Sweet Jane

In 2008 guitarist and songwriter Danda Paxton asked Lydia Des Dolles to provide vocals on some songs he had written, and with the addition of Danda’ s brother Ruairi on bass and Donagh O’Brien on drums, the project evolved into Sweet Jane, and the recording of an EP ‘ Blackboots and Blackhearts’.

The EP was released to very positive reviews, and things developed more quickly when the band signed to Irish label Reekus at the end ‘ 09, together they released You’re Making This Hard, with Sweet Jane’ s own take on the Xmas classic Silent Night, brought a greatly increased media awareness of their music.

Their debut album Sugar for My Soul was released in Ireland July 2010, to superb reviews, and a slot at one of Europe’ s leading festivals, Oxegen that month. Their live set has been described as an energetic roller coaster of sleazy guitars, achingly sexy vocals, split between Lydia & Danda, and topped off with their trade mark ‘dream-pop rock ‘n roll’. Sweet Jane are in their element in the live arena and have been touring furiously throughout the UK and Ireland, gigging alongside Glasvegas, Black Rebel Motorcycle club, A Place to Bury Strangers, The Kills, White Lies, The Duke Spirit, and The Besnard Lakes, as-well as tour dates on Alan Mc Gee’s Death Disco.

Along with the brilliant reviews for Sugar For My Soul, Sweet Jane were included by Gill Mills in her ‘Best Of Myspace’ Campaign. While the album found its way to various blogs in the UK, making the # 2 slot in the ‘ Best of the Year’ from leading blog Battery in Your Leg, the first official UK release was the new version of ‘Close Your Eyes’. The single picked up impressive reviews and got some significant airplay in the UK.

Meanwhile Sugar For My Soul is finding its way around Asia, with distribution through Warners / TocoAsia in Singapore and Malaysia, HMV in Hong Kong, and licensing by Synergy in the Phillipines. Sweet Jane had brilliant start to 2011 with two of their songs beating off stiff international competition to have their music featured on the playlists of both the Activision / Blizzard and MTV ‘‘Skins’’ synch Listening Sessions at Midem.

In May 2011 Sweet Jane were invited to open for SUEDE each night of their three night Irish tour at the Olympia in Dublin, from there they flew to Singapore for a three week tour including a headline slot at the Music Matters Festival. Sweet Jane’s lead singer Lydia Des Dolles was also featured in Universal Music’s collaberation with various artists (including Canadian pop punk act Simple Plan) on a cover of Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’ in aid of relief for Japan’s Tsumami victims, the video for ‘Fix You’ is currently on rotation across all of MTV’s music channels in Asia, the video has got over 250,000 (and growing) views on you tube.

At this years Midem Festival Sweet Jane were one of five lucky artists from over two thousand entries to win the NBC Universal Pitch Session, and the only non-American artist to be picked! This is what music supervisor says about them on the midem blog: “Sweet Jane have beautifully haunting vocals as well as wonderful driving hooks that make them a perfect indie rock candidate across the board.  Their submissions were diversified and all would fit within a majority of our shows.  “War Cry” was a particular standout”

Sweet Jane are currently residing at Grouse Lodge recording Studios working on their second album alongside Grammy Award winning producer Pat Mc Carthy (REM, Madonna, Lou Reed, U2, Spiritualized, Patti Smith, Metallica.)

Sweet Jane’s latest video - a very atmospheric and cool take on the Moody Blues classic Nights In White Satin

http://youtu.be/OWsRImXd_4k

Album Reviews

http://batteryinyourleg.com/blog/2010/06/02/sweet-jane-sugar-for-my-soul/

http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-Review-Sweet-Jane-Sugar-for-My-Soul-896480.php

http://www.rockingmusic.co.uk/content/node/2196

http://www.punkrockistnichttot.com/album-review-sweet-jane-sugar-for-my-soul/

View videos

Warcry - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATW76851aZw&list=UUAtxFjwelGMXW_q8UNEkjaw&feature=plcp

Blackboots & Blackhearts - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uraA4VZYOf0&list=UUAtxFjwelGMXW_q8UNEkjaw&feature=plcp