#145 Jayne Denham
Jayne Denham is one of Australia's most admired and sought after country rock performers. Her impressive and relentlessly energetic live shows have earned her countless opportunities performing for VIP crowds at Keith Urban's Sydney shows.
During lockdown Jayne has recorded a brand new Album ‘WANTED’ that is set to be released inAugust2020. The latest single ‘Better Settle Up’ is racing up the radio charts across Australia and has already reached No #1 on the Tamworth 2TM chart. The epic music video hit over 8,000 views across all platforms in the first 48 hours
Connect with Jayne:
Transcript
Rae Leigh: Welcome to a songwriter Trysts with Jane Denham thanks for joining me.
Jayne Denham: Thanks for having me. Rae Leigh nice to meet you
Rae Leigh: You too virtually. This is lovely.
Jayne Denham: Yes. We're not going out for beer or wine or anything at the moment in lockdown.
Rae Leigh: Yeah know, that'd be ideal, but we can have a cup of tea and we can choose each other. And we can still have this chat and say hello to the rest of the world who are joining us as well. I don't know about where you are at the moment, but we're in another lockdown. So homeschooling is fun, but we still get to connect through our music and that's why we're here.
So I like to start by getting you in your own words. Tell me, who are you and where do you come?
Jayne Denham: My name's Jane denim and I, live in the blue mountains, grew up in the blue mountains and, grew up in a musical family. Got dragged all over the place to gigs and rehearsals and all that sort of thing. So, yeah, and that's how basically I ended up in music was just, part of the family.
You were either a sportsman or a musician. It was there's your choice Olympics, or, golden
Rae Leigh: Mine was that's funny. Mine was doctor, lawyer, or teacher. That was pretty much it
Jayne Denham: Okay.
Rae Leigh: as anything else was like, not that we, our family doesn't do that. So what was your teacher like? Your education, like running around with musicians. Was it your parents
Jayne Denham: Yeah. So my mom was a gospel singer and my grandfather was an opera singer, but he was very much into musicals. And so he had the acting side. Being creative as well. I don't have that struggle to act, but yeah, it was sort of came from both sides of my family. So my dad was a sportsman, so that's where the sportsman side came in.
Yeah. mum grew up seeing the church and, , she was actually the first gospel, singer it in Australia to be on TV. So I'm back. Yeah. Back in the seventies when, oh actually it might've been the late sixties. I don't remember the exact time because clearly I wasn't born. But yeah, so that was her thing and, yeah, she's she was able to tour around Australia singing.
She always put us kids first, but, she was always away as well on weekends doing different things. So yeah, it was fun.
Rae Leigh: Like lots of churches and sort of that
Jayne Denham: And back then there were lots of women's events at church during the week.
Rae Leigh: Women's or glow. I think I remember
Jayne Denham: Yeah, like
Rae Leigh: to go to that.
Jayne Denham: go and she even got to fly into Aboriginal communities and they would say, they'd take a preacher out into the Aboriginal communities and mum would be the singer.
And yeah. So I didn't go with her to anything like that.
But as a kid, it was pretty cool to have your mom going into the Outback.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, no, that is really cool. My parents were pastors and missionaries.
Jayne Denham: there you go.
Rae Leigh: Not really musical. Like my dad played amazing piano and worship, but he wouldn't teach me. He didn't think he was good enough. But yeah, I traveled with my parents all over the world doing missions. I'd been to 14 different countries before.
Jayne Denham: Wow.
Rae Leigh: which is insane. Right. So I kind of feel like I relate to having like that sort of, I guess that influence at a very early,
Jayne Denham: Yeah, but it was good. I mean, it was really good because I got to meet so many people because when you sing in a church environment or It's, not like a performer. If, you know what I mean? When you get on stage, you perform in your late and that's it, you don't see the artists. So it was sort of nice.
cause I still to this day have a lot of friends that I met families that I met in that time. So yeah. Like It's not like that anymore really, as in, because people work and Sundays and also they don't have a lot of women's things in the middle of the week. Like they used to because so many women work, which is great, but it's just.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And like, even though it was something that they fought for equal rights and everything is great, but these days life's so expensive, you almost need two incomes just to
Jayne Denham: Yeah, for sure.
Rae Leigh: it is completely different. But I do remember my mum and her women's conferences and yeah, as much as sometimes she'd complain about how much it was going.
I think, because she was the pastor's wife, she was always very busy and she had five children,
Jayne Denham: Oh, wow. Well, they probably met my mom's probably saying it's something she's been at.
Rae Leigh: Probably, I mean, she was also a nurse and a midwife. Yeah, insane woman. And I think about it now and I'm like, wow. I mean, I, yeah, I don't know how they did it in those days.
They carried so much didn't they, because they were fighting for equality, but they were also still expected to carry the weight. And we it's like, we had a point to prove didn't we as women, we were like, we can raise children and do all the things that the men can do to.
