Rochester, New York

It's supposed to be cold when we get there tomorrow. Rochester New York. Leah and I have never ever been to Rochester and it is the beautiful beginning of Coldwater Jane introducing ourselves to the world. I don't even know if my sister has ever been this far north before! I am completely excited. Totally overwhelmed, because we have to sing a Christmas song I can't seem to remember the words to when we rehearse. And so happy I get to do this with Leah. I can't believe it is finally time to say our first "Hello" & start singing the songs we have held so closely for so long. But this is what it is all about. Making music you are proud of, and then letting it go, so other's can listen, and hopefully enjoy.

I hope you will follow us as we begin this new journey. What I am sure is going to be a very colorful chapter of our lives. So, here we come Rochester & here we come world.

Brandon Jane

follow our journey on twitter.com/coldwaterjane

28

I have a theory that when things aren't going right time passes slowly. And when they are, life flies by. I don't know about you but I was looking at my calendar today and realized we are in November! Wow. And this particular year, 2009 .. has gone by in the blink of an eye. We are done with our record and go to master in a week. And my lifelong dream, well... i am living it. Finally. It's funny because I have always measured myself, well at least my success in music over last 10 years, in birthdays. My birthday is in November. And at the beginning of every single January, I say, "Self, this is your year. This is the year it's gonna happen". And usually another birthday rolls around, and it hasn't happened. And come November, on the day I was born, it passes by and no record deal. No start. And as I have gotten older, more tears tend to appear on that day. But this year is different. This year has gone by so fast making our record, I haven't had time to lament the days. Or wonder how depressing 28 is gonna be for me. And in just two weeks I will be there. And I have a feeling for the first birthday in a long time, I won't be crying! And if I am trust me, they will be pure tears of joy.

Who knows what will happen with our music. I guess that's all in God's hands now. But Leah and I did it. And I am gonna celebrate. 28 is looking up.

Brandon

Joshua Ragsdale

Nashville is a pretty small town. When I was a kid, living in Mississippi it seemed like the center of the universe. The thought of moving to such a mecca seemed daunting. But after being here for a while you start to learn I-65 and I-40 and how to get from here to there and you realize that Nashville isn't that overwhelming. And time passes and you learn the music business is even smaller. I guess my family has been here about 10 or 11 years now and over that time you come across a lot of people. Some you remember, most you don't. Two people I do remember seeing around town though, was this brother and sister group from Mississippi called "Ragsdale". They were gorgeous, had these beautiful harmonies and the sister wore these amazing hats! Leah and I would see them around, playing here and there. I don't know them. But I knew who they were. And I always admired that lovely girls hats :) And well, the fact is, we are both from Mississippi and you never forget someone who came from the same place you did!

I have been living in a bubble over the last few months. Kind of my shangri-la I guess making this record. But I was jolted to reality, the reality of just how small we are and how fragile our bodies can be when Leah told me that Joshua Ragsdale has been diagnosed with CML (Leukemia), which, from what I understand is pretty aggressive and he only has a few months to find a match for a bone marrow transplant.

Normally, I would let this go by me. What can I do? But, we can do something to help him. A fellow artist, songwriter. It's free, it's painless. It takes 5 minutes.

Go to www.marrow.org and join the bone marrow registry. They send you a kit, you swab your mouth and send it back. It's that simple.

Here is his facebook page if you would like more information:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=143381280558&ref=mf

There is no donor match for him in the marrow bank as of now.

Sending off for my kit.

With much love and gratitude,

Brandon Jane

living in the studio.

I have been living in the studio over the last few months. My home has either been behind a microphone or on a couch listening. In between those moments I find myself at lunch having the pleasure of laughing and joking with our 2 producers and my sister. It is amazing how seamless and yet still tiring this process has been. Being that my husband is one of the producers on the record it really has been a family affair. We usually say our hello and goodbyes in the morning or around midnight when he is finally rolling in after a day of comping and listening and cutting. This record has truly been a labor of love on the part of all of the people involved.

I told someone today, the next part is mixing and then getting the music to you. So you can hear it and decide. And hopefully feel and hear what we have in creating this music! It makes so so excited to be able to share. I kind of can't wait :)

On a side and extremely sore note...I started with a personal trainer yesterday. I am so beyond sore I can hardly get off the couch! I guess that says how far I have to go!!! Athletic is not a word I would use to describe myself. Unless running your mouth is a sport! So, this may be my greatest challenge yet :) I have muscles aching I didn't even know were there !

What a year this has been. Man, what a day this has been. My dreams are coming true. Elated. I think that would be the best word. Truly and wholeheartedly elated. At least today.

Thats me.

