Singing and songwriting duo, Coldwater Jane

Chit Chatting with Coldwater Jane

Written by: Jill Sheets

Coldwater Jane Picture credit: David Tsay

Recently we got the honor to interview the singing duo Coldwater Jane. Continue to read about Coldwater Jane and about their music.

R: How did you come up with the name Coldwater Jane?

LC: We wanted to use the name Jane because it means so much to us. It’s our mother’s name, Brandon’s middle name, and our great great grandmother’s name. Coldwater came from Coldwater Canyon. So much great music came out of that area and we thought it just sounded good with Jane. It’s pretty hard to find a good band name that isn’t already taken and you don’t feel silly saying.

R: Both of you play the guitar. How long have you been playing, and do either of you play any other instrument other than voice?

LC: Brandon has been picking up the mandolin, and I play piano some. Although not nearly well enough to play in front of other musicians!

R: How long have you been singing and writing your own music?

LC: We first sang together in church when we were 2 and 4. Our parents are music lovers and encouraged us to sing, but writing definitely came from something inside of us. I remember the first song I ever wrote I sang to my mom and dad in the car on the way to Mobile, Al (the nearest mall to our town in MS). I remember her asking what artist sang that song. That started a fire.

R: What is your songwriting process? Do you start with the words?

LC: Sometimes we start with a melody, sometimes we start with a title or a lyrical idea, and every now and then when we are lucky it feels like it comes from above. Like we have nothing to do with it, we’re just the ones typing and singing.

R: Tell us about touring with your family as a family gospel band? What was your favorite memory of doing that?

LC: I have lots of memories of doing school work in the van, sleeping in people’s houses that we didn’t know (members of the churches where we were singing) and our little brother basically falling asleep while playing the drums. He would lay his head down on the snare while playing when he got tired! Most of the memories are good, but anything you do full time is work and it’s not a life for most people. We feel fortunate because it laid the groundwork for what we are doing now. It taught us things like how to keep going in a show even if something isn’t going right. We are so thankful for the experience, although it seems a little crazy now looking back on it!

R: Tell us about your up and coming CD. What are the titles of some of the songs? Do you have a release date yet for it? Does it have a title?

LC: Our album, “Bring On The Love”, will be out early next year. We are SO excited for everyone to hear it. The title track was our first single, but I feel like the whole record has something to say. “Devil Train” is a fast fun song about sneaking out (no need to mention which one of us that one is about), and “Marrionette” is a bluegrassy song about a free spirit. It’s tough waiting to share something we created that we are so proud of!

R: Tell us about your single “Bring On The Love.” How did you come up with the idea for this song?

LC: We were sitting in the studio playing around on all the instruments (banjo, dobro, mandolin) that are all tuned like a guitar. The melody and title came out pretty quickly since we were just having fun. The next day we came in and wrote what we wanted to say. Kind of a “come together”, love everybody kind of tune. It was important for us to say something that had meaning, but still be able to write it in an encouraging light.

R: Where were you when you first heard “Bring On the Love” on the radio? What was it like?

LC: This is my favorite question. We were in my grandmother’s house in Mississippi, which is the house my great great grandfather built, the house we lived in while we were traveling all over the country singing in churches, and the house we left to move to Nashville. We were literally just running in for a minute when we heard on the radio in the kitchen “Bring On The Love.” Bran started crying. I didn’t even know what to say. It’s like God knows that sometimes you need a little, “Hey, you’re right where you need to be.”

R: Where can people get your music?

LC: “Bring On The Love” is available on itunes and very soon in stores.

R: What is it like working with your sister? How do you handle disagreements?

LC: Working with my sister is one of the greatest joys of all of this. Making and playing music is amazing, but I imagine as a solo artist it can get real lonely sometimes. It’s so nice to have someone to bounce things off of and to have someone call you out on your crap. We fight, but when we do, we get it all out on the table and it’s over. We don’t bring it up again. We both know we have each other’s best interest at heart, beyond music.

R: We read that you where in the 4th Annual Country Weekly Fashion Show. What was that like?

LC: I am definitely not the fashion show type! I don’t get my nails done (they get scratched up by guitar strings anyway), don’t shop much. I know nothing about fashion really, but everyone was so nice and made the whole thing so fun that we really enjoyed it! It was also for a great cause. We felt lucky to be a part of it!