Jayne Denham: exactly.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. And like, we're still doing it that way.
We're like, oh, I've gotta do all this stuff. Plus prove that I can have a career. It's like insane.
All right. So tell me at? What stage did you start to kind of go actually, music's my thing.
Jayne Denham: Well, growing up, singing in the church, obviously, cause my mother was a gospel singer. I naturally did that as well, but I tended to have more of a performer, like I'm way more of a performer than a worship leader at a church. I can. Friends that's what they do for jobs. But at churches and stuff, but, I wanted to always dance and show off and be on stage. And I guess I had my grandfather's genes. I wanted to, have everybody watch me Not singing to Jesus,
Rae Leigh: in worship. Yeah.
Jayne Denham: even though there's
nothing wrong with that,
Rae Leigh: There's definitely nothing wrong with it.
Jayne Denham: my gifting, and my personality, I guess so early. Yeah. I started doing more performance type singing probably from about five.
And then yeah, joined at school. I grew up on country music. My dad was a huge country music fan. So even a mounted gospel dad, just a blast country, music, 24 7 in our house. And I ended up when I was at high school that I wanted to be in a band, I was totally obsessed with beans. And I just wanted to be a lead singer of a band that was, I didn't want to be a solo artist.
In fact, it was my worst nightmare and I still don't love it.
to be totally honest, but I'd much rather be in a band, but it's just. It's funny how life does turns out, but I, so I put my first band together when I was 14 and we used to go and play All over the place and we weren't very good, but
Hey, we're enthusiastic.
And Yeah.
so I did
that. And then I actually got asked when I was in my late teens, if I'd like to sing in the youth live band in Sydney. And so I ended up.
Because I was still involved in local church and I was seeing at church, but I wasn't like worship blending or anything like that, but they wanted to have more of a performance stall event inside those who don't know, you feel alive.
It was a drug and alcohol free
concert for kids like a rally, I guess you could say. And it was awesome. People used to come from all over Australia and new south Wales was the one I was in it. And because of that, I had the privilege of touring pretty much to many countries in the youth alive band, but I was sort of there more to be there.
I guess bring the entertainment side of the show of the concert of the event. And, yeah, so I did that for a little while, but my heart was always more. To perform too, in pubs and clubs and crowds and run around on stage and do my thing. So, I did that for a while and then I just felt it was time for me to go back and do my secular music.
And so, yeah, so I did, I got back into that in my twenties and started singing in bands and again, and came up with all different bands. And I was doing that for years. Yeah. I had a band that was actually going so well. We had Sony we're about to sign a Sony. We were doing schoolies week on the gold coast, here in Australia.
And then that night the band had, I went to bed and I got up and the band had split up and had a fight. So that was the end of that. And I was. Okay.
That's it. I'm never doing music ever again. I quit. And so I actually stopped singing for about two years and I was a hairdresser by trade, but I always did that as a backup because mum said, C seems a bit hard to make money.
You need a real job. So I did hairdressing. So I just thought, oh, well, I think I was in my late twenties at the time. And I was thinking, Oh, well, that's the end of my career. I haven't made it. I might as well, just quit and do hairdressing and then but I was Okay.
about it. Like, it was just, I was sick of trying, I guess.
And then I started writing and I, with some friends who I'd written the songs for, in the band that had split up and yeah. And when I started writing with them, why don't we go to Tamworth in new south Wales in I'm sorry, go to Tamworth in new south Wales to the country music, first of all, because I'd heard so much about it.
And I said, well, just busk on the streets and just have a bit of fun. Just actually just Have a holiday. It gives us a purpose to write, but I never had any intention of starting a country music career. And when we started writing and they just came out, I guess, a bit different because. Roots and my country music roots, those two, stalls of music combined.
And I didn't realize, but naturally that was what came out. Was it a country rock sound, which at the time Gretchen Wilson was pretty much the only person in America that was doing that sort of thing. There was still a lot of country pop and, country, country, but the guys were sort of tending to do more of that sort of stuff in the U S so I thought, Oh
yeah.
So that's kind of how it all.
Rae Leigh: That's really cool. And so you went to the Tamworth country music festival. What year
was that?
Jayne Denham: Oh, gosh. Well, it would have been about 16 years ago now. I can't remember the exact year but I remember turning up and it was funny. Cause everyone was like, oh, are you going to pursue your career? And I'm like, not done. I'm not doing that?
again. It's all too hard. And so then I recorded. One of my friends had a really great studio.
It was actually, NXS a studio. They bought on the central coast and he said, why don't you go to the studio and record your songs? You've written because he said, what do you mean doing? I said, I've written some country songs and he's like, oh, they're actually really good. You should record all like, nah.
