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BIO
New Music Video from sophomore release "BLOCKS", in stores April 1, 2008
Voted as a "Suggested Artist" By VH-1 Song of the Year Awards!
Formerly signed with Angel Records
Two National Tours
Second Release BLOCKS mixed by Grammy winner Phil Nicolo, out April 1, 2008
"I want people to have an 'altered time' kind of experience that happens in the theater or a really good movie, the kind where you can forget about what's going on with you and travel like you're dreaming."
For singer/songwriter Jana Losey and her and co-writer/producer Melanie Peters, it's not just the live performances that have felt dreamlike in recent days. After touring cross-country and moving back to her hometown of Lawrenceville, PA (population 600), Jana and Melanie recorded this labor of love mostly in the house where Jana grew up ? the same house that will soon be torn down to accommodate the new highway currently going up in their backyard!
When she was growing up, Losey's exposure to pop culture was limited a bit by the size of her hometown. "Today, everybody from your dentist to your mom is in a band of some sort," Losey says. "I think it's great that kids start bands so young now. They have so much more access to music and the world. I was pretty sheltered, and there was some good to that. But I do wish I had started things earlier."
In her small town, however, learned how to play guitar, piano, flute and tenor saxophone. In college, she studied voice, and minored in photography and dance.
On Broadway, and signed by Bruce Lundvall to Angel Records
Jana spent five years with wacky performance art/theater troupe Squonk Opera, Bruce Lundvall (then of Angel Records and now of Blue Note Records) signed the group and released a soundtrack of the Broadway show. Staging an avant-garde Broadway production, the well-rounded Losey developed a unique talent for delivering the kind of 'altered time' experience she hopes her performances will inspire.
"I think my theater experience taught me to think of the show from the audience's perspective. I think I'm also more open to combinations of music and visuals that might create things people haven't seen or heard before."
Debut CD 'Bittersweet' sells out of first pressing, re-issued with 4 live tracks
The 2006 debut of 'Bittersweet' and subsequent tour was the result of a serendipitous collaboration with partner Melanie Peters, and earned a good deal of radio airplay in the northeast, which translated into a devoted following of fans.
"When Melanie and I started to explore writing together, the songs got good really fast," Losey reflects. "I wanted to share them. I left New York burned out, but with this project, I felt rejuvenated. So I slowly crept back into the business."
Whereas, Bittersweet was an experiment in writing pop songs that originally were intended to be sold to other artists, Losey describes her new record Blocks as a project that was conceived and structured as an album from the beginning. During the development of Blocks, Losey's primary goal was to focus on her storytelling.
"I want to not force-feed people an oversimplified lyric, and at the same time, not be so esoteric that my intention is not clear. I always strive to be a better songwriter and I hope the albums played back to back will illustrate that."
Second release 'BLOCKS' scheduled for release in Janaury 2008, already receiving national attention
Hot off the press, and scheduled for release on January 15th, 2008, Jana's second release BLOCKS is set to blaze an indie buzz with multiple Grammy winner Phil Nicolo (Fugees, Lauren Hill, Dishwalla, John Lennon) at the mixing board. Recorded nearly entirely in Lawrenceville, PA in an old farm house, and with Jana and co-writer Melanie Peters playing most of the instruments themselves, Phil Nicolo brings a successful indie and major label track record along to top off a truly unique sound.
With over 400 stops thus far, Jana Losey has established a superior fan base all across the US, having continually played cities like: NYC, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Buffalo, Austin TX, Seattle WA, Portland OR, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. This winter a second US tour gets underway re-enforcing these cities, as well as adding Boulder CO , Nashville TN, and St. Louis MO.
Social and Ecological Awareness
The success of the Bittersweet album encouraged her to begin thinking about how to construct a long-term, sustainable career in music. As a result, she began to take a big-picture view of her life in general and how she could sow the seeds for a long career, and eventually create a permaculture community. That direction inspired her to make changes that affect many aspects of her life on the road.
"My commitment to Permaculture right now is mostly a commitment to considering the environment in everything I do. From office supplies and CD production to food choices, gasoline and motel rooms, I try to make the least amount of impact I can." Losey's goal is to use her music, Web site, and touring performances to support and spread the word about environmental sustainability.
Coming Up Next...........
So what's next for this modern Renaissance woman? "I'm working really hard to make a fan base that is lasting, not following trends," says Losey. "People who will like the artistic changes I will no doubt go through. We plan to be bi-coastal traveling back and forth between upstate New York and California."