R: Tell us about “Second Harvest.”

LC: What a great cause. It was amazing how many volunteers were there on a Saturday to help people they don’t even know. We are always so proud to be involved in things that help our community. One volunteer supervisor told us, “Not everybody can donate money, but I can donate my time.”

R: We read that you have also helped out orphans in Ethiopia. Tell us about it?

LC: My husband and I got involved in sponsoring a child in Africa through Kingdom Vision. It costs so little, but it can do so much. I think it’s so easy to get wrapped up in my life and forget how blessed I am. We get to be a part of some amazing benefits and organizations. This is a cause that I hope to be more a part of in the future.

R: Are there any other charities that are close to your heart? If so, tell us about them.

LC: We got to tour St. Jude Children’s hospital and it literally broke our hearts. As much for the parents as the children. It’s only through donations that no child is turned away, even if they don’t have to money to pay. A child is a child. They should all get the same chance.

R: What has been you most “star struck” moment? Who was it and tell us about it?

LC: Reba is amazing and just about the nicest person. Once she talked to me and I didn’t know what to say. I got nervous and kind of laughed.

R: What bands and singers to you listen to? What are your favorite songs by each one of them?

B: Patty Griffin. “Nobody’s Cryin” is a masterpiece. I love Train “Meet Virginia”. Jeff Buckley’ version of “Hallelujah” gives me chills to this day. And Patty Loveless “Here I am”. Beautiful. I love so much it’s hard to choose!

R: What is your favorite song to belt out in the car?

B: Lately my guiltiest pleasure is singing Carrie Underwood’s “Undo it” at the top of my lungs. What a great song!

R: Who has been your biggest influence?

B: Honestly, our mom and dad. They introduced us to so much great music. And in those moments when I wanted to quit, when it got too hard… they believed in me, so I kept believing in myself. I don’t know where Leah and I would be without their love and guidance.

R: What is the best advice you have ever gotten and by who?

B: A very lovely man I know told me last summer, that no matter what I think I am… an artist, a singer, daughter, all those “identity” things I get so wrapped up in… at the end of the day, I am a child of God. And no matter what things happen or change around me, nothing can change that, ever. I take a lot of rest in that, and I believe I always will.

R: What advice would you give teenage girls?

B: I am the last person to be doling out advice; I am still learning so much myself. But I guess if I could tell my 16 year old self something… I would say…you are beautiful, you are smart, listen to that little voice when it tells you “this isn’t a good idea” and trust yourself! Oh, and stand up straight!

R: What are five things people may not know about you?

B: I am trying to learn French. I am a pretty good cook. Sometimes I can’t believe I get to do this for a living! I have a crush on “House” and Gene Wilder in Willie Wonka (I know, weird.) No matter how much time I spend with Leah, I still call her every single day and actually still want to talk to her on the phone.

R: Are you on any social networking sites? If so, which ones and what are their addresses? Do you have an official website? If so, what is the address?

B: Facebook.com/coldwaterjane ; twitter.com/coldwaterjane ; www.coldwaterjane.com http://www.coldwaterjane.com

R: What is the best thing a fan has ever said or did for you?

B: Anytime they spread the word about your music is exciting.

R: Other than this one, what is the strangest question you have ever been asked?

B: How do you two know each other? Not that we expect people to know that we are sisters, but it’s a hard one to answer without sounding smart or giggling! That question always cracks me up & I always say “in the womb.”

R: Is there anything else you would like to add or say to your fans?

B: Thank you for listening to our music, we really hope you like it and if you haven’t heard us… we hope you will check it out.

http://www.relatemag.com/2010/07/singing-and-songwriting-duo-coldwater-jane/

Do Good Country Spotlight: Help Feed Middle Tennessee

Written on June 23, 2010
by Ron Kelly

Earlier this month, I wrote about my pending trip to Nashville to soak up the CMA Fest and to volunteer with hot country duo Coldwater Jane at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Despite the stifling temperatures outside, Coldwater’s Brandon Jane, Leah Crutchfield and I all had a blast sorting through and boxing up close to 12,000 pounds of food with the rest of our top-notch volunteer group. The three of us left incredibly inspired by the Second Harvest team and amazed at the never-ending great work they do. (Special shout-outs to our group leaders Ben and Toni!) Check out this video to get more details on what we humbly did that afternoon and how rewarding an experience it was. You also get to hear Coldwater Jane’s addictive track “Bring On the Love” and see ’em in action.