And then I said, he goes, Jayant you need to go and recall them, even if it's just acoustic. I thought, I'll record them and I'll give them to my, customers for Christmas. I thought, oh, that'd be fun. So I recorded it and mum and dad as a surprise. So my sister and I went and recorded the songs and cause she's also a great singer and as a surprise for mum and dad and all the family for Christmas, we handed out our little CD with our little country songs on it and yeah, so it was sort of weird cause I'd had these big Curry.
Stuffing gospel music. And then my rock stuff I'd done really well, but I was just, I just worked so hard since I was a kid and I was sort of a bit over it. So, and then some big name producers John Cain and mark warmly who had produced many, country music, golden guitar, winning albums and songs and things like that.
They've got hold of it.
But we'll say D and when we want to work with you, we think what you're doing is really unique and different. And we've been waiting to find someone like you. And I was like, yeah. Okay.
well, that's not going to happen. Like, but anyway, my friend said, just go and have a meeting with them.
And I'm like, No.
I don't know. It's just, and so I went along and they were just like, we really want to record you. And I'm like, so how much is this going to cost? And I said, okay, $30,000. And I'm like, well, that's That's well, it's never going to happen. Anyway, I went back to work. Anyway. One of my customers said to me, cause I'm a bit of a, I kind of need a sign to move forward.
I don't want to be doing something I'm not meant to be doing, I guess. And I ended up
saying, this customer said to me, said, what have you been doing? And I said, oh Yeah.
And these producers, they want to record my record. And I said, oh, Okay.
I'm not going to be able to do it. And she goes, boy, what's the problem.
I said, oh, it's going to cost me $30,000. I don't have $30,000. Anyway, a couple of weeks later, she came back. She goes, look, I just want to let you know my husband and I have been talking, we've got a block of land and if we sell it, we're going to give you 35,000.
Rae Leigh: Jay-Z's.
Jayne Denham: It was. And they ended up giving me $40,000
because they say, do you need $5,000 for promotion?
And back then, that was about
right, like 15 years ago. That was pretty much about right. So I was like, okay,
I guess that's a sign
that I meant to keep
going. And
Rae Leigh: that's a pretty strong sign.
Jayne Denham: that was pretty, it. was pretty funny. Hence began the beginning of my country music career.
Rae Leigh: That's hilarious. I am a big believer in science too. Maybe it's the, my parents definitely did that, but
Jayne Denham: Yes
Rae Leigh: when, when you get a good sign
Jayne Denham: exactly. Well, I'm like, all right, God. Well, if you want me to do it, you'd better come up with the money, but I actually didn't think it was going to happen.
It was famous. Last words. Be careful what you
Rae Leigh: yeah. Careful what you pray for. Yeah. That's for sure. Last time I prayed for something you don't understand whether the guy that I was dating was the guy I should marry next day. I found out I was pregnant, so
Jayne Denham: Yeah, that'll do it.
Rae Leigh: yeah, that'll do it. Yeah. So. Your client gives you 35, 40 grand and these guys randomly get ahold of a CD that you've done for your parents for Christmas.
And so the world has really pinned you down and said, you have to do this. This is your purpose is your destination. And you just walked ahead and just did it because.
Everything was pointing in that direction. And that is such an inspirational story. I'm so glad that you had that, and I'm really grateful to all those people that encourage you and told you to just do it and supported you in that way. But for you, like what do you want, or what do you think your music is bringing to the people that are listening to your music?
Jayne Denham: I look, I think that again, that's just, my whole career is very weird. I have to be totally honest. I am very unique in what I do and it was never like, I'm sure some people think, actually this new record that's about to come out, it was a complete. Creative marketing idea. But when I started and in saying that it's because I wanted to do something really crazy and fun and different.
And so that's what this new record is, but what happened was I wrote, I started writing songs and I just tended to naturally write about other people. I found other people very into way more interesting than me, I guess. And so I, I wrote.
About a girl who drove a U. And so in the country music?
world at the time, I had no idea this, again, this is 15 years ago and the culture was huge back then.
And I just, I really had no clue. I just wrote the song cause I saw this
chick and I thought she was cool and I wish I was that cool. And I used to say a job, I'd go to the salon and say, driving up the mountain every day in this white you're covered in pink lights. and she would look like Paris
Hilton. And I was like, man, that girl's really cool. And so I thought I'll write a song about girls that drive Utes. And then I wrote a song about a girl that drove a truck. And because one of my customers actually said, you should write a song about my cousin June. And I'm like, and so I sat down and wrote, oh, that's a great idea for a song.
So wrote the song and anyway, long story. The I released, I met the girl who I wrote song about and she, cause she said, oh, she looks like Sandra Bullock. I'm thinking, I sure she would, but Sandra Bullock, I don't really believe you. But anyway, I'll create this character that I think is who she should be.
And then I actually met the real girl and she's we're still great mates to this day, but she was, she really did look like Sandra Bullock. Driving trucks all over Australia. So anyway, that was on my first record. And then that blew up and then next minute everyone's like, oh my gosh, there's this chick that writes songs about
us truckies and the, especially the women.
