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Jane Germain showed up on the music scene in the 90's, with the
release
of the acclaimed debut, The Honeymoons Over (with the Dreamers) - working
with the production team of James Hewgill and Jim Fisher (who also played
most instruments).
Radio tracks such as Living on the Edge, and Somebody Tell Me introduced
listeners to an Australian songwriter by birth,and Chinese by heritage
who brought a self-styled vibrancy to the diverse music she whipped together
- blues, folk, funk anything else that seemed expressive and
alive.
The songs she wrote and sang were about feelings old and new,and the music
was inventively rhythmic as it was melodic.
Surrender took a different approach, aiming for a more rock- oriented ground
with Steve Garde on guitar - and the addition of John Reed on cittern brought
a spontaneous and expressive sound without losing the influences that are so
much a part of her identity.
The Honeymoons' Over and second album, Surrender (with it's gnarly guitar rock)
remain a firm presence in the marketplace, selling strongly at festivals, gigs,
and on Jane's website - www.janegermain.com
Jane continues to take her music in new directions without losing the influences
that are so much a part of her identity.
Her latest compositions emphasize free, brushstroke-like improvisations, inspired
by her recent experiences with other cultures and musicians and her life in China.
With this constant yearning to take her music beyond convention, Jane has
collaborated with many internationally renown musicians, including the
Mongolian traditional folk musicians Hanggai on the track Model Young Man
and Beijing er-hu (2 stringed Chinese violin) player Yang Tian Chuan on the
title track Chinese Whispers and When You Come Around Here
Jane first toured through China in 2001, introducing her songs to the Chinese people,
and returned for her "Middle Kingdom Tour" in September/October 2004.
She toured the Guangdong Province in January 2006 with performances in Guangzhou
and Shenzhen, and returned in May/June 2006 to Beijing with a tour covering 16 dates.
She returned to China again in December to collaborate with her Chinese friends.
Her forthcoming album, Chinese Whispers (released on
MGM) further develops the ideas and emotions that have long compelled Germain.
And with her ever upbeat sense of fusion and generosity, her music continues to
ignore the stylistic restrictions that can leave pop music stale.
Chinese Whispers also features accompaniment from some of Western Australia's top
musicians, including the highly acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Ian Simpson (Paul Kelly's
Stormwater Boys, Sensitive New Age Cowpersons), John Reed (Kavisha), Adam Gare
(Uncle Bill, Sensitive New Age Cowpersons), Dave Brewer (Diamond Dave & the
Doodaddies, Lucky Oceans) Joe Whittle and Ben Franz (The Waifs).
February 2010
Jane Germain and Ian Simpson are excited to announce the release of their new album,
Lonesome Road. This recording features just the two of them and is representative of the
variety of material they play together as a duo. The album features acoustic arrangements of
original material and songs from various artists such as Delmore Brother's Freight Train
Boogie and Blues Stay Away From Me, blues classics including Tommy Johnson's Big
Road Blues, and some bluegrass songs and instrumentals. This independent release is
available now.
Jane and Ian have just been awarded the 2010 WA Country Music Vocal Group or Duo for
the second year running.
Jane Germain & The Yahoos were nominated for the 2009 WAMI Best Country Music Act,
and Revenge is Sweet was nominated for the 2007 WAMI Song of the Year.
Jane Germain and Ian Simpson returned to China in 2008 for their "What Have I Got To
Lose?" tour - combining blues, country, bluegrass, swing and cultures in a sublime
international mix of sounds that is making their mark on the world scene.
They have recently been invited to return to China to perform at the 2010 World Expo which
will be held in Shanghai.
