This time on The NAS 10 Questions, we get to know Jane Marie, a songwriter based in the UK who teamed up with vocalist Jessica Mia to create a heartfelt collection of songs about life, love and loss.
The track "Overloving" is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.
Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:
1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.
Songwriter and Composer Jane Marie started writing from a very young age. After studying at the London College of Music, she developed a successful career with credits for the BBC and Channel 4, as well as the stage musical, "A Tale of Two Cities'' and the film score for “Othello” produced by GoBig Productions. During lockdown, Jane Marie started working with singer Jessica Mia and producer Tim Walker and created the album “Songs of 2022” - a heartfelt collection of songs talking about life, love and loss.
2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?
We had a family heirloom piano - a Bosendorfer - that was given a retune when I was 8 years old... Soon after, I started tinkling around and I wrote my first composition a few weeks later. My parents thought it may be worth getting me some lessons and the rest is history! I stopped learning for a while during "those teenage years" but then a music teacher at school encourage me to take GCSE music and start up again. That led to "A" level music, a music degree in Music and a Masters. And here I am, ( a lot of years later!) still composing!
𝟯. Who are your biggest influences?
This is such a hard question to answer! I have a wide range of influences from Classical to pop! I love the likes of Mahler, Elgar and Holst and many film scores, particularly by John Barry. I grew up listening to my parents' mix from Neil Diamond to Elton John and Paul McCartney! Then went through all genres as a teenager from The Cure to the Red Hot Chillie Peppers to The Levellers and most recently have a love of Coldplay, Dido and JP Saxe. Work that all out if you can!
4. What are your goals in the music industry?
To be heard! As a child I set myself very high expectations and wanted to win an Oscar one day for best film score... Now I would be happy if my music has been listened to and had a positive effect on someone. I have NAS to thank for that...
5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.
It often happens when I am on a dog walk or cooking dinner for my children! I get a melody in my head, lyrics will come soon after. I will sing the idea into my iPhone voice recorder (cannot be without that anymore!) and at the earliest opportunity I will begin to thrash out chords and melody on my Bosendorfer. Next I record into Logic and start to add the rest of the instrumentation... At least I think this is what happens... this is going to sound very odd but looking back, the process from creating a new melody over cutting broccoli in the kitchen, to a to full blown track for a band plus string parts is one big blur!!
6. What is your all-time favorite song?
Impossible to answer! I love too many!!
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
Never give up on your dreams! So many times I have nearly jacked it all in and attempted to get a "proper job". But then the urge to create returns and the dream continues for a bit longer...
8. Proudest accomplishment?
I won an award for composing at school and later at University for "most likely student to score for film". Then Seeing my name on the Television programmes and films that I scored back in the day. And now seeing my songs alive on Spotify/iTunes and other streaming platforms.
9. Just for fun! What's been your most embarrassing moment so far?
Collapsing at the front of the "Mum's Race" on my son's sports day and causing a Grand National pile-up when my legs gave way!!! (I hadn't long had my 3rd baby and thought I could win anything!) :)))))
𝟭0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
Lowest - Writing 13 pitches for television music back in 2001 and getting turned down for all but one.
Highest - having my name on the screen!
Stream "Overloving" now
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Really interesting read! Wishing all the best to Jane on her future works :)
Loved the interview, will definitely check out more upcoming projects from the artist. 💯
So incredibly talented I have been a fan of Janes for a while now. Glad to learn more about you.
Thanks Jane. Really enjoyed getting to know your backstory. Can deffo relate growing up and being totally hocked on musicmaking at a young age. And now I‘m watching my son making his way into scoring, game and trailer music - exciting. Your experiences sound a bit familiar…😉👍😊. Great one. Love your work.
Fantastica,big ten! Congrats 🍀