And they were all like, thanks for writing songs. And then my producers were like, well, Yeah.
You go, these people want you to keep writing trucking songs. So I kept writing only a few on each album cause I don't drive a truck, but I certainly can appreciate and love people who do. Are in that industry.
We certainly can't do it that out our trucking truck drivers in our
trucking community and the businesses. So I kind of
Rae Leigh: we need
Jayne Denham: ambassador for trucking. And then the next minute I get invited to the states because of my music. And I'm seeing at the biggest truck shows in the world in the U S and so it's been this really crazy ride, but Yeah. me as an artist and a songwriter, I just, I really do enjoy writing songs to cheer people on. And that's what. My career pretty much has become as is whether it's Utes or trucks or girl power or whatever, it's been really nice to have fans come up to my show. Like women will come up to me going, I always wanted to drive a truck, but it was your song trucker chicks that made me go and get my license.
And I'm like, oh my gosh. That's so cool. So Yeah, So I think that's for me, that's been a really Great thing to, have my music be used in a way that's probably a bit different
Rae Leigh: Oh, it's encouraging people. And the one thing I've learned from this podcast and talking to so many people in this industry is that we all need encouragement. It doesn't really matter where it comes from, but we need something. we need that sign someone to say, you can do
Jayne Denham: absolutely. And there's people out there who write the best, breakup songs and the best, finding love songs and all that. Like as a kid, I remember breaking out with guys and I'd be in my bedroom listening to breakup songs that made me feel like someone understood what I was going through.
That's not really me as a songwriter, but I'm, so I personally was so grateful for that because it encouraged me that I can get through this and someone else understands my pain, whatever that may be. But I guess my little songwriting, line's a bit different. And even as a songwriter going to Nashville, like everyone just thinks I'm hilarious.
They're like, oh my gosh, we went to rock with Jane. She comes up a little, these crazy.
Rae Leigh: Well, this there's nothing wrong with that. That's great.
Jayne Denham: But it's fun. I think it's just fun. Like, yeah. I don't
take myself too seriously. So
Rae Leigh: That's good. Speaking of writing with other people
Jayne Denham: sorry about that.
Rae Leigh: that's right. Do you do much?
Jayne Denham: I only do care writing. It's really? Yeah, definitely. I'm not look at, I would. It's funny. I am like visionary big picture. This is what we're doing. This is where we're going. This is how it needs to be that's me, but I'm not great at putting all the bits together. And so when I started songwriting, I like I'm a singer.
Piano a little bit. And I actually was in orchestras when I was a kid. So I played woodwind instruments, like the saxophone and the flute and things like that. That was kind of more what I did. So then when I started writing, I actually didn't play guitar. And so my friends were like, Hey, come and write with this.
And so. I've always written in a group environment. And I love that and, but I wouldn't call myself a pro prolific start again, prolific songwriter. But I call, I realized, I remember when I was writing. S Garth Porter here in Australia, who's written a lot of smash hits in our country, and I was like, how in heaven's name did I get here?
I am not a Gulf Porter songwriter, but I remember him saying Jane. You've got, I remember him saying someone, if you want to write a song for Jane. Yeah.
Don't write without her because she knows exactly where it needs to go and what needs to do. And so, even though I, I come up with melodies that come up with lyrics and stuff like that, but I kind of need those really well-crafted songwriters to help me.
Put it all together. And so I had this came up with this theory that I'm the fence pale provider. I give you the bits of the fence and I need all these really brilliant songwriters to help me build the fence. And once I realized that was a strength, not a weakness I realized that, it gave me a lot more confidence that it's Okay.
So then by the time I got to Nashville and I started writing,
Many of the songwriters That have had number ones in the states. It wasn't, I just was up front and go, this is who I am. This is what I'm good at.
This is, and here's my idea. And they'd be like, cool, let's go. And I think the
great thing is because I'm so black and white about what I want to say, what I want to do, what I don't like.
It does make it easy. To work in a group environment because the chances of getting a cut are a lot higher because they don't waste people's times as much. Not that I cut every song I write, but yeah, it does narrow it down. And I find that for song writers, I really appreciate that.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. You're running with purpose and I think rocking up knowing more about who you are and what you can do and what your strengths are. Just shows that you've got maturity as a songwriter because there's no song writer out there really. That, I mean, unless you Dolly Parton and you're doing it all by yourself and you're that savant good.
Most of us are out there and it's like, once you realize what your strength is and recognize it is a strength and it's a talent which can be hard to do because when it comes naturally to you, you don't realize that it doesn't come naturally to everyone. And that's the hard thing about talent.
Jayne Denham: Yes. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, exactly. It's like saying it's like when someone sings and you go, here's the note and they go, I don't get it. And then you're like, cut. You hear that? It's like, actually, no, they can't.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Yeah.
Jayne Denham: okay.
