Robert: I hear you have been in the studio recently laying down some tracks. Are you already signed to a label or will this be a demo to shop around to A& R people?

JANET: " The reason why I've ever recorded anything is to get the songs out of my head and to a place where I can hear them come alive. It's second nature for me to record: I write and run in the studio. Then there is the reality of it all, which brings in the business side of things. My life is in music. Up until the explosion of the Internet, an artist would NEED a record label to back them. I would like that and I am starting to shop my new recording around. However, look at Ani Defranco. She does it all herself and is very successful. So, I'll see what this year brings me, because I know it will be on the up and up. It already is! If everything stopped right now, I would have already had a happy and successful life. I've had more than my "15 minutes"; seen places, met celebrities and interesting people from all over, and most importantly, I've loved and have been loved."

Robert: Tell us about who all is in the studio with you.

JANET:" I'm working with a really talented producer name Ken Lewis. He owns Mixed Emotions Studio in the Boston/Salem area. He also plays drums on my recordings. Ken is the most patient and encouraging producer ever. And he comes up with such great sounds and ideas. Ken then brought in some awesome studio players. Guitarist Bill Plourde and Bassist Louie Spag. I can't say enough about them. They both are such awesome musicians. They always ask me if what they're playing is OK and I'm usually sitting there with my jaw dropped in awe. I LOVE working with them. I brought up Joey A, who is one of the guitarists in my band. He's great for helping the studio guys with the arrangements. He also acts as an interpreter when I have a hard time expressing something musically. He and Bill laid down all the acoustic tracks together. They love playing together and they do it with ease. Bill then did all the electric. I actually played a cello-esque part on keys for my song "Shooting Star." I rarely play keys on my stuff in the studio and never live. Maybe someday I'll do it live. I look forward to future recordings with Ken, Bill, Louie, and Joe. It's a great team."

Robert: What lyrical themes are you dealing with on the album?

JANET: " Each song is different. Sometimes extreme. I have "Sentimental Someday" which I wrote the opposite of how I feel. It was how I wished I could feel in a relationship I was having at that time. At times I wished I didn't care so much and could develop the attitude of, "Yeah thanks for the flowers. Those 3 little words are cute. Maybe I'll call you if I think of it." Then I have "Merciful" which is about Jesus and how when we screw up, he just shakes his head at us and loves us incredibly. I have "Feed," one of my newest songs, which is a result of the Sentimental Someday relationship,a terrible breakup/runaway groom situation that occurred just before we(Liz Phair's band) toured with Alanis. The chorus says it all: "I'm not who you want me to be, Not what you wanted to see, not what wanted to Feed into." The end. "Shooting Star" is a fabricated story of my going to Los Angeles to become a big star. I moved to LA years ago and stayed for a year and a half. I love LA, but I didn't go there to become a star. I went there to reflect after my father passed away, which brings us to a song about him called, "Miles Above." When I do this song live, there isn't a dry eye in the place. I haven't finalized which songs are going to be on my CD, so I'll just say that my lyrical themes have been real love, loss, God, fantasy, and optimism. Actually, I just described my life. (Big smile)"

Robert: You opened up a lot of eyes touring as a back up singer with Liz Phair. How did you hook up with Liz? Have your toured with any other artists?

