Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Andi Jane invites listeners into her rural world on her latest EP, The Great Peacock Farm. Recorded in Nashville with her string band, The Great Peacock Farm offers a runup to Jane’s debut long player, The Ground is Changing, slated for release early next year.
Originally from Illinois, where she grew up surrounded by cornfields, Jane’s unique sound merges flavors of classic country, Dixieland jazz, and bluegrass. Later, Jane relocated to Nashville with “a broken keyboard and a handful of songs.” After a stint as one half of Catfish Seminar, an Americana duo, she went solo.
The title track opens the EP, rolling out on a bouncy rhythm topped by plucking, twangy tones as Jane narrates that she’s way too busy to become involved in a romantic relationship.
Jane explains, “When someone’s interested in dating me, I send them this song, so they won’t be offended when I can’t hang out,” she jokes.
A personal favorite because of its driving pulse and gleaming layers of bluegrass and country, “Thousand Little Lies” hums with contagious harmonic dynamics as Jane’s delicious, drawling vocals imbue the lyrics with an enthralling tale of deception.
“I dated someone who had been conned out of his life savings,” she shares. “It got me thinking about what kind of person can live that way.”
“Teardrop Island” features glowing vocal harmonies traveling on an upbeat rhythm and light melody. Exploring changes wrought by time, Jane says the song encourages listeners to live in the moment.
Jane’s charming, bluegrass version of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy,” ties the EP off with style – highlighted by a stellar banjo and grand fiddling.
“And I hope that you are having the time of your life / But think twice, that’s my only advice / Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you / Who do you think you are / Ha ha ha, bless your soul / You really think you’re in control.”
Drenched in blissful twangy textures of country and bluegrass, The Great Peacock Farm highlights the evocative voice of Andi Jane.