Rae Leigh: I remember when I was younger, I was in high school and they, when they started doing like Australian idol, you know, like when the, those reality singing shows first came on and I remember watching it and hearing some of the auditions and being like, oh, this is so off. And other people will be in there and be like, oh my gosh, they're amazing singers.
I'm like, are you serious? Can you not hear that? And I think that was the first time I realized that maybe I could hear it, whereas not everyone does. Those are things that you just don't know that you could add until something like that
Jayne Denham: Yeah, exactly. Exactly.
Rae Leigh: All right.
So now that you've been in the industry for who knows how long tell me, what do you think is the best or worst advice you've ever been given?
Jayne Denham: the best advice I think I was given, is going to sound a bit weird. This is just the first thing that popped into my head.
Rae Leigh: Yeah.
Jayne Denham: Was when I did my first album, he meant this in an encouraging way, but he was sort of right. And it did set me up not to feel like I failed, if everything didn't go according to plan.
And that was, he said to me, Jamie, this is my sudden changing where there are 15 years ago and he said, giant, this album is so different and so good. And he worked with a lot of big artists, Casey chambers, like all of them he'd worked with all of them. And he said, what you have is really different, but it means that.
And I was like what does he mean by that? And he said, it was really, it sounds weird, but he said, it means nothing. He said, now it's up to luck and timing and things like that as well. He said just because you have a great product, doesn't mean it's going to be a big hit. And that was good because, I mean, as it turned out, I did have a lot of success and it did submit my career in the industry.
I think. That is very true. Because I think we all have to do our best, but I certainly wouldn't advise anyone just because it is the best thing. And it could be the bit, I mean, how many songs have you heard? And you go, oh, is this not a smash? This is the best song. But it's Yeah.
It is a really weird thing, but unfortunately that is part of it is luck and timing does have a lot to do with success.
And if we kind of balance that with the fact still aim to have a great product, but I'm still a believer in keep moving forward and things will happen and you've
pushed through. But I dunno. Does that make sense? I hope that
Rae Leigh: And these days it's even harder because there's 40 to 60,000 songs going on Spotify every day, worldwide. And it's such an easy, accessible thing for everyone to do now.
You do have to kind of be clever about the way that you promote and market yourself and how you do release your music.
But I agree like some of the songs that get submitted, even just for this podcast, from artists, I listened to them. I'm thinking, why have I never heard of this before? Like, how is this not played on the hour, every hour at every radio station across the planet? Like, because they're just so amazing and yeah.
It does come down to sort of money and who, but also, yeah, like I think you're right. Timing and
luck is it just
Jayne Denham: Yeah. And there are a lot of facets of that, but I think part of it too is just keep going. Do it for you do it for yourself, do it to, obviously it's a business and we have to think of it, on a business level. But yeah, it was kind of a good bit of advice cause now with whatever I release, I'm like, you know what I've done the best I can.
And yes, I'm ticking all the boxes on marketing. I'm dah, dah it. But at the end of the day, I can only do so much and I'm not going to set myself up for disappointment. If it doesn't go as far as I, I assume it does at least I know I did the best.
Yeah.
Rae Leigh: I was at a like a, Q music networking event the other day. And Graham Ashton was there and he's worked with Sony and everyone, he has his own PR company now, and he gave advice around like, what should you be focusing on? And what do you release and stuff? And he said, essentially, as long as what you're doing is 1% better than what you did in the past.
Jayne Denham: I love that. That's
brilliant. Yep.
Rae Leigh: as you're trying to get
Jayne Denham: Yes.
Rae Leigh: Cause it's never going to be
Jayne Denham: No, absolutely. Yeah,
Rae Leigh: Cause I, if I wanted things to be perfect, I wouldn't have released anything yet. Like, I mean, I don't think any of my sons are perfect because I'm a perfectionist, so I had to be okay with it being 95%.
Cool.
And just leave the rest of it to, to the world and then know that there's room to get
better. And in the next one,
Jayne Denham: exactly. Yeah,
absolutely. No, a hundred percent. That's great.
That's a very good piece of it.
Rae Leigh: what about the worst piece of advice you think you've ever been given?
Jayne Denham: Worst piece of advice. Can't even think of one.
See, that's terrible. Isn't it?
Rae Leigh: It's probably good. It probably means you weren't listening and you knew it was bad advice, but
yeah.
Jayne Denham: Oh, gosh. I should've thought about
this. Right.
Rae Leigh: Generally amount of times, I guess I've been given information and I've acted on it. And then it's like straightaway afterwards. I was like, wow, that was really bad,
Jayne Denham: Yeah. Okay. I think I've got one.
Yeah.
Ah, look I go off on tangent sometimes and I remember someone suggested I do this style of music and it was so far removed from what I do. And I was like, why did I do that? And I think I've learned to go with my gut feeling more. I tend to do that anyway, but.
