|
Jane Laws was born in England. As a three year old, her family migrated to Zambia. During her childhood Jane moved from Zambia to Tasmania and back to Africa, first to Zimbabwe and then Namibia. Her mother is a music teacher and thus Jane spent all her youth with music. Jane played the clarinet in the Tasmanian Junior Youth Orchestra but by her teens had adopted the guitar as her favourite instrument. By fourteen she was writing her own songs. Jane moved to Western Australia in 1979 but has since spent two years in London and three years in Queensland.
Jane Laws is a Fremantle based singer-songwriter who enjoys writing about the places she has been and the folks she has met along the way. Jane also spends time writing at her bush hideaway in the Great Southern region.
Her favourite pastimes include long distance travel (Blog) by motorcycle and racing her yacht, Ambience, a Lotus 10.6, out of Fremantle Sailing Club.
Musically Jane writes folk-roots tunes flavoured with pop, jazz, blues and a touch of comedy. |
|
|
In 1996, Jane came to the spotlight with her folk ballad Seaflight. This song was written as a tribute to David Dicks, the Perth teenager who sailed solo, non-stop around the world. A cassette of Jane's work, including the 'Seaflight' track was produced by Seeing Ear Records, a local independent record label. The proceeds supporting The Seaflight Adventure. Jane performed to over 10,000 people at the Fremantle dockside welcome for David. Seeing Ear Records were so impressed with Jane's work they decided to work towards producing a CD of Jane's originals. In 1999, Pocket Universe Recording Studio, in association with Seeing Ear Records backed Jane by recording, producing and marketing overseas a CD of Jane's original songs. Jane's new CD, Gypsy Traveller, was released in December 2000. Gypsy Traveller also features Erik Kowarski (Violin, Bass Guitar, Banjo), Peter Piccini (Piano, Piano Accordion), Peter Grayling (Cello), Syl Kowarski (Mandolin) and Tony Gaynor (Harmonica).
|
The year 2001 saw Jane performing gigs and doing promotional appearances for her Gypsy Traveller CD. In 2002 Jane teamed up with award winning songwriter Sonny Rolfe. Jane recorded some songs for Sonny and they wrote other material together. Janes long time association with the sea was the inspiration for her maritime project, an EP, titled Songs in the Key of Sea. Jane is sure to gain more fans with this one. The nautical phrasing is captured like only a mariner can. |
|
|
In November 2004, Jane released The Moods I'm In. This eclectic mix contains fifteen tracks of original music written by Jane. The tracks are varied, with folk, jazz and country influences. Although if you had to pigeon hole the album, it would probably be placed into the contemporary folk basket. There are some politically influenced, deep and meaningful, melancholy and, just to mix it up, shallow love songs. Jane was lucky to team up with guitar wizz Mike Alexander on four of the tracks. His accompaniment took some delightful songs to a whole new level. Jane and Mike so enjoyed working together that in December 2004 they teamed up to form acoustic duo No Drama. No Drama were kept busy playing their original funky tunes around the music clubs and festivals until Mike was diagnosed with cancer in May 2007. Sadly Mike passed away in September 2007 leaving Jane performing solo once again. In 2016 Jane released Does It Rhyme? her first album for ten years. This long awaited album has a distinctly Australian feel with six of the tracks inspired by Jane's experiences travelling around Australia on her motorcycle. Jane's distinctly original style will draw you in and make you want to listen to what she's been writing about over the last few years. Jane teamed up with renowned saxophone player, Lindsay Gould, to write Secrets of a Bass Player and Take You To Vegas. You'll be entertained by this easy listening collection of folk-roots songs with a flavour of pop, jazz, blues and a touch of comedy. |
Jane's long awaited collection of maritime songs was released in July 2018. In January 2022 Jane released her fifth studio album, Timing and Expectation. Timing and Expectation is a collection of folk roots songs in the Jane Laws style we have become accustomed to. You hear Jane sing about the Australian outback and travelling in Australia, The Victoria Falls, mental health, love, pay tribute to the great musicians she has had the pleasure of working with, and have some fun down on the beach. Recently Jane has released two singles, Fremantle Harbour Bound and My Last Teaspoon of Honey. |
|
And what else is in the pipeline?
Well, who knows?
Meanwhile, Jane is busy writting, performing and recording.