Insane Jane is a female fronted four piece rock and roll band playing a wide variety of covers from the 60’s through today. We have been together for about six years.

Lead vocalist - Tanya Smith started singing at the age of 9 and professionally recorded two songs at the age of fifteen. At nineteen she spent time recording two original songs in Nashville that made it onto an independent various artists CD. She joined the band Phoenix at the age 20 and performed locally then later joined band Split Decision. Went back into the studio for more recordings and later started project Insane Jane.

drummer - Kevin Lyman has been performing on the drums since he was involved in high school band. He has since then performed in local bands. He is an original member of Insane Jane since the project was first created. He brings over 15 years of experience and has truly mastered his craft.

Bass guitarist - Adam Draeger is a self-taught bassist hailing from Wisconsin. His past bands have included: UWP jazz combos, Hobson’s Choice, Okham’s Razor, Blackbird Jazz Quartet, Backwater Bayou Band, Blind Lab Rats, Amy Steenhoek and the Rising Son Band. He brings over 10 years of experience to the band and is crazy talented.

Lead Guitarist - Chris Hopkins started the Insane Jane project with Tanya and Kevin in 2002 as a side project to his other band the “Screamn’ Peas”, but left in early 2003, due to over-extending himself between the two very successful bands. He rejoined in 2006 to pick up where he left off, only this time without the other commitment. Chris has played in many local bands that you may have heard of, (i.e. Labyrinth, Constable Jones, Mister Slate, Cynical Sam, Hopkins, Screamn’ Peas, and Night Train.) He has done extensive recording with his past projects and has his own recording studio. Chris teaches guitar, both at Central College and privately in Pella, and brings more years of experience to the project than he would like to admit too.

The only true insanity in the world of Insane Jane is refusing to listen to the ear-catching wonders of this pop and acoustic rock artist’s mesmerizing output. Songwriting is an innate, natural talent for Insane Jane; each of the band’s songs is an arrow and each flies true and straight, striking without error the emotional target. This is a band whose writing reveals musicians who know the human spirit inside and out and represent musically it with gusto, verve and energy via their songs songs.

Power of Freedom

Rock in all its forms – from folk to metal – has always been about self-empowerment and finding identity in the middle of a world built on cookie-cutter philosophy and lifestyles. “Music makes us feel powerful and liberated.” Music, indeed, in the right hands, is a tool to unlock the chains others place around us and which we place around ourselves. It is a pathway to opening one’s mind and finding the doorway to true personal freedom. “Music makes me feel uniquely free to express myself,” says Tanya Smith of Insane Jane. “Music embodies me and takes my spirit for a magical ride.” It should be apparent by now that Insane Jane is one of those artists who know how to properly wield the tool that is music.

Life

Whatever inspiration an artist cites, it all boils down to one thing. Life. Everything that interacts with us and thus acts as inspiration is a part of life. One just has to have the broad vision to see that. Some artists have tunnel vision and focus on only narrow aspects of life. It limits their art. But the members of Insane Jane look to the whole of existence to find ideas. It breeds depth and amazing scope in the band’s songwriting and guarantees music that will garner fans – other people who can relate to the breadth of ideas present in Insane Jane’s work.

The Artist at Work

Insane Jane is working hard to put together a series of shows to help spread the word and build the fan base. It’s just a matter of getting the stages on which to play because once you’ve heard Insane Jane, there’s no going back. Of course, touring requires songs and Insane Jane is never too far time-wise from the last writing session or, for that matter, the next. The band is currently working with A&R Select, the hottest indie A&R firm in Hollywood, CA.

“Insane Jane! Insane Jane! Insane Jane! Expect to hear those words screamed in unison by a mob of ravenous-for-music human beings in the near future. The enthusiasm is building; this momentum is unstoppable.” - A&R Select