I think sometimes people can advise you to try a different store cause it's cool at the time or whatever, but it's not necessarily what you're meant to do. And I think That's what made me different was I didn't do that.
Rae Leigh: Yeah.
Jayne Denham: I remember when I did my first number one that I had here in Australia, I said to my producer, I want it to be.
And weirdly my new album is all about this, but back then, it was unheard of, and I said, I want it country and Western. And he's like, you can't do country in Western. Cause like it's a swear word put country in Western, in its same sentence that, back in the day and it ended up and he went away and thought about it and came back and he goes, actually, that's a really good idea.
Right? And it ended up going number one, because it was different.
Rae Leigh: That's
Jayne Denham: So I've kind of learned it's good to stick with trends to a point, but Yeah,
I think just stick with what you're good at because it's like
trying to be a swimmer when you're a gymnast.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. I follow you. I think following your gut and knowing you.
Jayne Denham: Yeah.
Rae Leigh: Because, you better than anyone else, but like I've definitely been in the studio and just expected everyone else in the room to be smarter than me, and kind of just let everyone else make all the decisions, even though it felt wrong to me, I didn't value my own gut feeling
because I wasn't the professional. Right.
Jayne Denham: been there.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Thank you.
That makes me feel so much better. Yeah, I think after those experiences, I had to go hang on a second. I need to follow my gut and speak up when you know, I'm not happy with something and and that's how we learn,
Jayne Denham: Yeah.
Rae Leigh: I guess. So.
Jayne Denham: And I remember that exact thing happening to me when I was working with Garth Porter and, here he is multi, multi guitar aria with golden guitar, aria winner. Blah-blah-blah you name it? He's got the award. And I remember thinking that doesn't sound right. I'm thinking, Jane don't you won't know he is the man, like,
Rae Leigh: He's the
Jayne Denham: He's the man. you don't know what you're talking about.
You'll just plug the singer that cuts here, and in the end I thought, I'm going to say something. And then later on, he goes, you were 100%. Right? I'm so glad you said something. And from that minute on, I exactly what you say. I thought, you know what I do. I do have a gut feeling. And at the end of the day, it's my record too.
Not that it was, I mean, it was actually something that wasn't right, but Yeah.
Rae Leigh: Yep.
Jayne Denham: Even with that whole country and Western thing and hearing, he just thought I was off my trolley and I went, Yeah.
but it's gotta be about these dudes that drive you to, and they're like warring against each other. And like in the Ukraine at anyway, and he just laughed, he said often thought that is hilarious.
And so we did it and it ended up becoming my first number one. So I kind of have. Yeah, just to go and you know what? I heard this thing, the other data I thought was very interesting. They said humans are the only. Thing on the planet that doesn't go with their instinct. Like an animal will go with an
instinct, but humans will second guess their instinct or their gut feeling as we probably call it.
And I, when I heard that, I'm like, man, that is so true. If I had a dollar for every time on, like, I knew that, or I felt that about someone and I was right, or, again in terms of music. So Yeah.
they
encouraged people
Rae Leigh: Oh, absolutely.
Jayne Denham: with your gut.
Rae Leigh: Women, I think we're very intuitive, more intuitive than we know. And it, I think I've always struggled with like my head in my gut. It's like, my gut says, no, this person's not right, but my head's like, but I have no evidence or reason or logic to back up my gut feeling.
And for me, it's those moments where it's like I know I have no idea. And it's nothing personal specific, but I have to follow my gut and I'm sorry. And I've had to do that in the industry as well when it's just like, it's not right. And sometimes I'm like, maybe it's self-sabotage,
but I do think that you're
awarded when you follow your gut,
Jayne Denham: Yeah. And yeah, and I guess sometimes you don't know what's could have happened if you walked through that.
door and it was the wrong door, and yet you got feelings said,
don't do it,
Rae Leigh: Yeah, absolutely. So. This is one that I like to ask a lot of stuff. Cause it gets, gives us a little bit of perspective as to your journey. But imagine you could go back to yourself maybe when you're a teenager and your band, or when you're playing for youth alive and you could give yourself one piece of advice from you now to that teenage person, what would you say.
Jayne Denham: I was always a fairly confident kid anyway, but I think going after you drink, Was the right thing to do. And a lot of I've had a lot of ups and downs and stops and starts and things like that. But yeah, I feel like also those down seasons are often the best season. I remember I went through a relationship breakdown and it was really tough and I actually stopped singing again for probably about 18 months.
I had some gigs and I rolled them out and it was sort of in-between records. And, but I tell you the goal that came out of those seasons when I wasn't doing music.
Probably more beneficial. So enjoy the season you're in, I guess is probably what I would tell my younger self it's. Like, you don't have to just go hard hard, hard just to try and keep all the balls in the air.
Once you've started, a music business it's okay to step away and regroup and Yeah.