Truly,

Brandon Jane

dog days of summer

I am not going to lie. I can smell fall in the air and I have been wishing away these dog days of summer. I am not the kind of girl to not embrace the moment. But the sun has been beating down to the tune of 90 degrees here in Nashville and every time I feel a tiny breeze it makes me long for October. And today we are almost there. A little closer to labor day weekend and a little further from summertime. Leah and I have been working on our record, writing, recording and backwards and forwards again. I kind of sound like Willy Wonka! My childhood crush. (Who wouldn't wanna be the companion of a man who owned a candy factory!)

Anyway, back to Coldwater Jane. It has been amazing. I feel lucky. To get to work with Leah, who is this beautiful, honest, and extremely talented songwriter. She takes nothing that concerns making music with a grain of salt and everything wholeheartedly. Which is an amazing quality when it comes to being an artist. She has had many cuts, and yet has decided to be in a band with me. I am honored.

And Kevin and Wayne our producers and co writers are so extremely talented. They have taken every song to heart. And seriously crafted what we are doing sonically. Their list of credits is astonishing, and I feel grateful to have them take time out of their substantial careers to help begin ours. Our label has been amazing. I mean really amazing. We are the luckiest girls in Nashville. Truly.

Yet, here I am wishing away summer. I am so excited for you to hear this music. I hope I can post some on our myspace soon. Oh, we have a twitter and facebook set up now so if you have those please look us up. I will post links below. There are studio pics and video and whatnot on our facebook.

I guess that's it for now. It's Sunday, I just ate a giant turkey burger and quite frankly.. I need a nap!

Peace & Love,

Brandon Jane

twitter.com/coldwaterjane

facebook.com/coldwaterjane

myspace.com/coldwaterjanemusic

here.

I'm sorry it's been so long! When I tell you all that has been going on I am sure you will understand. In order to get there, I guess I should start here. When I was 13 years old I made an independent gospel record. I spent my teenage years in the family band, touring from church to church  in a van singing and playing. Tearing down and putting up a PA system, homeschooling and traveling for the pure joy of music & the dream of a record deal one day. As a kid I could tell you who played on each and every record and even who ran some of the labels. I love music, I even love the music business. I moved to Nashville when I was 17 and have spent the last 10 years of my life writing songs and playing music. I have played for too many labels to count, written with some incredible writers, and even been a sideperson of sorts. Been knocked down, gotten back up, been knocked down again. Always loving music. Always with the dream of getting a record deal. The last time I picked myself back up was over a year ago. My sister and I decided to start a band out of the sheer joy of playing together. Kind of like when we were kids. I have talked about "Coldwater Jane" in this blog. It has been such a pleasure creating this music with her.

14 years ago I became an artist. 

Two months ago I got a record deal !!!!

Coldwater Jane signed to Universal Records in May and we are thrilled! Our record is supposed to be out sometime next year. We have been writing and recording and working nonstop. I look forward to keeping you abreast of everything going on. But more than that to encourage you, do what you love and don't give up. I know it sounds cliche' but I am living breathing proof dreams really do come true. We have a long way to go. But no matter what happens in the future, or all the heartache of the past. It was worth it!

Happy to be here.

Brandon Jane

 

baby birds on tax day

There is a baby bird in a nest outside our window!!! It's mamma has built it's home in the red Christmas wreath I refuse to take down on the other side of our front door. It has been so cool to watch this little blue egg turn into a bird, and my goodness birds grow FAST!!!! Although, there was a brother or a sister yesterday and I don't see him/her today... hmmm... I hope the big one is just sitting on the little one!

I adore spring. I love new beginnings and I love that without winter, spring really wouldn't mean the same thing. I certainly wouldn't appreciate it as much. I think people are kinda like the earth. We recreate ourselves and thank God, quite literally, we live in a world of second chances. Within reason I guess!!!! If you don't pay your taxes you may not get too many second chances. 

I like how an accountant I met recently put "tax time". It is our chance to be grateful for the right to free speech, nice highways, relatively good police protection and freedom to worship whomever or whatever we please. All made possible by our tax money & Uncle Sam.

As a self employed musician married to another self employed musician tax time is a ROYAL pain in the butt but today I am trying, to be thankful. And keep checking on the baby bird and hoping the big one did not sit on the little one for too long!!!!

Happy Tax Day.

Brandon

Coldwater Jane

I'm listening to Joni Mitchell sing "Chelsea Morning" and can't help but wonder, is this about Chelsea in NYC or about a girl named Chelsea. Either way, it's nice.

I have been working .... relentlessly over the last say... 6 months, since September... on a record, at least the first half, with my sister Leah Crutchfield. Our band is called "Coldwater Jane". Which came from my husband and I driving over Coldwater Canyon in Los Angeles and my middle name, which also happens to be my mom's middle name as well as my great great grandmother Martha Jane, who, according to family legend was pretty close to a saint. We wanted something that sounded like all the 70's music we love so much!!!