And just in case you haven’t donated yet to our online food drive for Second Harvest, please consider doing so. (It’s up and running through July 30.) Though the floods were in early May, the area will be in recovery mode for quite some time. Middle Tennessee’s Davidson county is battling $2 billion in damages alone. Across the state, more than 11,000 homes and business have suffered extensive damages and many families have been displaced.

Second Harvest itself was partially flooded and had no electricity for several days, which resulted in the loss of $200,000 worth of perishable food. Their Kids Café and BackPack Program, which provides low-income kids with nutritious meals and snacks, were both temporarily interrupted. According to Second Harvest, the number of people seeking emergency food has increased by 50 percent after the floods and those numbers sadly don’t seem to be waning.

Here’s the good news, though: Just $6.25 helps to serve 24 meals, so it’s easy to help make a big difference. Please do, if you can, by clicking here and donating.

My thanks to Coldwater Jane for their hard work (and laughs), and to everyone at Second Harvest for all of their help in setting up our volunteer session and food drive, especially Meghan, Heidi, Heather, Ben and Toni. Keep up the great work!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO: http://www.lhj.com/blogs/ladieslounge/2010/06/23/do-good-country-spotlight-help-feed-middle-tennessee/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 10, 2010

MERCURY NASHVILLE DUO COLDWATER JANE JOINS FORCES WITH

LADIES HOME JOURNAL & SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK SATURDAY, JUNE 12TH TO RAISE MONEY & COLLECT FOOD FOR NASHVILLE FLOOD VICTIMS

NASHVILLE, TN – Mercury Nashville sister duo Brandon Jane and Leah Crutchfield of Coldwater Jane will join forces with Ladies Home Journal and the local chapter of Second Harvest Food Bank located at 331 Great Circle Road in Nashville Saturday, June 12^th from 1-4pm to collect and sort food for Nashville flood victims.

Food items and monetary donations can be made at the Second Harvest facility, on www.secondharvestmidtn.org or via Ladies Home Journal’s virtual online food drive at http://www.lhj.com/blogs/ladieslounge/2010/06/01/do-good-country-spotlight-lhjsecond-harvest-virtual-food-drive/, which has already raised enough funds to help serve over 1,000 meals.

Coldwater Jane hails from tiny Lucedale, Mississippi and is a combination of Brandon’s charming lead vocals and Leah’s sweet harmonies. Both ladies play guitar and co-wrote everything on their 11-track record. Together they create an engaging organic country sound like the Eagles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Fleetwood Mac that they grew up on, as well as Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Linda Ronstadt and Patty Loveless who they count as influences. Their Mercury Nashville debut single “Bring On The Love” is available on iTunes and their album of the same name will be available next year. Visit www.coldwaterjane.com to view their music video and find out why People magazine named them to their “Buzzworthy Artist” list.

Do Good Country Spotlight: LHJ/Second Harvest Virtual Food Drive

Written on June 1, 2010 at 12:48 pm,
by Ron Kelly

In Middle Tennessee, folks are still suffering through the aftereffects of widespread flooding that occurred after May’s record-breaking rainfall devastated the area. In addition to close to two dozen deaths, there’s been an estimated $1.5 billion in damages and the recovery process is going to be a long one—expected to be one of the costliest in U.S. history. Many people didn’t have flood insurance and have lost most of everything they had.

Through it all, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee has shifted into high gear despite having its operations compromised for a few days itself. They’ve already distributed more than 500,000 pounds of food in the wake of the floods and, as they so eloquently put it, they “remain focused on doing what we do best: getting food, water and basic necessities to hungry people.” Of the 46 counties the Bank serves, 31 had been declared federal disaster areas so you can imagine their intensified need for food donations, monetary contributions and volunteers.

Well, they’ve got my support. I’m heading down in Nashville next week for the CMA Music Festival and I was happy to schedule some time to volunteer. I’ve even invited sisters Brandon Jane and Leah Crutchfield—country music’s Coldwater Jane - to roll up their sleeves and join me for an afternoon in the Second Harvest warehouse. (Good news: They’re in!) What we need to do now, though, is make sure there’s an ample amount of food to sort through and box up. That’s where you come in.

