IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Jane's Party
Jane’s Party is on a roll, having been handpicked to open for Tom Odell in both Europe and North America. Jane’s Party, formed in 2008 and based in Toronto, features the musical talents and passions of Tom Ionescu (guitar, vocals), Devon Richardson (bass, vocals), Jeff Giles (keys, vocals), and Zach Sutton (drums). In addition to a few EPs, they have put out two full-length records, Hot Noise and Tunnel Visions, in 2013 and 2016, respectively. They have shared the stage with artists such as Arkells and Lord Huron.
They recently completed their second tour with Tom Odell, making a stop at Rough Trade in Brooklyn on September 17, 2018 to perform two shows in the same night. Moments after their first set, they generously shared some of their time to pose for portraits and chat about a variety of topics, including the process behind making their upcoming record, their tour essentials, and even named a few spots in NYC and Toronto where they like to grab a bite to eat.
What’s the story behind the formation of Jane’s Party?
ZACH: We met at York University in Toronto; we were all studying music together, and we just started playing rock ‘n’ roll.
DEVON: We realized that all three of us [Tom, Jeff, and I] write songs, so why would we not? We were playing covers around local campus bars and we were like, “Why are we playing covers when we could be playing our own music?” We started writing together, and that’s sort of how we formed.
TOM: It just so happens that Zach is sort of a business wiz.
ZACH: Don’t quote him on wiz, but I am into business.
What was the first instrument (musical or non-musical) you started making music with?
DEVON: I started on piano when I was younger, and then when I was 12, I switched to bass guitar.
JEFF: I was a dancer, and then I went into music.
ZACH: I started with piano lessons, but as far back as I remember, I played drums when I was younger in some shape or form.
TOM: My dad’s a musician, so there were always guitars around the house. I kind of grabbed them, and started hitting them.
Which song (released or unreleased) are you most proud of?
ZACH: There was a song, the second song, called “Wait for You,” and that’s with Tom singing. Tom sings a lot, but we don’t have a lot of Tom songs that are just pure, raw energy. I find that mostly, we feature you [Tom], but now we get to see Tom step out and just literally kill it with pure energy. I’m really proud of that tune.
TOM: A lot of the time, musicians will tell you that the last song they wrote is their most favorite. I think generally, you try to one-up yourself every time you write something new. I also think that the last thing you wrote is what you’re most proud of.
DEVON: We’re really excited for the new record we got coming out in the new year. We put a lot of work into it; we spent a lot of time on it crafting the songs, and I think it’s going to be really great.
JEFF: I agree, the new record is going to be sweet.
You’re getting ready to release a new record, Casual Island, in February. What was the process of writing, recording, and producing it?
JEFF: We had a lot of the songs beforehand in the form of demos, and so we brought those to the table to a guy named Derek Hoffman (a producer) based in Toronto, and basically started tweaking the songs: stripping things off, and putting things in. We actually ended up recording everything first and drums last, which is the total opposite of what we usually do. It was a very backwards process for us, but a really interesting one because it made us look at the tracks differently and approach them differently. We’re still in the process of mixing and finishing that.
DEVON: With a lot of these songs, we started focusing on them after the European tour supporting Tom Odell, who we’re here tonight with. It was fun to do that.
TOM: I also think this record has the most demo material on it that stuck around. We were actually talking to Tom Odell in Europe, and he was saying that he did a lot of the vocals on his last record just in his basement. We were like, “That is amazing” because they sound incredible. For this record, as soon as you keep some of the stuff you recorded at home or wherever it may have been, the first time being the take becomes more meaningful.
ZACH: We’ve been releasing a few songs at a time, so that has kept us excited to be working while we’re also releasing and promoting songs from the album.
While on the road, what are some of your essential tour items?
TOM: Aux cable. It’s always one I tend to forget, too.
DEVON: Water. It’s important to stay hydrated.
JEFF: Toothbrush is one that I forget often.
ZACH: I like to have a good pair of shoes to walk in. I like to have my Birkenstock sandals as well to chill in.
What happens before you go onstage? Is there a Jane’s Party pre-show ritual?
DEVON: We watched that Eagles documentary on Netflix, and it has this really great vocal warm up. We started to get our harmonies really going before we go on so that our ears are locked in to what we’re singing and what not.
Check it out here!
What’s your favorite restaurant and/or food in NYC? Any places back home in Toronto?
ZACH: The Meatball Shop on Greenwich was good. I had some good pizza yesterday. I also love the food stands, like the gyros.
TOM: I think for Toronto, the Thai food there these days is really tight.
JEFF: Jerk chicken is where it’s at in Toronto.
DEVON: Ethiopian food as well. Toronto’s a very multicultural city, so you get a lot of amazing dishes at a lot of different spots.
ZACH: Indian food.
If there were a pizza with the name “Jane’s Party,” what toppings would it feature?
ZACH: I think we would find an easier time splitting.
DEVON: Half veggie, half meat.
TOM: I got onions and hot peppers the other day, and that got a few strange looks.
JEFF: It would be a spicy half and half.
TOM: Cauliflower crust.
ZACH: I like barbeque sauce and tomato sauce.
DEVON: It’s really like a 4-sided pizza.
ZACH: I think that’s how we’ve lasted so long as a band. Just let everyone have their own slice of pizza.
Who is your favorite superhero character, and why?
DEVON: Batman has always been my favorite because he’s just a normal guy, and he’s super rich; that’s pretty attainable as a superpower.
JEFF: Professor Xavier. I don’t know if he’s considered a superhero, but he’s a guru to the superheroes. He’s the bald brain.
ZACH: I like Spiderman because he’s sort of your every man. He’s a really nice guy who wants to do good who got bit by a spider, and now has some crazy powers.
TOM: I always liked Iron Man because he tinkers with machines and stuff, and builds wicked suits. He also doesn’t have powers because he’s dying from like a chest injury. I’ll take his tinkering, but leave his chest injury.
What’s a question you have wanted to get asked in an interview, and what’s the response to it?
DEVON: I like when we people have listened to our music, and they ask us about lyrics and stuff like that.
TOM: I was going to say the same thing. We’ve had a couple of interviews where people dive deep into our tracks, and then they’ll come up with some really cool thoughtful stuff. It’s just nice when someone else is as invested into your art as you are, and you can have a conversation about that.
JEFF: I like it when people ask us if we have side jobs. It makes me wonder if they think we maybe don’t have side jobs.
ZACH: I like it when people ask if Jeff’s my brother.
TOM: We’re really proud of our lyrics, and when we play live shows, a lot of the time, they get buried and lost. When we have people who actually know what we’re talking about or where you’re coming from, it means a lot and makes it really personal.
A tremendous thank you to Cristina at Listen Harder for coordinating, and to Jane’s Party for the time and thought to respond to the questions!
Be sure to check out their amazing sound, and follow them on Twitter (@JanesPartyBand) and Instagram (@janespartyband), and like them on Facebook (/janesparty)!