Currently: Jane Williams-Keys and Vocals, Jay Forbes-Drums
Deric Mendes-guitar
Recording: Jane Williams-Keys,Betsy Rettig-Cello, Sean McCloud,Rob Wallace,Ron James,Andrew Lauher-Drums,Justin White,Rafe Sweet,Rand Anderson-Bass,Erin Garber-Pearson-Musical Saw,Eric Thomas-Violin,Rey Cantille-Turntables,Mike Giovale-Saxaphone,Rich Brown-Guitar
Influences
In no particular order - Nina Hagen, Kate Bush, Patti Smith,Diamanda Galas, Danielle Dax, H.R./Bad Brains,Sinead O’Connor,Chrissie Hynde & The Pretenders,Tom
Waites, Danny Elfman, The Smiths,Harry Nilsson,Joanna Newsome,The Cure,Jesus Christ Superstar, Ministry, Rasputina, Siouxie and the
Banshees, Bjork, Shubert,Tina Turner, Alicia Keys,Nina Simone,Oscar Peterson,Leonard Cohen,Yma Sumac, Cocteau
Twins,Shannon Wright, Fiona Apple (brilliant ,beautiful and under-rated),David Bowie,Deric Mendes,Freddie Mercury and Queen,Hedwig and the Angry Inch,Hall and Oates,Radiohead,Godspeed you Black Emperor,My Bloody Valentine,TLC,B52’s,Old Delta blues,
Lene Lovich,Leontyne Price,Elliot Smith,Television,P.J.Harvey,
Tricky,Yaz, Idiot Flesh,Skinny Puppy,Led Zeppelin, Nick Cave,The Blackheart Procession, Captain Beefheart,Skunk Anasi,Anna Maria Alberghetti,,Ramones,Missy Elliot,MIA,Beatles,Staple Singers,Willie Nelson,Gladys Knight and the Pips,Barbara Streisand(yes, I said that) Frank Sinatra,
Rain, Fog, being cooped up,cats, considerate people, people unafraid of costumes, people who can laugh at themselves,anyone who dedicates their life to what they love even if it doesn’t bring them much money.
My Dad and Mom.
"Universlia Jane's 'The oracles of Delphi' is my favorite album ever.Literally every song, from start to finish, is good."
Marni Portman - CKUW 95.9 Winnipeg,Canada
"Universalia Jane's voice is big and small,
gutteral and clear as water.Her music speaks of
lifetimes of the human condition, of battles and
truces, and of escapades that sound with eerie
familiarity.The universe is her limit, just listen."
Shannon Wells-Mountain Aire Community
Radio
"Universalia Jane has a sound inherently dark and
moody, but shining through it is a unique
vision:theatrical, melancholic, intense and cutting
edge.There are many different elements working to make
this music intriguing and glistening."
Valerie Pollhouse-Arizona Daily Sun
"Her engaging keyboard work coupled with her dark
alto vocals imbibes an entire structure of music that,
in want of a better comparison, is uniquely, gothic
blues.Her harmonious recordings profess a careful
orchestration of sound rarely formulated so
passionately."
Omar Victor-The Noise
Universalia Jane's music defies categorization.If
one were asked to compare her to another, it would be
difficult and would have to include a list of many as
her music, although stylistically consistent and
identifiable, is ever changing; morphing from one
mental landscape to another.That list might include
people like: Danny Elfman, Tom Waites, Diamanda Galas, Patti Smith, Rachmaninoff, P.J.Harvey,
Ella Fitzgerald, Kate Bush, and Siouxie and the
Banshees.
Jane's live show varies from solo performances with
just her keys , to full band with an array of
instrumentalists.No matter what the line-up, she
consistently captivates her audience.She has opened
for such groups as: Devotchka, Drums and Tuba,Two Ton Boa,Calexico,
Manuok, Myshkin's Ruby Warblers, Life Garden,
Sugarbush, Fourway Cross, The Ponies, Mark Growden, Calexico,
Mr.Bungle, Blackfire, Two Gallants, Bitch and Animal, The Castinettes and
many more.
Her music appeals to a broad spectrum of listeners
as it encompasses a diverse musical background.That
history includes four years study with former
Metropolitan Opera resident Sheila Marks, master
classes with NYC Metropolitan Opera's Jerome Hines and
Giorgio Totsie,winning Columbia State Jazz Festival's
Soloist's award two consecutive years, juried by
Bobbie Mcferrin, and performing in numerous bands in
and around California and Arizona.She has been aired
on radio stations across the country and multiple
foriegn radio stations.Her single "Ode For
Emancipation" reached ..23 on the alternative charts of
mp3.com and three others held in the top 100 for over
a year.
"The Oracles of Delphi", features full
instrumentation (with the exception of one solo piece)
including: piano, cello, bass, drums, violin, saw,
turntables, sax, and guitar.It travels from a haunted
carnival to a soulful lounge to a Wagnerian opera set,
into the realm of the industrial and out into the
depths of space.Universalia Jane is true to herself
and to her music and it shows.You be the judge.
Good morning my beautiful cousin...guess what??? Sheryl, Lisa's oldest got engaged Saturday night!!! OMG!!! We are so X-cited over here. Cathy is in town...man I love my family...you comin over soon? Miss you luv!
We're celebrating the release of our debut CD "Second to the Last Frontier" produced by Scott Colburn, the mastermind who recorded Animal Collective's "Strawberry Jam" and producer of Arcade Fire.
Come check out our show at King Cobra on Saturday night from 9:45pm - 10:30pm.
hey gorgeous! How have you been? I've been blaghh! I've been going to the dentist every week so you can imagine the loads of fun I'm having lol. *Sigh* but that's what I get for NOT taking care of my teeF back in da day when I had my braces. I now preach the fact that it is VERY important to floss ;) How is your music coming along? I need a Universalia Jane fix!
ugh... honey, i'm home. i sat on my bum for over 12 hours yesterday. the renuion was good. lots of good old fashioned drama drinking and barbequed meat for the masses. Out of the 60 or so people that showed up, i'm the only vegatarian. How is that possible? hope you had a good weekend. can't wait to skate and tell you all about how i was so high during church on sunday morning.