No matter where you live, we’ve made it easy for you to help us help Second Harvest. All you have to do is click here to donate to Ladies’ Home Journal’s virtual Middle Tennessee Food Drive. Any amount you can spare to give will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your generosity. And if you live in Nashville or happen to be visiting anytime soon, check out the amazing Hands On Nashville website, which makes it easy to find other worthwhile volunteer projects that are helping to rebuild the area.

For a little inspiration in the meantime, crank up your computer volume and rock out to Coldwater Jane’s “Bring On the Love” video, after the jump.

“Ain’t nothing so broke / We can’t fix it / It just needs a little TLC / Yeah, in a dry spell / What can you do but / be the rain everybody needs.” —from Coldwater Jane’s “Bring on the Love”

Coldwater Jane - Driven by Music and Family

By Rick Amburgey

Coldwater Jane has been getting a lot of attention and airplay lately with their debut single, “Bring On The Love.” The duo is made up of two sisters – Brandon Jane and Leah Crutchfield.

The sisters said the events of the last several months have been a whirlwind, with so many things happening so fast. It seems like their success happened overnight, but Crutchfield explained they have been working toward this goal for over 11 years.

The sisters said that they grew up in a very musical family and it has always been a part of their lives. Their dad introduced them to classic rock artists, while their mother introduced them to gospel music. Living in a small Mississippi town, country music was always a huge part of their lives. They cited artists such as Vince Gill as those who were influential in their music.

Jane and Crutchfield said they have played music nearly all of their lives, and their family has been involved every step of the way. Their father played bass for them and their mother did all of their show bookings. According to Crutchfield, at one point they were playing about 250 days a year.

Their parents made a decision that helped shake their future – they decided to move the family to Nashville so they could more actively pursue their dreams of being country singers. It was difficult to get any attention while living in Mississippi, but they noted that in Nashville it’s possible to meet people that can help.

For the sisters, music was a true passion. “We will do this whether we have a record deal or not,” Crutchfield said. Crutchfield and Jane started recording their CD about two years ago. They had five songs completed and they were signed to Mercury Records.

Crutchfield and Jane are both songwriters and they feel the CD will provide listeners with a good insight as to who they are. “I feel like it’s a good introduction to us and what we’re about,” Crutchfield said. They wrote the first single, “Bring On The Love.” Crutchfield said it’s a fun summer song. “I think by the second or third time you hear it, you know it’s about loving your neighbour, loving people.”

Jane and Crutchfield enjoy doing work to benefit charity. They said they have done work for St. Jude’s Hospital and that’s an experience they consider to be very special. They have also done work for orphans in Ethiopia.

Would you like to help promote our music, videos, tour dates and get FREE exclusive stuff? If so, please join the official Coldwater Jane "Country Corps" Street Team!

It’s 100% free, connects you with other CWJ fans, AND you can earn free music, concert tickets, and other cool rewards while you’re at it.
Please CLICK HERE to sign up now.

Thank you for supporting us and our music!
-Brandon and Leah

Make sure to CLICK HERE to see Coldwater Jane talk to Yallwire about their first CRS experience, their love of music and more.

Coldwater Jane Featured on Country Vibe Tv

Make sure to CLICK HERE to see sisters Brandon Jane and Leah Crutchfield get quizzed for “5 On The Vibe”.

Singing sisters

Lucedale duo lands on CMT with their new music video

Sisters Brandon Jane and Leah Crutchfield left Lucedale for Nashville a few years back, recently signed with Mercury Records, and now have a hot new video for their toe-tapping single, “Bring On the Love,” playing on CMT.

The colorful, bohemian-vibe video was shot in one day at several quirky locations, including southern California’s Salvation Mountain.

“It was the coolest, strangest day of our lives shooting our first video,” Brandon Jane, better known as “Brandi Woodard” in these parts, said in an interview for a “Making of the video” production. Brandon calls “Bring on the Love” a “sing it in the car with the windows rolled down kind of song.”

And while the sisters are kept busy these days with music business in Nashville and travel around the country, they haven’t forgotten home — good news for country music fans who will appreciate a chance to catch a couple stars on the rise.