JANET:" I opened a lot of eyes? Wow! (blushes) I wonder if that's because for half the tour, people thought I was Joan Osborne! (Laughs) I got so sick of hearing that. I dyed my hair really red and tried putting my hair all in braids and someone commented on some (Liz Phair) mailing list that I looked like a prettier Boy George. Did you ever? Liz's guitar tech emailed me with that one! We were cracking up. Another time, someone wrote that they thought I sucked and sounded like a Broadway singer. (Laughs) So, I found out who wrote it and Im'd the girl unidentified and asked what she had against the backup singer. She didn't really have much to say, but when I finally identified myself, she wanted to hang herself. I never got angry. Just laughed it off. Actually, I put her on the guest list for a few shows after that and met her. She's nice and, of course, loves my voice now.(laughs)" "OK. Here's the Liz story: Someone at Liz's management had heard of me and asked me to send a tape. Liz's manager listened to it and liked what he heard. He then sent it to Liz. In the meantime, I met with her manager and he OK'd me. A week later, I got a call that I had the gig......3 days before rehearsal started in LA. I was so happy! The funny thing is that a few weeks into the tour, I was talking to Liz and she said, "Oh. You write stuff and have your own band?" I said," Yes. The stuff you heard on my tape." She had this puzzled look. I asked, "You did listen to the tape, right?" She said, "No. I just really liked your picture. It had a great vibe." I started laughing and said, "For all you know, I could have really stunk....howling behind you and sh#@!" She laughed and said, "[The Manager) liked it and said you seemed cool. I trust him." So, the joke is, I got hired for looks. There was a second where I wondered if I was a stage prop and if my mic was really plugged in......(laughs)...just kidding." "As far as touring goes, Liz was my first, and she was very gentle.(laughs)"

(A Question from reader Craig King): Are you going to be on Liz Phair's next album? Also, will you be touring or working with her in thefuture?

JANET: a) Will I be on Liz Phair's new album? - "The answer is No. Just like most awesome female artists, Liz is FULLY capable of doing her own backups in the studio." b) Will I work/tour with Liz in the future?- "I don't see why not. We work really well together! She's a great girl. XO!"

(A Question from reader Craig King) What artists have influenced you throughout your life?

JANET: " The funny thing is that for most of my life I was just a keyboard player. I was into a lot of progressive rock like YES, KANSAS, ELP, etc.I sang along with everything but never considered singing until my mid teens. I loved Peter Frampton's voice and songs. He was my idol. I guess it's safe to say that I was vocally influenced by Steve Walsh from KANSAS. And you'll love this, maybe even Steve Perry from JOURNEY who to this day could melt the soles of my shoes. I loved Stevie Wonder and Chaka Kahn too. Obviously I was a mainstream girl. Working with Liz this year has made me grow up both musically and vocally. I learned a lot from her, so it's only PHAIR (ha ha) to include her in my influences."

Robert: What's in your Cd player right now?

JANET:" I'm caught! (laughs) I have MY new recording in my CD player. After I record something, I obsessively listen to it. But before that, Sheryl Crow's latest effort was in most of the time. I listen to a lot of stuff: King's X, Fuel, Pound, Lenny Kravitz, Liz Phair, Seal, Chris Cornell's latest, and I'm waiting for Christmas to get the new Foo Fighters! Yeah!"

Robert: We all know what a long process being an overnight success is. Have you had any weird or interesting day jobs while trying to make it in the music business?

JANET:" I haven't had anything really far out. I taught piano for 7 years. Worked at Bally Total Fitness, which was my last "day job," and for a few years have been blessed in the music biz. I was singing demo's for songwriter's, backups on other artist's recordings, and doing jingles, before I landed the Liz gig."

Robert: Tell us about the local scene that you are a part of. What local bands or singers that you perform with or know will we hearing from soon (outside of yourself, of course)?

JANET:" Honestly, I don't hang on "the scene". I'm busy with my career and I'm not a partyer. Don't drink. Don't smoke. I'll go to see my friends play and sometimes stumble across some great talent. Like one of my new fave bands is Crown Jewels. They're from NYC. Their CD "Linoleum" is one of the best I've ever heard. I strongly suggest finding their website and buying that CD. Awesome." "I think you'll be hearing more about POUND. They're a new band on Island Records. They toured with Fuel, Collective Soul, and the Cranberries. Great songwriting by the guitarist Pat Gasperini. And now (awesome) bassist, Sandy Nardone, (one of my best friends in the whole wide world) will take part in the writing process. Check out their website or look under Island's site." "Jennie Devoe is a great singer who I met onstage during the grand finale at Lilith and she blew me away. Great bluesy voice. She's an up and coming star too."