About
It all traces back to a shared townhouse garage in Toronto’s North York neighbourhood.
Four friends – all university students at the time – compiled a few instruments, a random collection of microphones, and some makeshift studio gear to bring a collection of original songs to life with no set agenda or grand ambition. The resulting recordings, however, humble as they may be, glowed with an obvious spark that set Jane’s Party on a course from campus cover band to revered indie rock outfit with a still-growing pile of achievements and accolades propelling their rise.
“The thing that got us started is the same thing that keeps us going: songs that we want to get out into the world,” shares drummer Zach Sutton, and since formally releasing those first 10 songs as The Garage Sessions LP in 2009, he and his bandmates – Jeff Giles (keys/guitar/vocals), Tom Ionescu (guitar/vocals), and Devon Richardson (bass/vocals) – have made impressive strides on their shared mission.
“We’ve done a lot of exploration over the years, kind of taking our time to really lock into our sound, but I think that’s ultimately been a positive for us,” offers Giles. That couldn’t be more evident in Jane’s Party’s output over the past decade-plus, which showcases a sonic palette even most established bands would beg for.
Their 2011 self-titled EP and 2013 sophomore full-length, Hot Noise, built on the breezy folk rock base of The Garage Sessions with more energy, electricity, and eclecticism. 2016’s Tunnel Visions pushed further into electro-pop territory with vibe-heavy textures that could tempt anyone onto a dancefloor while 2019’s Casual Island welcomed a diverse group of guest artists for some compelling collaborations rooted in polished pop rock with hooks for days.
But while Jane’s Party has experimented with different sounds and styles, influences and eras, the sonic identity that first emerged with The Garage Sessions has remained: simple-but-substantial melodies, rich, multi-part harmonies, and a mastery of musical dynamism.
“I really like the fact that our newer fans get to dive into a pretty deep back catalogue and actually hear how we’ve evolved over time,” offers Ionescu. “We’re obviously proud of everything we’ve put out, and while I think our songs keep getting better, that’s really a testament to the foundation we’re building on.”
Their effortless penchant for catchy pop melodies rich with substance has made them sought-after for feature spots and syncs across pretty much every creative medium. They’ve had songs placed in films and series like Saving Hope, Burden of Truth, Kim’s Convenience, and Hockey Night in Canada; been commissioned for custom compositions for popular TV and podcast networks; and earned impressive engagement numbers across their various social media channels – including over 40 million streams of their hit “Daydream” after a feature in Fortnite.
They’ve also extended their creative universe into clever covers and remixes, making their own music videos, and even two imaginative and often irreverent feature-length musical specials: 2020’s The Marshmallow Revue and 2021’s Wild in the Woods.
Both aptly capture Jane’s Party’s profound musicianship and warm, whimsical friendship and served as a welcome outlet during the COVID-19 pandemic’s forced downtime; however, the true magic of their union is most evident and impactful in front of an enthusiastic crowd. They’ve shared stages with the likes of Arkells, Tokyo Police Club, LIGHTS, Lord Huron, Manic Street Preachers, and were even hand-picked to open two European tours for BRITs Critics Choice winner Tom Odell. That’s in addition to official slots at dozens of taste-making music festivals on multiple continents.
Fittingly, that live, four-on-the-floor energy is what drives their latest studio album, 2022’s Live Again, and now the band – not to mention their ever-growing following – relish the opportunity to once again be reciprocating some love in live performance.
“We’re really excited to be back playing shows again,” says Richardson, “and honestly, it’s the fact that we all still get so excited about touring or recording or editing videos or even just getting on a call and making a schedule that keeps us going and keeps us so passionate about what we get to do.”
They’ll only stop when that feeling starts to fade, but Jane’s Party just keeps getting better while remaining consistent, compelling, and true to their original goal of sharing their songs with the world.
And if their latest output is any indication, they’re still having a damn good time doing it.