I guess be inspired again. And it's funny. Cause then when I came out of the gate, I was stronger than I've ever been. I'm more confident than I've ever
been, I guess so. Yeah, it. was good.
Rae Leigh: I love that. I love it. Enjoy the journey, because at any point you never know when the journey is going to end. So why
not just enjoy it while you're on
Jayne Denham: Yeah, exactly. And I remember there was one, just a
quick story. I remember. Sorry. that. was my dog.
Rae Leigh: Oh, I was wondering what that jingling was. That's right.
Jayne Denham: Yeah.
I'll just just quickly one story. Like I remember one, one time, my, I thought that was the end of my career and I'm okay. I'm one of these people that I'm like, well, I don't want to be doing something if I'm not meant to be doing it. So if this is the last hurrah, well that's okay. And I remember I didn't have a lot of money.
My career was. It was kind of, I felt like it was coming to an end and I was like, oh, well, I've had some number ones, I've done three albums. I've had a great time. I've toured all over Australia. And this was way before the U S stuff happened. And and I was like, oh, well, I'll drive to Tamworth.
And I was a bit down, but I'm like, oh, well, I'm not going to tell anyone, but I think this will be my last 10 worth. That's the end of my career. I'll do something else. And I'm okay with that. If, I'm not meant to be doing singing, I'm not going to flog a dead horse. And so I was like, okay, well, that's that?
And I didn't have any money. And I, to do anything else, I was sort of at the bottom of the barrel at the time. And I remember I had no idea. I have one gig. I was just performing it somewhere. As a guest and I didn't have, I didn't have a show at Tamworth. I can't even remember why now, but it was canceled.
And anyway, this guy comes up to me, him and his wife, and they're like, Hey, go. And Jane I'm like, Yeah.
good. And I didn't, I think it was because we didn't have any money or something. We didn't end up doing a show. Cause you need a lot of money to market in Tamworth. That's just the way it is.
And so I was like, oh, well, I'm not going to do it. And so my friend and I decided not to worry and this guy comes up and he goes, Hey. I guess, why aren't you doing a show? And I'm like, oh, I'm just trying to fluff around the fact. And he says, is it because you need money or something? And I'm like, oh
$%&%&*( it off.
He goes, look, if you need money, just come and see me. And I'm like, Okay.
And thinking, is this really happening? Anyway? So I went to bed and I thought about it. Well, and he he owned a trucking company and he knew I did my trucking songs and stuff like that. So, and I did have one more single on that record that I wanted to do a video and it released it as a single, but I didn't have any money.
So I was like, oh, well, that's the end of that. And then, so I thought I'll go.
I'll ring him up. So I rang him. I said, Hey, do you and your wife want to meet me for coffee? I want to have a chat. And I said, this is what I want to do. And anyway, I ended up driving out of 10 worth with a big chunk of money in my bank account.
And I was back in
business.
Rae Leigh: Geez.
Jayne Denham: So I was like, well, I'm not meant to give up. Here we go.
And it was because of that song. It opened up all the us stuff. so
Rae Leigh: That's so cool. That's so cool.
Jayne Denham: So.
Rae Leigh: believer that we we always get what we need. We don't always get what we want, but we get what we need. And it sounds like you're a Testament to that exact
thing and
Jayne Denham: story. I'm like, I'm driving in going, with my head down low and then I'm dropping out, but I'm back in business. Here we go.
Rae Leigh: let's keep going. I'm really grateful for those people as well. Just lifting you up little angels that you've met along your entire journey is amazing. All right. Last official question for this podcast. If you could co-write with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Jayne Denham: Oh, well, I don't know if it, people might not know this skill, but I am a massive Gretchen Wilson fan and she was pretty much. The artists that inspired me to do what I do. She was earlier. I was saying, when I started, no one was doing the country rock thing the guys were, but there weren't a lot of girls doing it.
And I just love her. She had a big hit called redneck woman. And I just love her style of her voice is massive to start off with. And I've actually met her a few times and I'd love to next time. I, if I meet her, when I go to the states go, Hey, do you want to write together? Because that would be my dream.
That would be pretty
cool.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Awesome. Well, I'm glad that you had that inspiration and I actually really like your sound and the whole country
rock thing. It's
Jayne Denham: Thank you.
Rae Leigh: cool. It's kinda like one of those, when you hear someone you're like,
oh, if I could get that sound like, that would be so cool. Let's keep working on it, but no, I really do appreciate all the hard work and I'm really glad that you kept going, even when you know, things seemed bleak that you actually cause it's one thing for a sign to appear in front of you.
But it's another thing to actually look at it. Agree to walk that path. And it takes a lot of courage. And so I just want to recognize that in you and say, thank you, because that's inspired the rest of us, to keep doing that. Even when our luck is down, follow your guts and keep going,
Jayne Denham: yeah.
Rae Leigh: what have you got going on this year? Because I know we've wanted out and what,
so what's going on next for
Jayne Denham: so my album comes out.
on the, when does this come? When will this go to air? So this will come out. So my album comes out on the 13th. So when will this go to it?
