Jane Lui
She still makes pretend, dances to a soundtrack heard only in her head, laughs with a gutful of projection, and is silly like she never grew up. It is the extraordinary strength and soul of her voice that will captivate you, but it is her charm and exploration of a humble heart that will win you over. From making imaginary friends to her devotion to music, Jane Lui is an artist whose quirky character spills into her creativity, capturing your heart with the entirety of her being.
Born on April 24, 1979 in Hong Kong, Lui found attachment to music since her first piano lesson at age 4. As one of the Most-Wanted class clowns of her primary school, Lui lied to teachers and cheated on tests – far from being the top academic student. Yet when it came to music, her especially keen ear was noticed. Often made the demonstrator of singing and expression, she was even chosen to conduct her first winning class choirs at the young age of 9 and 10.
The majority of her childhood was spent in her room singing, dancing, pretending. “I had all of Anita Mui’s albums on cassette, sang along looking out the window like a performance.” Every young girl has an idol as role model. For Lui, Mui became a long-term vocal study. “I watched her every move, caught her vibrato tricks, matched her tones to corresponding mouth shapes, and tried my own. After 7 years of observation-imitation, anyone would learn a lot. I just happened to be lonely & crazy. (smiling)”
After immigrating to San Francisco Bay Area in 1990, she continued full involvement in music through college with a degree in Music at San Diego State University, where her passion and musicianship heightened, spilling into the power pop duo Jason and Jane (1999). They captivated the San Diego coffee circuit, opening for acts such as Jason Mraz, Lisa Sanders, Emm Gryner, and Tom Brousseau. By the time the duo went separate ways in 2003, Lui had already made it clear to listeners that her interpretive voice is not only rich and unique, but most soulful and emotive.
As for composing, Lui had never written until after the duo’s sudden split.
“I never thought I could write. But the split was difficult, that with a silent voice and all the interrogation from friends and listeners, I basically had a 9-month long nervous breakdown that no one knew.” Out of desperation, she began composing.
On Valentine’s Day 2004, Lui officially launched her solo career, and have since captured the attention of San Diego music scene once again. Within two years, she had shared stages with talents such as Gregory Page, Eddie from Ohio, Lisa Sanders, Vienna Teng, Trevor Davis, Ernie Halter, among many others.
By May 2005, Lui had released her full length debut, Teargirl, recorded with unconventional instruments such as tablas, harp, harmonium, toy piano, and organ pedals, in addition to brass and strings that were cleverly orchestrated. This debut is a courageous and blossoming display of her sultry voice, silly imagination, and high caliber musicianship. Named after its narrator, it is a storybook swayed by a voice in favor of emotion and expression. Produced by Lui and Aaron Bowen, a fellow singer/songwriter/engineer, the entire album was recorded on a 16 track Akai, with no pitch corrector nor digital editing.
Alongside the debut, Lui also created a website dedicated to The Making of Teargirl. “People kept asking, ‘I can’t understand anything you’re saying, can you enunciate more?’ or ‘I don’t get that song