The duo will be in Lucedale this weekend, performing at a benefit concert Friday night at the Jaycee building on the George County Fairgrounds. Tickets are $5, available at the gate. They will also be featured on “This Week’s Top Country” radio show on 106.9 Thursday from 3-5 pm.

http://www.sunherald.com/2010/03/02/1995584/singing-sisters.html

Nashville rising stars to perform at benefit in Lucedale

By Michael Dumas

March 04, 2010, 7:01AM

LUCEDALE, Miss. -- Two of Nashville's hottest acts will be coming home to Lucedale on Friday night, lending their voices and music to the cause of raising money for a family dealing with bone cancer.

The band Coldwater Jane and singer Brandon Green have traveled from Music City this week to perform with other local musicians at a benefit concert for Lucedale native Yulanda Cooley, who was recently diagnosed with the disease. Cooley and her husband Tommy are currently at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where she is undergoing treatment.

Sisters Brandon Jane, left, and Leah Crutchfield, who make up the band Coldwater Jane, will be performing at a benefit March 5, 2010 in Lucedale for their aunt, Yulanda Cooley, who was recently diagnosed with bone cancer.
For sisters Brandon Jane and Leah Crutchfield, who make up Coldwater Jane, their participation in the concert is a family matter. Both grew up in Lucedale and Cooley is their aunt.

"She is a wonderful, wonderful lady," Jane said during a phone interview on Wednesday. "She is such a blessing to our family, and she means so much to us."

The sisters have been busy in Nashville as of late, having just released their first single, "Bring on the Love," which they are currently promoting through their label, Mercury Records. The song is starting to appear on national charts, Jane said.

Local favorite Ronnie Davis will be playing guitar with Coldwater Jane on Friday, and Darwin and Dana Nelson -- known as Double Dee -- will be emceeing and performing at the concert.

Lucedale native Brandon Green will also perform at the event. Green found fame in 2009 when his duo, JB Rocket, competed in the CMT show "Can You Duet?" in Nashville, and was later awarded a recording contract with Big Machine Records.

Yulanda Cooley Benefit

When: March 5, 7 p.m.

Where: George County Fairgrounds, Lucedale

Tickets: $5. Concessions will also be for sale.

Info: For information, or to donate, call Emily Cooley at 251-243-1062 or Pam Henderson at 601-508-5490.

Every cent raised during Friday night's concert and silent auction will go toward Cooley's medical expenses, according to organizer Emily Cooley, Yulanda's sister-in-law. The silent auction is being handled by Stevie Eubanks and includes autographed sports and entertainment memorabilia, she said.

The money raised will go towards offsetting the Cooley's travel and medical expenses as Yulanda undergoes treatment at MD Anderson, Emily Cooley said.

For Jane and Crutchfield, having the benefit in their hometown made much more sense than anything they could have done in Nashville.

"There's nothing like coming home to Lucedale, they really do want to help each other," Jane said. "I don't know many families around here that haven't been touched by cancer.

"If we can raise some money for them, that's the least we can do."

Coldwater Jane can be heard from 3 to 5 p.m. March 4 on radio show "This Week's Top Country" with Yvette Hillman on WRBE Radio 106.9 in Lucedale.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-living/2010/03/nashville_rising_stars_to_perform_at_benefit_in_lucedale.html

Coldwater Jane has a lot of experience in music. They toured as a family gospel band in their teenage years and then moved to Nashville to pursue their careers in music. After a few years, they went their separate ways when Brandon married and moved to New York, while Leah stayed in Nashville to be a songwriter. Eventually they realized they wanted to work together and soon began writing and recording a new album. Both wrote some of the songs on the debut album and each put something of themselves in it. CLICK HERE TO HEAR MORE!

DISClaimer

by Robert K. Oermann

COLDWATER JANE/Bring On The Love

Writer: Kevin Kadish/Brendon Jane/Leah Crutchfield/

Wayne Kirkpatrick; Producer: Wayne Kirkpatrick & Kevin

Kadish; Publisher: WB/Song Tower/Slowguy/Warner-

Tamerlane/Deaf By 30/Lola Jane/Sony-ATV/Songs for My

Good Girl/Mad Mother/Manett, Phelps & Phillips, ASCAP/

BMI; Mercury (CDX)

—Very, very listenable. The crunchy, thumpy track

rumbles along beneath really personable singing and

solid harmony work. Catchy in the extreme.

You can pick up Coldwater Jane’s new single “Bring on the Love” on iTunes for just $0.99!

…Now that’s what I call Bringin’ on the Love.

Click Here to Download