Dear Jane is Tammy Infusino (vocals, melodies, lyrics) and Nico Cary (composition, production). Tammy is a NYC->LA transplant who has done background vocals for Kanye West & Drake, penned a gold record for Belgian artist Milow, some Kpop, and lots of other songs you will hear soon. She has written and sung in national spots for Oreo, Diet Coke, and McDonald’s. She lives with her sister and two cats who put up with her constant late-night music-making and thanks to Nico practices mindfulness meditation to *try* to stay sane.
Nico is a cross-platform music producer and writer from the Bay Area focused on good storytelling. From rocking shows in Paris to being an adjunct lecturer at Cornell, Nico’s multidisciplinary music projects have allowed him the opportunity to work with creatives throughout world to help build a culture of innovation.
Together they just released their debut-EP, we asked them some questions.
What is your all-time favorite song?
Tammy: “Dreams” Fleetwood Mac. This song only has three chords. It’s this minimal, simple groove… but it manages to kill me every time I hear it. The lyrics are sad (my favorite) and divine and Stevie’s raspy vocal is…everything. The harmonies on the hook? Bye.
Which song is perfect for a road trip?
Nico: Depends on the length of the road trip and where. But in general, for those trips that are long enough to be like, “damn, this is a long road trip”… Citizen Cope – “Son’s Gonna Rise”. Perfect empty stretch of highway listening music.
To which song do you like to clean?
Tammy: “Four Kicks” – Kings of Leon. Actually anything off Aha Shake Heartbreak. It’s just so fun and irreverent, and the vocal is slurred…reminds me of so many tipsy dance parties.
What’s the perfect song to wake up with?
Nico: Mm, anything Stevie Wonder. Because Stevie Wonder. And mornings can be so temperamental pre-coffee, he fits pretty much any mood.
Who’s your favorite artist from your home city?
Nico: Mac Dre, The Jacka (RIP). The way they used language changed my approach to music forever.
Which artist do you think is underrated and which one is overrated?
Nico: Underrated: Lido, Nao, Vulfpeck.
Across the board, just amazing genre-bending, new sound creating, musical genius work. And all so fun.
Overrated:
This is our favorite quote of the moment, which is attributed to Indian guru named Sai Baba (but no one is really sure who said it.)
“Before you speak, ask yourself
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Is it necessary?
Does it improve upon the silence?”
This answer wouldn’t meet all of those criteria.
If you could be one artist for a day, who would that be?
Nico: Thundercat or Bjork because how does your brain even work?!
What’s the best song to make love to? (…to ask someone out?)
Tammy: This question has me going over all the truly awkward music I have gotten down to over the years…in college is was Matisyahu & Weezer (what??) but nowadays I think I’d go with something like “Gimme All Your Love” by Alabama Shakes. That’s sexy, right? I’m a weirdo.
What’s the most beautiful lyric you’ve ever heard?
Tammy: I am always listening for lyrics so this is probably that hardest question anyone could ever ask..admittedly, the sadder, the better. Lately I’ve gotten into Joni Mitchell– she is just such a poet. Here’s my favorite line from “Both Sides Now” …I’m sure it’s a lot of people’s favorite but OH MAN, haven’t we all been there?!
“I’ve looked at love from both sides now / From give and take and still somehow /It’s love’s illusions I recall.”
At which place would you love to play a concert?
Nico: Not sure about a place, but would love to do a series of shows like Tig Notaro did her stand up — in living rooms across the country.
