Artist description JANA PERI is an exciting New York City-based Pop/Rock artist with a powerful voice and commanding stage presence. With musical influences like the Beatles, the Who, Blondie and Tori Amos, she draws on personal experience and spot-on observation to create unforgettable songs. Sometimes uproariously funny; sometimes tragic, this guitar-wielding woman invites you for a ride on her emotional rollercoaster.

Music Style Pop/Rock

Musical Influences The Beatles, The Who,The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Blondie, Pretenders, Tori Amos

Similar Artists Your guess is as good as mine.

Artist History Influenced by the British Invasion rock of the 1960s as well as the punk and new wave of the 1970s and 1980s, vocalist/songwriter JANA PERI has specialized in hook-laden power pop pop/rock that is aggressive yet melodic. PERI has lived in the New York area her entire life; born in the Bronx, she moved to suburban Long Island at the age of two and stayed there until she turned 18 and moved to Manhattan. Growing up on Long Island, PERI absorbed a variety of rock and pop/rock. As a preteen, she admired Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis and was heavily into British Invasion rockers like the Beatles (a major influence), the Rolling Stones, the Who, and the Kinks; and it wasn't long before she was influenced by Blondie, the Pretenders, and Joan Jett. PERI, who was singing and playing guitar before adolescence, has described John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Blondie's Debbie Harry, and the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde as "personal icons." After graduating from high school and leaving Long Island for Manhattan, PERI attended New York University and graduated with a degree in drama. By 1994, she was singing in Manhattan rock clubs, and in 1999, she released a self-titled EP on her own Hot Jupiter label. -- Alex Henderson, ALL MUSIC GUIDE

Group Members JANA PERI - Guitar, Vocals**JIM STELLATO - Bass, Vocals**ROB HOLM - Drums, Vocals

Albums JANA PERI

Press Reviews With influences ranging from the Beatles and Joan Jett to Blondie and the Bangles, Jana Peri brings strong power pop instincts to this self-titled debut EP. The New York-based singer thrives on melody as well as rockin' aggression, and infectious offerings like "Dating Sucks" (an angry though amusing commentary on the 1990s dating scene) and "The La La Song" make it clear that Peri recognizes the value of a good hook. Peri (who wrote and produced all four of the EP's songs) is someone who looks to different areas of the power pop spectrum for inspiration--the British Invasion rock of the 1960s has obviously had a major impact on her writing, but she has also benefited from exposure to the more pop-minded punk and new wave of the 1970s and 1980s...certainly appealing, this EP indicates that Peri is someone to keep an eye on. --Alex Henderson, ALL MUSIC GUIDE*** 4 songs, 13 minutes. I don't know why I expected Jennifer Lopez music when I first spun this. Maybe because the more beautiful the woman is on the CD cover, the more the tunes sound like dance music? Okay, a gross generalization. But, I was pleasantly surprised when 'The La La Song' began. She's got a good voice, naked to the world upon opening, then a quick plunking guitar peels out the rhythm, and the lyrics catch you fast. 'been planning for this moment forever / because I'm that kind of girl / now, my bags are all packed / got my guitar on my back / and I'm off to brave the world.' Where? London! Liverpool! Manchester of course! (I'd move there too if I had the money..) And when she's backed up by her own vocals, she reminds me so much of the Bangles in a modern context that I love this woman. 'Dating Sucks' - guess what that's about. Well, the music is kinda retro rock n roll that picks itself off the ground and runs for the bus. 'joe seemed nice / a bit bizarre / he cleaned my house / and raked my yard / then maxed out all my credit cards / oh why?' The band is simple, and sounds to me like it catches what you'd hear on stage pretty well, because there aren't a lot of studio tricks here (like Queen who could never reproduce their sound well on stage). And I like that. A lot of the songs rely heavily on Jana's strong voice. By the way, she wrote, arranged and produced all the songs herself. While that's not unusual these days, she knows what she wants and makes it happen. A good job. --Ben Ohmart, MUSICDISH*** "...poppy-punk a la the Go-Gos or the Donnas. Also she really does have a great voice and the songs are catchy." --George Tabb, NY PRESS***She looks like a dolled up Pat Benatar, but her singing is more expressive than Pat. On her debut EP, Jana Peri shows plenty of signs that she's got talent, while at the same time she bucks every musical trend out there. The 4 songs that she wrote, arranged and produced herself are all pretty catchy with a slight New York grit to them..."Dating Sucks", the most fun track on the EP, could just as easily be in a Broadway musical as it could be on the pop charts. "The La La Song" has a certain new wave-y feel that you could be for or against...It's certainly interesting, and definitely worth digging into if you like expressive talent like hers. -- Agent Rogersz, SPINME.COM***"JANA PERI is a rare talent based on vocal quality alone. Add excellent material to the formula and the result is spectacular." --Karena Bernard, TRANSACTION MAGAZINE***New York-based rock 'n' roll starlet in the making. Bare-bones rock in the vein of early-80's Power Pop is filed alongside stormy piano ballads spruced up with some Guitar Center soloing. The A&R men are hovering above somewhere. -- Jon Pruett, LISTEN.COM***This night started out as pop night at CBGB...The Jana Peri Band started the show with a song from their debut CD Jana Peri (Hot Jupiter Records), called "The La La Song." This is definitely not to be confused with the song of the same name by a semi-famous 80's metal band from Long Island. It seems a fairly simple song at first listen, though the lyrics offer something more with the singer/songwriter taking us on a witty journey with her on a pubbing adventure in England. The song has a nice catchy hook that had most people singing by the last chorus. A native of Rockville Centre, Peri cites the Who, the Beatles, Blondie and Tori Amos among her influences. Some of these influences shine through, especially the Beatles, when the band does background vocals on a song like "Cab Driver." Peri's vocals really stand out on this song as well, her Deborah Harry influence taking a bow. If Peri's voice is like Deborah Harry's then it is more like the later more mature Harry, powerful and full of body, definitely not small and mousy. Guitarist Gerry Barnas shines on every song, shifting chameleon-like from style to style, playing poppy melodies to punk leads to country twang and chicken pickin'. Five songs into the set the plug was pulled to make room for an over-booked night. Just when the band got warmed up. --S. A. Gnolfo, GOOD TIMES MAGAZINE *** A combination of all things great about NY-based rock - equal parts Blondie and Joan Jett, with just enough Ramones, Television and Patti Smith to make it all click. She'd stick out like a sore (albeit beautfiully sore) thumb in L.A. and no doubt skyrocket to superstardom. --MP3.com Top 20 Hard Pop Radio *** "..any fan of 80s Top 40 should check this rad ep out, like totally!" -- GET FANC

Location New York, NY - USA

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