www.myspace.com/farchild
GreenlandLive.net - Describe your band. How did you come together?
FARCHILD is an Alternative - Experimental project that I started in 2007. Prior to performing under the name 'FARCHILD' I went by the name Jane C. It all came together a while ago really! I began writing songs/ producing music at age 19 while playing volleyball for the University of Florida Gators & The USA Women’s National Volleyball Team. Random, I know. I played classical piano as a child, but never tackled the MAKING of music till I was in my teens. In a nutshell, that's how FARCHILD came together...me sitting in my dorm, playing guitar & keyboard, experimenting with electronics/ synth, and recording weird and highly emotional music on my laptop!
GreenlandLive.net - How did you come to be known as Farchild?
I officially started pursuing music when I moved to Seattle (late 2006 after college) and began performing as 'Jane C'. Spring of 2007 I was offered a record deal, signed as Jane C, and began working on my album for the better part of year in conjunction with Seattle artist/ producer Mike Singleton (best known as 'Outtasite' who works with 'Sir Mix A Lot' and 'Presidents of the United States of America' frontman Chris Ballew).Given the experimental and somewhat random nature of my music, I was moved to create an equally experimental moniker for myself....and something that wasn't going to pigeon-hole my music. These days, you've got bands/ artists calling themselves 'Blood & Hellfire' or 'Thug Master Jeezy'. When you hear names likes that, you automatically think 'Death Metal' or 'Gangster Rap'... not really much mystery there. FARCHILD just seemed open-ended...as if, I could form my own genre… put out any kind of music I wanted to and then turn around on a second album, do something completely different, and get away with it! It really all comes down to musical, personal, and creative freedom. I also thought I could reach a broader audience as FARCHILD than I could with just Jane C. Plus, I AM a FARCHILD! 'Far' meaning 'weird'.
GreenlandLive.net - Who and what are your influences?
I'm a shameless Nine Inch Nails / Trent Reznor fan. I have a huge amount of respect for the guy. There are so few successful artist/ producer/ musician types out there. He's truly one of a kind and has inspired me to no end….other early influences include: Enya, KoRn, Michael Jackson, Jewel, Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Deftones, Missy Elliot, Alanis Morissette, Mozart......also Bjork, Rage Against the Machine, Slipknot, some of Nelly Furtado's early music, AFI, Erykah Badu, System of a Down, Coldplay, Lacuna Coil, Moby, Tool, Led Zeppelin, The Chrystal Method, Angelspit, Days of the New, Kidney Theives, Sarah MacLaughlin, Stina Nordenstam, The Misfits, The Shins...the list goes on....I try not limit myself. Too much music out there to be narrow-minded.
GreenlandLive.net - How would you describe your audience?
Ha, my main audience? How to describe that?!! When I first hopped on myspace I noticed, to my surprise, that literally a little bit of everyone (men, women, kids, parents...) people from all different kinds of backgrounds & walks of life, seemed to take interest in my music. It's one of the things I enjoy most about being able to do what I do: form a connection with different types of people. The whole myspace/ internet marketing thing is pretty revolutionary. I value getting to see WHO my fans are and find out why they might be attracted to my music. It’s the most rewarding thing in the world…getting to share of such a private and personal piece of yourself and find that it can actually bring joy and fulfillment to someone else’s life.
GreenlandLive.net - What are your goals as a group?
I have multiple goals as a musician. I started writing music & lyrics mostly for selfish reasons. Growing up, frankly, I had a fair amount of supressed emotion to deal with. I also have a LOT I want to say. Athletics weren’t really allowing me to fully get that emotion off my chest. It's all about creative release really. I'm kind of an intense person. Like a dog who needs to be walked periodically or else they get mad and start peeing on things. Reason #2: I'd like nothing more than to be an inspirational force to listeners, especially kids....kids in middle school/ high school, kids who really don't fit in at all or need something outside of school and their everyday environment to latch onto. I’ve been there myself. People naturally gravitate towards music & art that embodies some emotion that they may be feeling at a given time.. KoRn’s CD “Life is Peachy” literally got me through middle school. Reason #3: I’d like to put something fresh and honest out into the industry, both lyrically & musically. Turn on the radio. Popular music is stagnant. It’s the same mediocrity on repeat, saturating countless stations across the globe. If I’m tired of it, then I’m sure the next person is too. Ideally, I strive to create something for THAT person to listen to. Hahah, music for the jaded cynic.
GreenlandLive.net - What drives your music?
A lot of my content is driven by strong emotion...be it loneliness, passion, infantile silliness, outrage. I go through quite the emotional spectrum in 8 tracks worth of music. Musically, my songs are characterized by a myriad of sounds…I love electronic music…industrial arpeggiators, heavy clanking beats. Also love earthy and alternative acoustic guitar and crunchy metal. METAL!!!!! I like tribal beats, congos. I love classical piano, layers of strings, unnecessary amounts of synth and pads. My Pro Tools system is on overload. I love hard, aggressive, "evil-sounding music" just as much as I enjoy beautiful, calming, and ethereal music. I also like cheeky music with a bit of spunk to it.
GreenlandLive.net - What message/s are you delivering to the world?
Turn your negatives into positives and do something constructive. Wake up & shirk your apathy. Yes, the world sucks, but you're not alone. Be yourself. Celebrate individuality and diversity. Stuff along those lines...I’m an idealist. What can I say..?
GreenlandLive.ne - What does your latest album portray?
My up-coming album 'Chivalry Has Died' is pretty much a collection carefully-chosen of songs I wrote between the years 2004-2007. Sound-wise they're all pretty different. Rock, Folk, Industrial, Hip Hop, Metal, Classical, World music...the album is pretty much a musical grab bag. The sound has been described as 'playfully sinister' **lets loose an evil cackle**
GreenlandLive.net - What roles do each member of the band act out/play?
I write & perform FARCHILD’s Vocals, Piano/ Keys, Guitar (acoustic & electric), Electronics, Basslines, Beats, etc. Worked with a badass metal guitarist named Joel Davilla on a few of my tracks off the album (he’s the guitarist for Outtasite). I’ve also collaborated with a few different musicians.
GreenlandLive.net - Describe a defining moment for your band.
Probably, meeting good friend & industry mentor Mike Singleton, who is better known as artist/ producer 'Outtasite.” He's a truly remarkable person. He's pretty much the first (if only) person I've met out here who has allowed ME to develop my OWN sound. I'm a 23-year-old female who sings, writes, performs, and produces all her own music and have had quite an interesting year trying to retain creative control of that own music. I’m a newcomer & sometimes, I have to smack people upside the head a bit to get them to understand. I have a pretty specific vision for this project…and it doesn’t really involve anyone swooping in and redefining everything like some tyrannical vulture. Mike is the exception to the rule. Never had to smack his head once. He pretty much just walked into the room and told me everything I wanted to hear. I was like WOW….who’s diary have YOU been reading?? He’s the type of person that wants to see my career unfold in a natural, undisturbed way. I know I’m still young and have a TON more to learn about music and the biz (and believe me, I’m a thirsty sponge), but it’d be damn shame to relinquish all my goals and passion for the sake of better marketing, more money, & quicker notoriety because someone with more prestige insists that “it’s what all good little girls should do.”. All in all, working with and even FINDING someone like Mike Singleton is RARE this industry. It has been a welcome surprise & and I am truly LUCKY to have such a positive influence in my life during the early stages of my career.