tin Whistle
Produced by:
The Velvet Janes
Comments:
Opus No. 3 is a little mellower than Venus Calling, but also full of deft guitar playing and excellent lyrics. (billonline@adlerbooks.com)
Live at The Velvet Lounge
Release info:
2000—Passionfruit Records
Availability:
Available on The Velvet Janes website, CD Baby, and elsewhere.
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Martine Locke—lead vocals and guitar
Rose Farrow—lead vocals and guitar
Guest artists:
Roy Martinez—bass
Gary Ridge—drums/percussion
Produced by:
The Velvet Janes
Comments:
Some bands have so much personality that they must be seen live. And if you can't see them live, then the live album is the next best thing. This might be the CD to start with. There's a little banter from Martine and Rose on this CD (not too much, I promise), and the chatting does give you some insight into their songs. (billonline@adlerbooks.com)
Thanks to Bill Adler work on this entry.
