Artist Of The Week #167 - JÁNA
This week’s Artist of the Week is Stockholm based singer-songwriter JÁNA who has just released her new EP ‘Works’ via Majestic Casual Records. She took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there JANA - so your EP is out now, how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
Hi there! It feels fantastic and a little scary. I’m so happy with these songs and the concept of the EP, but it always feels different to listen to it once it’s out. It’s not only mine anymore, you know.
It is called ‘Works’ - does that hold a certain meaning behind it?
Yes, it is a follow up to my latest EP Flowerworks, which was about a relationship. This is about the time after the breakup and everything that comes with it. The works.
Where was the EP recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process?
The EP was recorded in my home studio, as well as in Gothenburg at Little Dragon’s studio and at a friends studio which is placed in what I think is an old school. It’s really creepy cause there are just a bunch of old empty classrooms and one that is used as a studio, in the middle of the woods. The studio is called Spökhuset which is like “the ghost house” in Swedish. But the studio itself is very cosy and big and has daylight which is very unusual for studios I think. Most of the songs came together through me and my drummer, friend and producer just jamming together, he on the drums and me on the guitar.
This EP feels very personal, like almost as if you have dug deep to learn more about yourself - is that the case? Is this a personal EP? Is there a journey to it?
It certainly is. I think I have been forced to do so by going through this breakup. I think coming out of a relationship feels kind of like coming off a high/being drunk. Like you realise so much about what happened afterwards, like when you’re hungover the day after drinking lol.
The EP features a few collaborations - including members of Little Dragon and bassist Ben Reed - how did those partnerships come about? And what did they add to the EP?
I’ve been writing with Little Dragon since 2017, I was their supporting act in Sweden and we talked afterwards and then I was invited to Gothenburg to write with them. They are the best and so supportive.
With Ben Reed it's just surreal. I emailed him about playing on a song, cause I know he plays with Frank Ocean and on Blonde and Endless which are two of my favorite albums. Never thought he’d be up for it though. He added so much to the song (Foreword) and really put a lot of work into it as well. He is super nice and I’m so happy to have him on the project.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
My first EP was a reference to “Flowerworks" being the cycle of a relationship, the flowers portraying femininity. This EP “Works” is taking place in a car, it starts in a withered garden (what is left of Flowerworks) which you drive away from, to deal with the loss inside a moving shell - the car/you. Then there is a full circle moment when you step out of the car into nature, free again. I feel free in nature and most emotions can be connected to things that happen in nature. Like volcano outbursts, you getting angry or a flower blooms and so do you.
I was very inspired by Steve Lacy and Tyler the Creator during the process of writing this EP.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
Oh I like that question. The lyrics are super important to me and what takes the most of my time. I really like how “Joyride” and “Both Sides” happened lyrically as it sort of just came to me. Like the lyrics appeared faster than I could write with my pen. That’s THE best feeling in the world.
Now the EP is out there - what's next for you?
I want to play live as much as possible, travel with music once it’s possible and I'm writing on what I think will become my debut album.