Biography

RADIO PROMOTION BY Art Menius Radio
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RADIO ADD DATE October 8, 2024

Jan Gillies Examines life in the Hurricane’s Eye

Self-released

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Exploring themes of aging, war, climate change, and the basic challenge of surviving one day to the next, Hurricane's Eye is Travis-style guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Jan Gillies' seventh full length album. "This collection is a compilation of songs I’ve written over several decades of living through some seriously challenging times," the West Virginia resident explains, "as well as encountering some amazing people who helped me survive them. I’ve also been inspired and mentored by several marvelous musicians who encouraged and participated in this adventure, and added so much to these recordings. I feel so grateful to have been able to work, and play, with such dear friends and talented artists.

"My deepest hope is that these may inspire others find ways to cope with their own challenges. We all deal with many of the same ones, although they may seem quite different on the surface. Hurricanes can have many faces, including some human ones!"

Containing all original songs, Hurricane's Eye initially appeared in 2019 but was not adequately promoted to radio at the time. Gillies has, therefore, reissued Hurricane's Eye in 2024. Her eighth and most recent album, Visions, came out in 2023. Prior to Hurricane's Eye, Gillies had released six albums and an EP. Her songs tend to go well past the usual “Done Me Wrong” songs, dealing instead with such diverse subjects as singing lizards, squid encounters, swamps, war and environmental issues, as well as the agonies of human relationships – often with odd and unexpected humorous twists. Her original songs have been described by listeners as “delightful, moving, and exceptional,” bringing audiences to both tears and laughter, while often slipping in attitude-altering perspectives that go home with the listener.

Having lived an extremely unusual life for a California-born kid from the swamplands of northern Indiana, Jan uses her skills as a singer, instrumentalist, and songwriter to tell stories of her adventures over decades of working as a sailor, scientist, environmentalist, professional SCUBA diver, Hospice director, EMT, teacher, and other professions too numerous to mention. Since first picking up a guitar at the age of 14 during the upheavals of the Vietnam War, she has used music to laugh, cry, scream, and whisper about all the wonderful and horrible things life has thrown at her. Developing her initial Travis-picking style in coffeehouses from the Chicago area to Kangaroo Island, Australia to Miami, Florida, she has played in swamps, on shipboard, at music festivals, and in a wide range of usual and unusual venues. Jan presents a unique blend of contemporary and traditional influences. Having been a teacher for more than a decade, teaching and sharing her love of music and the natural world remains a major part of Jan’s music.

All lyrics FCC clean. "Hell" appears in "Heroes and Sheroes."