Rae Leigh: It probably will be after that. so
Jayne Denham: Yes. Wait, okay. I'll talk about it thing out then. Are You okay?
Rae Leigh: Yeah. And I do that. It's already. Yeah.
Jayne Denham: Okay.
Rae Leigh: You have to use those acting skills.
Jayne Denham: Okay.
Rae Leigh: Let's just try and travel it to like a month in the future. You got this,
Jayne Denham: Oh, yes. So wanted the single came out and the video clip we filmed in Madmax country. So go check it out. People. It was so much fun. Yeah, it was really fun. So I wanted is the title track of my new album. that's just come out, but it's just been, this was, I mean, everyone's talking about their COVID experience locked down, but I always wanted to do this record deep down.
I think. I dunno, it's just like nervous, cause it's really different. And I was nine for all the stuff that I'd done in the past and all the trucking songs and that kind of stuff. But during lockdown, I decided
I would do some songwriting and I always, I love one would album titles. And so I was like, I had Renegade.
Then I had calamity was the last album I did. And then I was like, I knew my next album was going to be called, wanted. Cause I wanted this always like going after the tough. Strong words, sort of titles sounds like wanted. Yeah, so we, I wrote the song with Matt Scullin and Troy camps and friends of mine.
And I said, let's do it like a Western gunfighter chick kind of vibe. And so the music came out or really sort of spaghetti Western and tough, like super tough, like an old Western movie. And so I was. Oh, my gosh, can you imagine doing a whole record like this? And they were like, why don't you? And I'm like, cause I've got all these other songs that are meant to be putting on a record.
And they were kind of a little bit more country pop and I said, oh, but then I've got to pay for more songs and they go, so why don't you just do it? And so I thought, what stuff it I'm going to do. I'm going to do a whole record under that umbrella. And so I rang my producer, Brian White in the states and said, look, I've got this crazy idea.
Let's do a whole album. That is country rock. Made spaghetti Western like the old, when you see a Western movie and you're going back to watch the flicks and this sort of thing. And so he was like, he just went berserk over it and went, Oh my gosh, Jane, this is fun because for Nashville, he was saying, it was really it was really good. So he, sorry, I was just gonna say he, he rang Brian Bon, who is a multi-instrumentalist incredibly talented guy. Who's one of his best mates in Nashville. So Jane Dannon wants to do this album. It's not gonna be it doesn't have to tick all the commercial boxes. It's purely to make music and art.
And I said, I want it to be like a full album where there's sound effects. And so they just went crazy and I said, I want it to be like, you hit track one and you go to track 10. And by the time. 10, you feel like you've been out in the wild west, but there's music, in the midst of that. So, so that's what we did.
And so they ended up creating the whole thing in Nashville during lockdown. And I did my, and we did it via zoom. And then I did my vocals in the blue mountains and Yeah. now it's out. So it's really cool because it's a journey and that's what I really wanted to achieve with this record is to. I guess take people out of reality and take them into a bit of a fantasy world.
And so we've even got Yeah.
tumbleweed and rain and we've got saloon sounds and gunshots and all sorts of things. So it's with so much fun to make and I'd have to say it's the most fun album I've ever made because we didn't try to tickle, tick all the boxes and they say, Like I said they were saying for them, it was the best therapy during lockdown in the states because they could just make music and that's what we've done.
And so, Yeah. So it is really different to what I've done before. It's still got the Jane down and flavor, but it's it's just a bit of, it's a bit of a side project where I guess it's my alter ego album, basically.
Rae Leigh: I love sound effects. So in songs, I think they actually really do add to the story and the character of it. I don't know, it takes you somewhere. Sound effects are so powerful. And, your music video, you did that with Jay Sini.
Yeah. And like, I saw this sort of behind the scenes stuff with him and yeah, no, it looked like a lot of fun.
And so, I encourage everyone. Who's listening to go and listen to it first to last track in a row. Don't put it on shuffle.
Jayne Denham: it on shuffle. Why it makes sense.
Rae Leigh: Where it makes sense. I think that's really beautiful that you've done that and what a great way to ride out this COVID lockdown way. And as a team with people all over the world, we're all struggling with the same thing.
It's beautiful to see some silver linings that have been coming through from it. So it's really cool. I'm going to put the description, all of the links to all your music and social so that people can follow you and what's your journey and check out your music. But is there anything else you would like to say before we.
Jayne Denham: Not just really appreciate you having me on the show Rae Leigh it's yeah, it's been really fun. I love that podcast can be like this where you, like you say, it can just be conversational and get to know people, get to know you and, get to know each other. So, so Thanks, heaps. And I hope everyone enjoys the new album Wanted
Rae Leigh: thank you so much. And I really appreciate you coming on. It's been a pleasure getting to know you and your music a lot deeper.
