Sometimes life just throws up wonderful moments of serendipity, so it was a pleasant surprise after writing my review of Globus’s album Break from This World, and wondering about the beautiful female vocals on the track Black Parade, that I checked my email and found a message that made my weekend.
It was a message from Jane Runnalls, owner of the incredible aforementioned vocal talents, thanking me for the praise I had given Globus. This was an exciting moment. I reviewed an album by my joint-favourite band (tied with Muse, in case you’re wondering) and now someone involved with them had found it and taken the time to get in touch to say how much they appreciated my review.
I immediately took a liking to Jane, as I thought it was incredibly nice of her to take the time to get in touch. After a bit of research on her, it became clear that she was someone I wanted to profile on The Hyperteller, and she kindly agreed to answer some questions for me, so here goes.
Jane Runnalls
Globus isn’t exactly your average music project. Kids don’t tend to get together with a hundred other kids and start an epic rock band in their parent’s garage. Parents across the globe don’t say to other parents, “I mean, obviously I’m glad they’re doing something creative, but honestly, I need an oil drum just to make enough squash just for the horn section”. So how did Jane become involved with Globus?
“I became involved with Globus beginning in 2009 after a meeting with Yoav Goren (President of Immediate Music & Globus member) about singing in Trailer Music Live,” Jane says. “When they signed me as featured female vocalist for TML concert, I was also asked to sing with Globus in the second half of the program. My involvement has evolved since then.”
Black Parade is my favourite track from the album, and it was this song in particular that really got me wondering about who the female vocalist was (I already knew the male vocalist as he was the lead on Globus’s first album, Epicon). Black Parade is a favourite of Jane’s, too. “We had such a fun time recording that! Actually, in the end, my vocals were paired down for the final mix because my voice wasn’t quite gritty and “mean” enough for the style of the piece…. a bit funny because it’s very true!”Personally I think they are perfect – it’s the yearning with which the song is sang on Jane’s part that gives Black Parade its power in my mind. There’s something beautifully longing about Jane’s vocals that gives the song a perfect edge.
Other tracks that Jane loves (“That’s a tough question!”) are The Promise and In Memoriam, “because of its roots in classical singing and its gorgeous, haunting melody”. Jane is a classically trained signer, pianist and flautist. This all started when she was very young. Her parents recognised her musical ability when she started to sing as soon as she could talk (although presumably not in front of a hundred other babies with Fischer-Price instruments, as her musical journey would lead her to in later life). Jane’s parents enrolled her in piano lessons at the age of five and flute lessons at seven (the age, not the time). At eight years old, Jane started music theory courses.
It would seem, what with living a life filled with music, and instrumental tuition, that it would be a pretty smart guess to assume Jane grew up wanting to do something musical with her life.
“Yes, I think I always knew I wanted to do something musical with my life. I’m a people-person, so the idea of becoming a concert soloist never really appealed to me (due to the lifestyle mainly), but I’ve always gravitated towards music in some way or another. My first background in is flute and piano, then I started formally training for Opera and singing in college. I meandered around a bit with my pursuits when I first came to LA and worked for a brief time as an actress, but music always seemed to find me and bring me back “home”… It feels like home to me, and the constant study of it (singing) is still is one of my greatest sources of joy, challenge, inspiration, and excitement.”
I expect everyone has a back-up dream, however. People may work endlessly towards one goal, but they usually have another thing to fall back on if their first doesn’t succeed. (For the writers reading, that’s a thought too horrible to bear). What was Jane’s? “I’m a big nature-girl! If I hadn’t gone into the arts, I would have become a zoologist.” I can imagine Jane working very well with animals, as she obviously has an incredibly caring side to her. In 2009 she co-founded Songs for Smiles, a musical outreach program that uses music in local hospitals to enliven the days of adult and paediatric patients with life-limiting illnesses. I was interested as to whether the idea struck Jane all of a sudden, or whether the desire to help and ‘give back’ developed gradually.
“It came about more slowly. Giving back has always been important to me. I became a volunteer for VITAS Hospice in 2005 simply wanting to contribute my time in any way I could. For the first couple years, I did mainly friendly visits for patients and families in their homes. Then I had the idea of incorporating music and singing in my visits after discovering how much experiences that gave some meaning and relief to the difficult and trying circumstances meant to patients and their families. Songs for Smiles then evolved from there – I started doing larger programs in hospitals and health care centers with my good friend and fellow singer, August McLaughlin, and the program has been running ever since. I have been so moved seeing just how much a simple song can mean to someone going through a difficult time. It’s been a real gift getting to do this.”
