Local singer/songwriter, Janie Bay, has made a name for herself as a folk songstress over the past few years. However, as she releases her brand new studio album and first under Warner Music South Africa, the star steps outside of her comfort zone on what is her most exciting collection of tracks to date.
‘Better Off’, the lead single off the projects sets a pretty realistic tone. Much like the single, the album is filled with summery pop sounds, a variety of sonic elements and some impressive songwriting. As the title suggests, the album sees Janie dabble in a variety of different spaces, however, there is a golden thread that ties this album together. From the more upbeat electronic pop tracks to the signature folk sound we’ve come to know Janie for, the star proves she is a jack of all trades. “’Miscellany’ means a mixture of things’ – and the album is exactly that. A mixture of sounds, experiences and feelings,” Janie explains.
However, although this is the most commercial sound we’ve heard from the star, she promises each track is still filled with emotion and meaning. “Most of the songs which we recorded first were quite heavy and emotional, so we felt we needed a balance,” she explains. “We just wanted to do what is best for each song individually, but there is great meaning behind each song so it came together well.”
Therefore, each different sound represents a piece of who Janie Bay really is. So, it’s unsurprising that the star also opted to include two Afrikaans tracks on the record – an electronic ballad titled ‘Wag Vir Jou’ (which is a duet with Die Heuwels Fantasties’ Hunter Kennedy) and the stripped down ‘Koning’ which is reminiscent of the folk sound Janie shot to fame with.
While all the songs mean a lot to Janie, the star admits she connects to ‘Gotta Get Home (Jesse)’ the most. The song is edgy, dark and shows a side to Janie we haven’t seen before. “The song is about the fact that the grass may not always be greener on the other side. We often think there is something better for us out there. Someone better, a better house, a better country,” she explains. “We make decisions and mistakes through life and we have to live with those consequences. But, this is how we grow. This makes us human.”
Now that ‘Miscellany’ is out, Janie is excited for her fans to hear the new material. “I just want people to feel,” Janie says when asked what she wants audiences to take away from the record. “I want them to be able to have one or more songs that they can relate to. I am a singer/songwriter at heart, so I write about my own experiences and those of others. So, I hope the listeners will use my songs to help them go through whatever they are experiencing at the time. ”
‘Miscellany’ is now available at Musica and on your favourite digital platform.
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