Queensland-based singer-songwriter Hello Jane's newest release, 'Never Alone', is an all-family affair.
Inspired to pen a song about her sister, who was alone on the other side of the world and unable to return home when the pandemic first landed in 2020, Hello Jane quickly pulled together the bones of the track.She then shared in passing what she'd composed with her brother, award-winning artist Bradley McCaw, who added some parts with the rest of the song brought to life by producer-musician Michael Moko and session player Luke Moller (The Weeping Willows, Kate Miller-Heidke).
"'Never Alone' was written back in March 2020, the world had stopped for the first time with the beginning of the pandemic and my younger sister was alone in a country far away from home," Hello Jane says.
"Like many others with loved ones in different parts of the world, I worried. I worried some more and did the only thing I knew how to do: write a song."
Tell us about the lyrical direction of your new single 'Never Alone', which you co-wrote with your brother, Bradley McCaw, and has a personal connection for you both?
The lyrical imagery was drawn directly from where our sister was living overseas.
It was almost winter, it was getting cold, the hallways were thin and there was a table filled with photos from back home. It was one of those songs that almost wrote itself.
One of my favourite lines is in the second verse: 'Just a moments belief that a cloud could retire.' It only takes one moment for things to take another route and for me that's a really important reminder when things are feeling pretty rubbish.
Given the subject matter pertains to emotions the vast majority of people can relate to during this pandemic, as the song came to life did it take on a larger meaning other than just being a song dedicated to your sister?
Although writing the song was quite personal, a love letter of sorts for my sister, I felt the warmth and uplifting feeling that the song held, and that Michael Moko who produced the track helped capture, could be well received by listeners.
It's a really bizarre time that we live in currently, and it can feel quite lonely. So I hope that this might bring a bit of lightness to anyone who might hear it.
Co-writing 'Never Alone' with Bradley; have you two collaborated previously and was this project a natural fit given the personal connection you both had to it?
Being siblings, we would often play each other songs were working on and give feedback or new ideas that we could try.
It just happened to be one of those 'hey I wrote a song, wanna hear it?' moments that ended with a long day of writing, re-writing, demoing and ultimately crafting the song together. It was a really exciting experience for us both.
What was your sister's reaction when she learned you'd recorded a song from the voice memo way back at the start of the pandemic in 2020?
Although it was never unusual for me to send voice memos to my sister of new song ideas, this particular one was a quite special.
I decided to keep it a secret when I started to work on recording the fully produced version in late 2021, and finally got to share it with her earlier this year. There is a video that I shared of me playing her the song as you hear it today, she has such a sweet reaction.
I also gifted her a T-shirt with the cover art on it which she loved. It's a photo of her on a mountain top. It's one of my favourite photos I've ever taken.
Michael Moko's role as producer on 'Never Alone'; what did he bring to the final recording?
Working with Michael was such a great experience.
He crafted an arrangement that is warm and rich with feeling and for me really captured what the song is about. He's also outrageously talented as a guitarist, and I was so stoked to have his musicianship throughout the track.
Where are you at in regards to more new music; is there an album in the works?
There are definitely more projects in the works, but you'll have to wait to find out.
One of your upcoming live shows will on a boat travelling along a river; that's pretty cool – you must be pumped to play that space?
Absolutely. Getting to play my songs as the sun sets, floating down the Mooloolaba River will definitely be special.
You also have a stop out west in Stanthorpe then a Brisbane show; playing the small town shows, is that important to you to make time for our country cousins?
It's always been a passion of mine to take my music to regional places, away from the big cities, to the small communities.
I've met some of my favourite people in those towns and the support I've received on previous tours from those communities is something really special. You'll definitely be seeing more Hello Jane in regional areas across Australia.
You also supported Melody Moko and Camille Trail recently; how were those experiences and what does it mean to be able to play to a room who aren't necessarily there to see/ hear you?
Playing on the same stage with Melody Moko was a real pinch-me moment. It was at a songwriter's circle for Wynnum Fringe Festival and is definitely a memory that I'll never forget.
Also performing with Camille Trail was really special for me because years before, Camille and I studied our Bachelor of Music together. So being able to open her sold-out show in Brisbane reminded me of how far we had come in our careers since being those nervy, fresh-eyed songwriters.
Given everything COVID, even having a run of live shows must seems like a fantasy; as an artist how have you coped these past 24 months?
I have had two tours cancelled over the past two years and each time comes with a deep, long exhale and a whole lot of heartache.
On the other hand it's reminded me to be constantly flexible, cherish anytime the show goes ahead and try to not lose my enthusiasm to book the next tour. Fingers crossed.
For an indie artist, that grassroots connection to the listener you get at small, intimate settings, is it as vital as say playing to a packed bigger venue or even opening as a support act to a disinterested room, which I'm sure have their pros and cons?
I'll take a small, intimate room over a bigger venue any day.
As a songwriter, there is no better feeling than an audience listening intently and being captured in the moment. That's when the magic really happens, raw and honest, stripped back to nothing but a guitar voice. That's also when you really learn whether you've got good songs or not.
Hello Jane 2022 Tour Dates
Sun 6 Feb - Saltwater Eco Boat Tours (Sunshine Coast)Fri 18 Feb - Bitter Suite Cafe (Gunnedah, NSW)
Sat 19 Feb - Little Theatre Co (Stanthorpe, QLD)
Fri 4 Mar - The Junk Bar (Brisbane)