Charity is obviously incredibly important to Jane. She was the featured vocalist on the soundtrack to the videogame Call of Duty: Black Ops. After a meet and greet with some of the troops at the LAX USO chapter, Jane looked further into the support available to servicemen and women, and discovered The Wounded Warrior Project, which she shared details of on her website. It is this commitment to look past the face of something and find a way of helping people that shows just what a compassionate person Jane is. I can’t imagine many people would think in that kind of way – to work on a videogame soundtrack and then try to explore the reality of the events it depicts (obviously the theme of the game made this possible too. I can’t imagine Jane playing Super Mario and then going to help Italian plumbers jump on mushrooms, although I’m sure she’d offer.)
It would seem Jane works incredibly hard. When not lending her stunning vocal abilities to various music, she gives her time to helping others. So what does she do when she does get time to herself? What’s her favourite way to relax?
“When I’m not working, I love to relax with my friends and family and do just about anything! I love to cook, read, listen to music, spend time with my fiancée and his boys goofing around or playing games (I love board games and cards!). If I’m lucky, I get to the Zoo or do something outdoors or involving animals on my days off.”
Jane was the lead vocalist for Immediate Music’s Trailer Music Live, as well as working on Globus’s second album. As someone who has been to a lot of pub gigs and thought that the singer or a certain instrument was hard to hear over the others, I got thinking about the challenge of singing above an entire orchestra. Obviously Jane had a microphone, but it still seemed like a large task. Is it intimidating to sing with a full orchestra?
“Oh sure, it can definitely feel intimidating. I get a few nerves for sure! But funny enough, I feel quite comfortable singing in large venues and with orchestras due to all my years playing in orchestras and ensembles as a musician. I feel a much greater sense of ease there then say, an intimate recital for my colleagues and family. Now that can feel nerve-wracking and intimidating!”
Jane was enthralled at an early age by Julie Andrews and Judy Garland. Four years ago, she realised a personal goal by singing on one of Julie Andrews’s projects, Simeon’s Gift. What was the experience like?
“Just amazing. Ian Fraser, Ms. Andrews’ producer of over 35 years, was the composer on Simeon’s Gift and the one who brought me on for the project. At the time, the musical had not yet had its debut in New York and we were recording all the music for the first time. It was pretty surreal and I learned so much from working with Ian! I remember him saying to me during a rehearsal, “When you’re learning a new song: the most important thing to do before you sing a single note, is to absorb the words and story first… Always know what you’re singing about.” Though I’d heard that before, it’s really stayed with me. Story and communication are key in singing.”
It’s an important point, and one that seems to be slipping away from music these days. It’s one of the reasons Jane’s voice is so special. In a world where X-Factor continues to rip the soul from music, reducing the art of singing to a note-holding and volume contest, Jane’s voice serves as a brilliant reminder that singing is about passion and meaning. She is incredibly versatile, as can be heard on her contribution to the four tracks on Break from This World.
So what drives Jane now? Now that one goal has been achieved, what does she want to do next? Does she have other goals?
“Oh, so many! I would love to have collaborated on original music with Jerry Goldsmith or John Barry before they passed away… their music inspires me to this day. James Horner, James Newton Howard, and Michael Giacchino are composers I’d love to work with in the future. I’d also love to offer my voice to an animated musical! If I could have career opportunities similar to Jodi Benson, I’d be a happy gal. She’s extraordinary and I’ve looked up to her since The Little Mermaid.”
So far Jane has had a varied and interesting career. Globusisn’t exactly an everyday project, and to go from that to singing for videogames must keep things interesting. So what’s next for Jane?
“Well, as a matter of fact, I’m getting married in a week! I feel like the luckiest woman alive to have found such joy and love with this person…I’m really excited. Our ceremony will be very small, intimate and low-key, and then we’re taking a road-trip tour of the South West for our honeymoon in July. So, the next couple months, I’ll be taking primarily for personal time. As for singing and the business, I’ll dive back in big-time this Fall…I have a personal goal of playing Maria in a production of The Sound of Music someday, maybe an opportunity will come and this will be the year!”
I think they did a TV talent show to find a Maria over here in England once. I should have told Jane about it, she would have smashed it. We’re currently auditioning to find a Jesus for Jesus Christ Superstar, however. I wonder if Jane would consider putting on a false beard?
If you want to know more about Jane Runnalls, you can visit her website, www.janerunnalls.com. The work of Globus and Immediate Music are available through all the usual channels, as is the soundtrack for Call of Duty: Black Ops.
All that’s left to do is say thank you to Jane, a massive congratulations, and all the best for the future.
Follow me on Twitter @RewanTremethick.
Got a question? Want to request a post? Got a topic you’d like my take on? thehypertellerATgmailDOTcom.