We have written 5 songs with Wayne Kirkpatrick and Kevin Kadish, that have tried to chisel out the core of what two 20 something sisters are. And I hope they come across as honestly as they were felt when we wrote them. We started tracking back in October and Wayne & Kevin have co-produced the most perfect front half of a record Leah & I could've imagined. 

So now the songwriting, at least momentarily, is done.. and the recording, the overdubs, the vocals have been sang and sung and comped. I sit here awaiting the final mixes which I heard yesterday at the studio, and they sound beautiful. I am so proud and really elated. We have worked so hard, and put so much heart into this and I can't wait for people to hear it. Don't get me wrong I am terrified as well. It's like sending your baby to kindergarten. Not that I know what it's like, but every time I finish new music I imagine that this is as close to what that must feel like as I can personally relate to.

I will be posting it on our myspace in the coming week!!!

I read a book about a year ago, "Cure for the Common Life"... and the author said find something that really brings you joy, so much happiness it doesn't feel like work.  And this does.  Say a prayer for Coldwater Jane!!!!

brandon jane

Waking up to Love

Hello Friends on this frigid January Morning... 

There is an awesome song that just came out yesterday Kevin (my other half) wrote with our dear friend Shanna Crooks & Trevor Rosen that is being featured in the new Johnson & Johnson Clean & Clear Commercial called "Wakin up to Love". Totally Worth the 99 cents and going to I Tunes to download. I think it is featured on the pop music page as well.

So, support emerging artists and spend a buck on some good music.

Much Love & Stay Warm,

Brandon Jane

,

Panasonic, may she rest in Peace.

This won't be long... Just thought I would say....My television just went out. Our beautiful, big, panasonic Christmas present is officially toast, for reasons unknown. Other than the fact that it just decided to go to TV heaven and make us miss the newest episode of "Lost" I am wondering what is I am loosing. Maybe I will have a conversation with a human being after 7 pm now and not just sit on the couch sending people to voicemail while being so caught up in my "stories" I refuse to talk to any living breathing person. Am I alone? Am I the only one who gets caught up in the 20 degree weather with a love affair with the television? 

So, all 40 something inches of plasma reality... rest in peace Panasonic. Rest in Peace.

(Let's hope that warranty I bought is still valid?!)

:)

Brandon Jane

A pep talk for me

Stress. January. The cold. The economy, the people loosing their jobs. Is January driving you as crazy as it is me. If I have to hear another conversation, another news report, another person say we are "On the verge of another Great Depression" I am gonna scream!!!!!! 

Maybe it is bad. Maybe we are in a recession. Ok, we are. But... you know...maybe we are on the verge of a new beginning too. At the end of something that was fat, and arrogant, and over the top, and on a credit card none of us could afford. Maybe we are at the dawn of innovation. And cars with better gas mileage, and people who live within their means. Maybe this isn't the end of the world as we all know it.  Maybe it's the beginning of something better.

So, instead of the winter blues stifling my creative spirit. Making me wanna sit on the couch and facebook all day long...I'm gonna change my thinking a little. Cause like Bob Dylan said "The times they are a changing". There is a season for everything. And don't forget ...... it may be darkest before the dawn, but after the winter.... comes the spring!!!

Keep your chin up.

Much Love and much better music in the interim.

Brandon Jane

Listening to:

Simon & Garfunkel

Concert in Central Park

The net below . . .

Being a singer/songwriter ain't easy. I'm not complaining, because it beats the hell out of flipping hamburgers (no offense if that's your job ;) but I am probably told no and for no reason whatsoever more than most. Unless your job is of course lawyer. Then you may be told no more than me. It is amazing to get to be creative everyday. It is also frightening, and hopeful and a roller coaster of emotion to make that bet on yourself. And the older I get, the more I realize.... at least personally, how stacked my odds really are. But what do you do when then this is all you know how to do, and all you can think or dream of ?

I will say that on that occasionally good day, when you write something that makes you feel like you have just found the missing piece to a puzzle in the form of an adjective you have been searching for relentlessly on rhymezone.com, it feels like..... this is what you were made for. When I have worked all day on a verse and a chorus if fills my tank back up when I listen back and I can sing along. And all of those days where people pass on your songs, or on you as an artist.... and they tell you they just don't get it, well those days all go away and are totally worth it. Because you feel like you are standing exactly where you are supposed to be, in the palm of God's plan. I think he gives me those days periodically to remind me to keep on, and pick myself back up and try again. Even if I am writing nothing but crap this week, to be able to write music makes me feel like God will never let me up on the high wire without a net below. And I'm not quite so fearful anymore. So, to anyone up on the high wire trying to reach their dreams, don't be afraid!

There is always a net below.

Peace & Love,

Brandon Jane

Listen to:

Patty Griffin

Living with Ghosts

I'm a fashion Inspiration Ho.

