Jan Hellriegel proudly celebrates the release of a collection of previously unheard singles from 1990–2003 entitled Lost Songs, due out May 17th.
A year ago, while cleaning out the garage, Jan came across a forgotten taped up box. Upon opening it she discovered a bunch of DAT and cassette recordings of old live sessions, demos and studio work from 1990 – 2003. Curious to hear them again, she headed to Stebbing Recording Studios where engineer Steve McGough carefully “baked” the old tapes and resurrected them as clean, digital files.
“On first listen I was just really pleased to hear the tunes again, and then a little sad that most had never been heard outside of the odd live gig,” says Jan. “Then I was annoyed at my younger self for not having the courage to stand up for these songs at the time.”
Jan experienced a lot of anxiety around her second album – the 1995 release, Tremble. She feared being written off as rock chick and not appreciated as a songwriter. Hence, after her debut album It’s My Sin, Jan vetoed a lot of really good rock songs-songs that deserve to be heard.
Jan has chosen 18 tracks – all with their own story, told in the liner notes. These sound recordings contain the odd glitch and warp; all part of the rawness, honesty and charm of the live recordings.
Lost Songs is not to be listened to as one would a standard album, but a collection of authentic tracks worthy of being heard. Lost Songs is a celebration, and an integral part of the DNA of NZ music of this period.