Introducing Jane Bruce
Photo by Rebecca Michelson (Filter by Squarespace)
Hey Jane, how the heck are you?
Hiya! I’m doing great! Feeling very excited for my album to be out, at long last!
So set the scene for me... where are you right now, and what are you up to today?
I am in New York City, the sun is out after a few gloomy days, and I am sipping some coffee while getting ready to spend the day doing some zoom rehearsal.
Introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi! I’m Jane! I’m originally from Ogden, Utah, but I’ve lived in NYC for quite a while. I’ve been writing songs for most of my life, but My Bed and the singles I’ve released from it are sort of my first real entry into the music world. Professionally I’ve been more focused on my acting career, and was lucky enough to hit a huge milestone, making it on Broadway in 2019 with the company of Jagged Little Pill. But I love Americana and Folk music equally as much, and am thrilled to begin the journey of putting my own stories out there! I joke that I deal in feelings and emotion, and while I love bringing other characters and stories to life, I love writing and sharing my own squishy, vulnerable, messy feelings with people through my music.
Tell me about your latest song, ‘Song About You’.
‘Song About You’ is one of the older songs on the album, but was actually the first song that my producer Elliah Heifetz and I brainstormed an arrangement for, long before most of the rest of the songs were written. I hadn’t written a lot of “F— You” songs, I tended towards “F— Me” songs about my own failings, but I really love the confidence the song portrays while also alluding to some of those shortcomings within myself. And that arrangement Elliah and I came up with really makes it feel like my version of a “bop.”
What was the starting point for writing the song?
A lot of my songs are born from one tiny moment or feeling that sort of buries itself inside of me until I pick up my guitar and start picking at the edges of that emotion. Then a song usually comes out quite quickly. ‘Song About You’ was like that, and while it might seem like the song is more angry at this ex for continuing to show up at my concerts, I think the deep down feeling was trying to write about my own guilt and shame about how I’d ended things with this actually very nice person who was still coming out to support me. I was more used to being the heartbroken than the heartbreaker and I suppose this song was my (slightly twisted) take on that experience.
Your new album, My Bed, is out now, what can you tell me about it?
It’s primarily a break-up album, but it’s also about shedding an idea of myself and allowing myself to be messy and angry and honest in the process of that evolution. The majority of the songs were written while we were doing the pre-Broadway run of Jagged Little Pill in Cambridge, MA and I was definitely influenced by so much of Alanis’ raw, evocative anger and the longing in her lyrics. Plus, being immersed in her melodies six days a week really broadened how I wrote for my voice in that time as well. I think the next stage of that evolution has happened in the time since I wrote and recorded the album and have continued to slowly lay down those bricks of confidence that I was lacking to build up the courage to release it. I’m so grateful to all the people who’ve encouraged me, listened to repeated mixes and song orders, and helped me work through some of the imposter syndrome I feel entering a field full of so many incredible artists.
What’s the song on the album you’re most proud of?
I think ‘The Best of Me’ is my favorite song I’ve ever written, and I love how the arrangement turned out. I consider Laura Marling an enormous inspiration, and that is the song of mine I would show her if I ever got the chance.
And which was the most difficult to write?
So many of the songs on the album were the pour-out-of-you type, but I did feel stuck for a while on ‘To Be Needed’. I did actually meet a very nice man on a flight that got delayed to the point of us both needing to spend the night in LAX, and after being single for five or so months since the primary relationship the album is about had ended, he had a kindness about him that I hadn’t encountered in a man for a while, a kindness that seemed not to be in exchange for anything from me, and I told him I’d write him a song!
My ex had put all my things in storage (without me), I’d been travelling and couch surfing, trying to enjoy myself and be really present in my single-dom, but I also felt very irritated by my own desire to have someone desire me – to need me. Those couple of feelings gave me most of the song, but then I was hung up for a while until I went to pick up some things from my ex. I had that brief moment of “Well… maybe…,” which fortunately passed very quickly, but I went right home and finally had a last verse for the song.
With the poor $ numbers from streaming, what’s the best way for people to support you and your music?
It truly is tragic what artists get paid for streaming! I am still getting merch together, but folks can buy my album on Bandcamp and/or iTunes (or I have some CDs for people who still own devices that play them!), and I’m always so grateful when folks spread the word about my songs or add them to playlists. Or if you know anyone that could put one of my tunes in a TV show or commercial, I’d really appreciate that support too!
Social media; necessary evil or most fun you can have with your phone?
Necessary… but wow… I hate it. My dad recently retired and had “learn the buttons” for any/all devices on his retirement to-do list several times - and I am very much his child. I’m so grateful for some of the connections I’ve made, particularly with some of the lovely fans of Jagged Little Pill, but if I can ever afford to have someone else do all of mine, I will absolutely be doing that!
I know that some of your favourite artists are Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple, and Alanis Morrissette, if you had to pick one song of theirs for people to listen to which would you choose?
Just one?! I’ll pick one for each because... I simply must. ‘You’re With Stupid Now’ is absolutely one of my favorite Aimee Mann songs (and all time songs), ‘Fast As You Can’ is my go to “F— Me” feeling song, and ‘Right Through You’ is the Alanis song I most love to cover, but you really can’t go wrong with any of them!
If you could recommend one artist to listen to this week, who would it be?
Elliah Heifetz! He’s got two singles out and an album coming on April 1st that I was lucky enough to be a small part of, and it is absolutely incredible. I pretty much strictly listen only to female artists… with the exception of Elliah. The songwriting, the voice… so good!
What’s the question we should have asked you today but haven’t?
I’ve been thinking a lot about time, getting older, expectations, art… so if you had asked me about my goals as an artist in 2022 I would have ranted about all those things and how I’m trying to find truth in all of my creative avenues. Or you could have asked what was next and I would tell you that I am so excited about the next album of tunes I’ve been putting together!
That is what I normally ask, but didn’t today! Finally, how do you take your coffee?
With a hefty splash of oat milk!
To find out more about Jane go check out her website or give her a follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and play the album below.
