We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Janie Frances. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Janie below.

Hi Janie, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

After years of singing with other bands, I finally found the right fit.
I was a Music major at Texas Christian University (TCU), singing opera and classical music all day. After college, I went into the corporate world, but still sang classical music on the weekends at a Catholic church for extra money and to keep music in my life. I realized I had no creative license in that role, so went back to my day job and took a break from singing for a few years. Then, I got an offer to sing in a cover band for events such as the Margarita Ball. That was a great foray into more modern music, and since I have such a high singing voice, I could belt out Earth Wind & Fire with no problem. After that, I got into rockabilly with another band in the DFW area and sang with them for about a year and a half. The commonality in all these groups was that I had no control or license over the branding, music, or vision. When we started my current band, The Devil’s Darlins, I realized that we could take it where we wanted and truly mould the group into a shared vision. My Mom, Nancy, started writing music and it has just taken off from there. I help with the branding and look, Mom writes the music, and our drummer Krissy helps us with the industry standards and sound with her extensive knowledge. This journey has been incredibly meaningful as it comes from the heart, and what we put out into the world is inspired by our lives and what we love. For example, the logo is made by one of my favorite pinup artists, so I can incorporate style and fashion into our band brand!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have always been a singer from day one. Because of that inherent talent, I sang in choirs and groups all of my life, sticking to the genre in which I believed my voice would fit best. However, with our band, I realized that I could branch out and sing in any genre. Classical music is wonderful, but you’re not encouraged to go outside of the conductor’s vision. The music is as-written. There is some opportunity for interpretation, but not much.
With my current band, The Devil’s Darlins, the happiness and joy that comes from creating the music and expressing its meaning really comes through. It’s a true manifestation of each of our lives and what we love.
Our original music doesn’t truly fit one label- it’s a mix of country, rockabilly, and rock, with funny and quirky story lines that pull you in. It also incorporates sub-genres in the style such as pinup and vintage.
Our newest single, I Just Hang Up, really embodies that previous sentence. It was shot in my home, so every piece of that video is ‘me’. We had so much fun that day portraying ourselves and how we would deal with someone annoying on the phone. For me, I’m the lady in a robe with ornate feathers, my Mom is a polished piano player dealing with someone interrupting her practice, and Krissy is an edgy woman doing her own thing not interested in trifling subjects.
Every piece of music we put out into the world is a reflection of us and what we love to do, and I truly believe it comes through when listening or watching.
The Devil’s Darlin’s is a fusion, and when we play, our energies sync and our passions really shine through. It’s been such fun experience and project.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

As an artist and creative, I believe that the outlet always has to be in my life, whether it’s through this band or just singing in another way. Even if someone isn’t a ‘creative’ but has another passion such as sports, if you let that go or don’t express it, I think it can lead to depression. When I have not been singing in my life, I realize that a huge piece of me is missing. Inspiration is not linear and comes and goes, but I have learned over the years singing in any manner has to be present in my life. Singing takes me out of the mundane and into a higher plane, so I would tell any person that labels themselves as a non-creative that they create in some way, whether that be making the goal via a strategy or organizing their office as an art.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I still work in a corporate job during the day. While I’m thankful to have stability, I have had fear in fully expressing myself in my off time. Will my job find out? Is it okay to fully pursue my band on the weekends? Will they think I’m not fully invested in my position during the week? Will they think it’s weird I wear a wig on stage?

Part of my mission is– don’t let ANYTHING hold you back from expressing the true you. When I have shared my band with my coworkers, I haven’t been met with anything but encouragement and excitement.

Shine your light and don’t let judgement of others hold you back. No one else holds the same creative signature as you. We are a mix of rockabilly, pinup, rock, alternative, everything! When we tried to label our song for Apple Music, no specific genre came to mind so we had to just pick one.
You don’t embody just one! The world needs your unique perspective.
I have fallen in the trap of comparing myself to others and have realized that the more authentic we are to ourselves, the more successful we are.

If I had to choose a mission from our journey so far, it would be to serve as an example and inspiration to those wanting to pursue what they love. Just start it and the rest will fall in place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.devilsdarlins.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devilsdarlins/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devilsdarlins
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPsNbmJzt_plztf2ZspcAKQ

Image Credits

Dynamite Dames Studio- image with microphone