If 120 Minutes still aired on MTV I believe we’d see a J.A.N.E.T. video there. Alas “music television” is a bit of a misnomer for the channel now, but fortunately there are a variety of bands that play original music right here in Wichita.

One such band is J.A.N.E.T. The band formed in 2005 and consists of 4 members: Jonathan Hicks (guitar/vocals), Darren Holland (bass/vocals), Jeret Schisler (guitar/vocals) and Rhea Sewell (drums/vocals).

I sat down with them to learn more about the band, recording an album and what’s next for J.A.N.E.T.

Where did the name J.A.N.E.T come from?

Rhea: We found it online. It’s a call sign for airplanes over Area 51. The process took weeks. No one was really that crazy about “J.A.N.E.T.”. But once you decide you can have ownership.

How do you describe the J.A.N.E.T sound?

Jeret: I think we sound like southern rock meets Sonic Youth meets The Pixies.

Jonathan: Since we started recording with Tom (Tom Page of TOPTone Studio in Wichita) it’s the closest I’ve come to really hearing the band. I haven’t thought about how I would describe it. Most people say we sound like The Pixies. There’s a ‘sounds like’ section of our myspace and every time someone says we sound like someone I add that.

Rhea: I appreciate when they say we sound like Sonic Youth and The Pixies. But I don’t think we sound like them at all. But I like it when someone says that. We’re not trying to go for that. We’re just playing music. You can hear all the elements; punk and thrash, weird soul. I can hear all kinds of stuff in it. I don’t think we’ve reached a place where we can be defined yet.

Darren: I think we sound just like Sweet. (the band laughs) Or I just wish we sounded like Sweet.

Jeret: If ELO and Motorhead had a baby.

Describe your current experience of recording a CD.

Rhea: We love working with Tom Page. He is the bomb! His studio is so great. This has been the best recording experience.

Jeret: He just makes you feel comfortable. He’s not a pushy kind of guy. He’s got a great ear. Where sometimes you’ll get caught up in what you’re doing and don’t even hear. He’ll stop you and say, “You’re out of key, you’re out of time”

Darren: He has a good idea of what we sound like live, not trying to recreate what we sound like live, but just make us sound like J.A.N.E.T. without saying you need to do this.

Jonathan: We really like NOT doing it ourselves.

Jeret: It’s hard to find the time and learning the software, it’s hard to find the time when you work too when you do it yourself.

How does the songwriting process work for J.A.N.E.T?

Jeret: Sometimes me or Jonathan or sometimes Darren too, will come in with a riff.

Rhea: It’s best when it all happens upstairs (of her home which is also their practice space). Spontaneous. All of it, guitar, vocals, melody. When you try to over analyze and break it down, it’s better when you’re just jamming.

What’s your favorite J.A.N.E.T song and why?

Rhea: Babylon. It has a great beat and you can dance to it. (the band laughs) I like the subject matter and it was a collaborative effort. It’s all of us on the lyrics, the music.

Darren: Probably Babylon. It’s because of the crowd reaction when we play it.

Rhea: We give the crowd enough space to be involved in it. Most other bands I’ve been in just run over the crowd. But J.A.N.E.T invites them in.

Jonathan: Death Mother is probably my favorite song. It was the first song I had complete lyrics for.

Jeret: My Right Toe. It’s about my best friend in high school.

What are your favorite venues in Wichita?

Rhea: Kirby’s is my favorite venue and I have lots to compare it to. Barleycorns I miss. I miss the memories.

Jeret & Darren: The Shamrock.

Jonathan: I’m really looking forward to playing Rock Island Live.

What else should Wichita know about J.A.N.E.T.?

Jeret: If we told them, we’d have to kill ‘em.

Darren: We like playing together.

Rhea: We may play a Misfit cover or Motorhead but that’s it. We play mainly originals. Jonathan is a double engineering major. Top that bands! We got a genius!

Jonathan: J.A.N.E.T is the first real band I’ve been in.

Rhea: J.A.N.E.T. has fun and likes to party and wants you to come party with us. Also that your town doesn’t suck and it’s up to you to make your own scene. You don’t have to move, you don’t have to bitch about Wichita. Do it. Make it.

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