I don't have alot of indulgences.  So, while it's chilly outside and you all have more time than you would like here are a few things that i love, relatively inexpensive and in these challenging economic times one or two of them absolutely free. So.. feel free ;) to indulge.

1. www.goop.com

If you don't read it already this is a website started by the lovely beautiful Gwenyth Paltrow. Great food ideas and fashion tips and places to visit if you have time and the best part is it's totally free.

2 . These Minnetonka boots are $80 and really comfortable and can be worn summer winter fall, to the grocery store, you get the point. Totally worth it and they come in many different colors. www. nordstrom.com or www. minnetonka.com

  

3.  My Ray Ban Wayfarers are under $100 and if you need a new pair of sunglasses these are timelessly cool and don't make that ugly makeup mark every time you take them off. And they come in Fire Engine Red if your brave. Also for dudes who wanna look like Tome Cruise ala Risky Business. www.macys.com among other places

4.  www. dominomag.com

Domino Magazine. This is a great website and magazine to find ideas for how to turn your house into a home. Plus you can save pictures that you find online for inspiration to your account. And it is totally 100% free to go to the website.

5. www.intermixonline.com & www.barneys.com

This is one of my favorite stores to shop at in New York, but if you can't get there, then their online boutique is great to and with the economy the way it is you can find some fantastic deals. Also www.barneys.com has some super sales right now Like these Ernest Sewn Jeans that were $232.00 are now $59.00 at Barney's or these Stella McCartney Skinny Jeans  that were $295.00 for $99.00 

 

6. www.trunkltd.com

I have been wearing Trunk T shirts for some time now and I never get tired of them & right now what used to be a $100.00 t shirt you can get for half or even less. Try googling them also to find good deals. 

7. This patch work dress from Urban Outfitters is seasonless, comfortable and fifty bucks. I heart Urban Outfitters. 

8.  Target's Home Design Event

Target's home Design Event going on at every target in the USA right now is awesome because everything is 30% off and I'm thinking if you wait a week or two you may be able to get the awesome imports for even less $$$. Good for freshening things up at home.

9. My last and final one is kinda boring but completely useful. 

www.foodnetwork.com is great for looking up a new dish for dinner especially when you are at a loss like I am so often and nothing sounds good.

What a beautiful, ever changing world we live in.

I don't usually talk politics and I hope that is not how this comes across. I have to admit I wasn't quite sure who to vote for in this last election. Some people may find that absurd depending what side of party lines you were on, but I found that I wasn't alone. This morning I sat there looking at the television, and watched a well spoken, young, articulate black man take his oath to protect and serve us as President. I was moved to tears.

 I am from Mississippi. I probably know more about old southern ideas of discrimination that most. I am also a white girl with blonde hair & blue eyes and therefore haven't experienced the discrimination that some have. I was one of those voices that had little faith in the American people to see beyond the exterior. To elect someone with such a different name and opposite skin color.  I was so moved when he was elected and surprised at the at how far we have all come over the last 50 years. Look at us, we wouldn't have been able to dine in the same restaurant not that long ago. Watching our new president this morning gave me hope in human goodness. We still have so far to go, but I am excited and proud of my country today as I was able to bear witness to history in motion. 

I pray for our new president, whom I did not vote for, but I will follow and think of as he heads this great nation at a time when we need a great leader.

I hope we can all put aside our politics, at least for a while and see the significance & impact of this moment.

What a beautiful, ever changing world we live in. 

I hope to not be so cynical of people in the future. Time really does march on.

Peace & Love on this historic day.

Brandon Jane

Happily 2009!!!!!

Me and my baby brother in 1980 something. 

It amazes me how our lives in a conversation can be reduced down to a little blurb. Oh, "She lives in Nashville", "She is a songwriter", "They have 2 kids", " "They lost their house". You know how you can be in a conversation with someone, and ask " Oh, how is Billy doing, I heard he was sick", and then the only thing you really know about that person is that they worked 20 years at the papermill and passed away from cancer. I want my life to be more than that. To be more than just a little blurb about being married, or being an artist, or a sister or living in Nashville. And I really wanna know people, know the people in my life better than reducing them to one sentence in my head when I think of them. I only say all of this because if I have a new years resolution, it is to be a better friend, and to be known more fully. I read this great quote "You can only be loved to the extent to which you are known".

Maybe it's the new year, the fresh start that God gives us begin again. But I like January. Because all the good things, and all the bad things that happened last year are still there, but for some reason it feels like I have a clean slate to work with. I think everyone deserves a clean slate and a new beginning. I also like January because February is next and I am sucker for the Hallmark of Hallmark Holidays!

So here's to all all my goals, the lofty and over stretching and the easily attainable. And to being known for who I am, and being there for the people in my life. 

And to working out more :)

Happily 2009!

Peace & Love,

Brandon Jane