Janice Whaley

Janice Whaley is an American capella singer-songwriter from California.

Biography

As a teenager, Whaley suffered from polymyositis, a degenerative muscle disease. Essentially without mobility during this period, Whaley has described the condition as “a major force behind her creativity”, as music and art were the main activities available to her.

In 2010, Whaley set out to record every song by The Smiths in a year. Each song required up to 30 vocal layers to represent the various instruments in the original, and could take up to 30 hours to complete – meaning work on various songs overlapped.[1] With financial backing from supporters through the website Kickstarter, The Smiths Project was released on CD in 2011.[2]

Patchwork Life, Whaley’s first album of originals, followed in 2012. The album reflects her more recent influences, such as Laurie Anderson, Meredith Monk, John Cage, John Zorn as well as the experimental aspects of rock/alternative music by Björk, Mike Patton, and Radiohead.

Discography

Albums
  • The Smiths Project (2011), album series and box set including:
    • The Smiths
    • Hatful of Hollow
    • Meat is Murder
    • The Queen is Dead
    • Louder than Bombs
    • Strangeways, Here We Come
  • Patchwork Life (2012)

Stand-alone cover versions and collaborations
  • "Trees" (2011): re-recording of track from the Curt Smith (Tears For Fears) album Mayfield.
  • "Ideas as Opiates" (2012): duet with actor James Roday, original version by Tears For Fears.
  • "We Need You" (2012): cover version of Duran Duran original, as requested by Simon Le Bon.
YearOrganisationNominated workAwardResult
2011SF Bay GuardianThe Smiths Project"Best of the Bay"Won
SF Weekly"Best of San Francisco"Won
2013Artist in Music Awardsn/aBest Singer/SongwriterNominated
Best Adult Contemporary ArtistNominated
Independent Music AwardsThe Smiths ProjectBest Tribute AlbumNominated
Contemporary A Cappella Recording AwardsPatchwork LifeBest Pop/Rock AlbumNominated
"Tunnel Vision"Best Electronic/Experimental SongNominated
Best Professional Original SongNominated
Best Song By A Solo PerformerNominated
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References
  1. "The Smiths Project". thesmithsproject.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  2. "The Smiths Project 6-CD Box Set". Kickstarter. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
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