Austin’s own Jane Ellen Bryant is releasing her latest single, “All In My Head,” on Friday, Feb. 17. The single will debut at a release party at C-Boy’s Heart & Soul on S. Congress Ave. Dr. Joe will be opening for Bryant, who will then play a set with her band.
Article by Jackie Ruth
After being born and raised in the Live Music Capital of the World, Bryant debuted musically in 2013 with her album “Hourglass,” then released an EP titled “Twenties” last summer. The 2016 EP led to her being named Austin Monthly’s “Artist of the Month,” with Austin Monthly Executive Editor Sarah Thurmond writing, “Despite her youthful appearance, Bryant often exudes a wise-beyond-her-years quality. Her voice at times has a world-weary sultriness.”
In addition to the accolades from Austin Monthly, Bryant’s lead single from the EP, also titled “Twenties,” was named KUTX’s “Song of the Day” on July 21. She was chosen as the “Artist of the Month” by the Austin Music Foundation in November 2016, and they selected her to take part in their inaugural Artist Development Program with other local acts, including Gina Chavez, Jackie Venson, Migrant Kids and more.
Producer Chris “Frenchie” Smith, who worked with Bryant on the “Twenties” EP, also produced the forthcoming single “All In My Head.” About the new release, Smith said, “‘All in My Head’ represents something special to me as Jane’s producer. She is great at sharing new musical ideas she wants to explore, not only as the performer, songwriter and co-producer, but as an artist who wants to take chances. I respect and am moved by Jane’s desire to define who she is and who she will be in each recording.”
So, what led to the creation of “All In My Head?” According to Bryant, she had a revelation about a relationship she was in. When the relationship went sour, Bryant said, “I felt like I must be losing my mind to be so unaware of the situation and so isolated in my feelings.”
Her producer then heard her running through the song about a year after she first conceived of the idea for the track and asked if they could work on a demo of it together. “We sat with that demo and tested the song out live with my band for a while before we went back into the studio and made it all come to life. We wanted it to feel fresh and familiar to what is out there now, while staying true to my sound with real instruments and a little bit of heartbreaking rock ‘n’ roll,” Bryant said.
As for the sound of “All In My Head,” Smith expressed that it “captures a new sonic adventure for Jane.” The upcoming single has the songwriting skill and raw emotion that fans of Bryant have come to know and love, but there are aspects of the new track that are expected to draw in new listeners as well.
Bryant’s producer describes the track as having blended “songwriting with a neon colored resolve,” which is a perfectly accurate representation. Somehow mellow and energetic at the same time, the 3 ½-minute song is one that is will get stuck in your head and have you humming the melody in no time. The lyrics will be relatable to most people who have been in relationships, no matter how casual or serious, and the second-guessing that can occur when there is a lack of communication between people.
About Jackie
Originally hailing from Pennsylvania, Jackie has called Austin home since choosing to attend the University of Texas, where she graduated with a degree in multimedia journalism. She loves spending time with her dog, writing about pop culture in all its forms and spending time with friends – eating, drinking and doing trivia. You can follow Jackie on Twitter and Instagram.
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Originally hailing from Pennsylvania, Jackie has called Austin home since choosing to attend the University of Texas, where she graduated with a degree in multimedia journalism. She loves spending time with her dogs, writing about pop culture in all its forms and spending time with friends – eating, drinking and doing trivia.