Info: Jane Willow is a Dutch singer-songwriter who moved to Ireland at the age of 21 to pursue music. Her music is laced with Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake influences and her light vocals are often compared to the likes of Norah Jones and Lisa Hannigan.
In recent years Jane's played numerous gigs, performing at Vicar Street, Whelan's, The Grand Social and Electric Picnic. In August 2017 she opened for Glen Hansard in Vicar Street. Jane's been featured in The Irish Times, The Irish Times Women’s Podcast, RTE Radio 1, BBC Radio Ulster, Lyric FM and recently won of the Intercollective Competition 'Best Musician'.
On her debut EP 'Onward Still' she collaborates with musicians Dave Hingerty (drums: Kila, The Frames), Vyvienne Long (cello: Damien Rice).
Jane Willow's self-title opener for Onward Still immediately springs forth with the warmest of traits you would expect from classic late 60's and 70's folk music. At it's very beginning, Love's 'Alone Again Or' from Forever Changes throws its shade from her acoustic guitar, and in a previous review I had felt a strong connection to Joni Mitchell's Court & Spark. The cello and lightly brushed percussion adding additional layers of warmth in their own right.
My first introduction to Willow's music came via single 'On My Mind' almost exactly this time last year. It's an open-ended ode to a person close to the protagonist, from the past, there's a morose, softly relayed pain that is handled so delicately by both vocals and musical accompaniment, I stand by my previous observation with even more conviction now that it has all of the hallmarks of a bone fide folk artist ready to make a mark.
From the invigorating crescendos of 'Nobody Knows' we find ourselves at fourth track 'Hannah'. One thing you can't escape as you traverse across Onward Still is Willow's ability to glean characteristics of many different sub-genres of folk, here there's a little hint of country-folk and more overt art-folk moments. Another thing that will strike the listener is how adept she is at striking right through the most vulnerable parts of the heart, no better exemplified than on the gorgeous and brutally real sound of 'If I Did Love You', my favourite track of the six, in no small part to it's folk-rock blow-out in the final minute.
Final number 'Comfort' finds Jane Willow possibly residing in a space from which all we've heard until now emanates from, the simplicity of the delivery shedding a light on the origins of the grander moments on the EP. It's unfortunately common for folk artists to act overly austere and moody, over-cooking an obvious-to-all mystique. Thankfully Willow avoids such pretences on Onward Still and is honest with us, it comes from a genuine place, this is about the music, and how we feel listening to it, and it takes a gifted song-writer to let their craft alone carry their message in such a wonderfully enjoyable way.
Jane Willow launched her debut EP, Onward Still, at The Sound House in Dublin last Thursday night with support from Leila Jane. Some snaps of both artists below by Remy:
