Of all the artists in my life, I have known Janice Chandler the longest, close to half a century--a fact I imagine faintly pains us both. Even when she was tiny, she had an ear for music, and the instinct to make sure everyone knew it. She was a born talent.
It's not everyone who can entrance bleachers of middle-aged country fans and an auditorium of shrieking Taylor Swift fans with equal aplomb.
(It helps somewhat that she is my cousin, but that's secondary.)
During the COVID lockdowns, Runnin' Shine released the album Nowhere to Go. Have the last few years influenced you creatively in any other way? Did you really write eighty songs during the lockdown?
During Covid, I felt like there wasn't much I could do as a musician except to use the time as productively as possible by writing an album. I wrote more songs that didn't make it onto Nowhere to Go, but I think that's pretty normal. Some songs just don't want to be recorded right away.
After Covid sort of subsided and we were allowed to play together as a band, I didn't feel like people wanted to experience new, original music as much right away. We played mostly popular covers to get people in high spirits. I imagine after not being able to dance and spend time out with their friends, they just wanted something fun and comfortable to look forward to. Plus, so many new albums came out during Covid, so people had plenty of new music to listen to.
How did you get your start as a musician?
This is a tricky question. I think I just am a musician, and I always have been. It just comes out in different ways throughout my life. As a little kid, I used to write songs in my bedroom and record them on a tape recorder, then in school I played in the band and sang in the chorus. As a grown up, I started a band.
When you were growing up, you were a self-proclaimed school band geek who didn't listen to popular music. What were you listening to?
I mostly liked making up my own songs, but I could be seen belting out The Little Mermaid and Evita. I loved Enya because of all the harmonies. I liked Madonna because she seemed fun. Disney classics, though, were a total bop.
Who do you consider your influences?
Taylor Swift, for sure.
What is the hardest part of being a musician that people don't realize?
The hardest part of being a musician is probably the same as in any profession. It can be easy to get frustrated with yourself for not being clever enough, or creative enough to stand out of all the noise and make people excited to hear you.
You spent six years in the Navy and had to resort to all your music being on the page since you didn't have access to instruments. Do you think that stifled you or made you more creative?
Since I'm not particularly an instrumentalist, it didn't bother me not having access to instruments. Some people on the ship brought their guitars, and I thought that was pretty cool! Personally, though, I'm just as happy imagining music in my head.
What has been your strangest or best interaction with fans?
As Midnight Rain, there was a little girl waiting to meet me after the show, and she asked me if she could have one of my dresses. She was probably around seven or eight years old. So, there's no way any of my costumes would have even fit her as a tiny kid. It just struck me as odd that of all things, that's what she wanted.
You have a strong presence behind the mic. Did performing come naturally, or was this something you had to practice?
Performing is a mixture of pretend confidence and practice, for sure.
Your Taylor Swift cover band, Midnight Rain, has received acclaim, and not just from your gaggling of adorably squealing teen fans. What is your favorite Taylor Swift song to perform? Is there one you like better privately? (Don't worry, we won't tell the Swifties your favorite is "Ronan.")
I really like most every Taylor Swift song! I think my least favorite ones are the most popular ones like, "Shake It Off." But I love playing anything that people love to hear and dance to! One of the things I like best about Taylor Swift is that there are songs for every mood! On cold, rainy days, I love Folklore and Evermore on repeat! On hot summer days, 1989 and Lover. Going out for a run, Reputation. I love every Era equally.
As though you aren't busy enough with two bands and a family, if you could make a cover band for any other band, which would you choose?
I've always wanted to do a Cranberries show!
If you could collaborate with any celebrity, living or dead, who would it be? (Is it Taylor Swift?)
Of course! I also love Post Malone. But Taylor got to do that too!
What are you reading right now?
I obsessively listen to Freida McFadden books. (My sister, Christine with the air quotes on "reading." Haha)
What's your favorite movie?
I'm not really sure! I feel like I should say, The Eras Tour though.
What advice would you give to someone hoping to emulate you?
Don't do it! Hahaha jk. But seriously, for anyone thinking of starting a band or recording their own music, it can be a lot of work, but it's worth it!
Do you know how difficult it is to research you, given that Chandler on Friends repeatedly dated Janice? If the funniest day of your life were a Friends episode, what would it be titled?
You are so funny for saying this! I deal with that more than you know! When a venue is like, "who do we make the check out to?" and I say, Janice Chandler, they say, "oh, like on Friends?" Oddly enough, I haven't even watched Friends!
Unrelated to your being named Janice, what Muppet do you most identify with?
I think I would be one of the critics in the balcony seats.
Since the songs you write are often informed by experiences you've had, is there an experience you want to turn into a song but haven't yet?
Definitely! I think the answer is always.
What has been the best act you have played with?
I think every band is good in their own way. The funniest we ever got to open for was Billy Ray Cyrus. He was cracking us all up.
When you went to a radio station to promote "Shotgun," it was playing in the lobby. Given that three of your songs have hit the Top 80, have you ever heard someone singing along to your music without realizing you wrote it?
Never. We are not even slightly famous haha
"The Way You Need Me" has been replaying in my head since I heard it. Do you have a favorite song you've written? (I assume you wrote all the Runnin' Shine songs. If not, I can write a different lead-in, but it might be my favorite. I can see why the video won the award from VEER.)
Thank you! My favorite Runnin' Shine song is "Wish You Woulda."
When did you feel you "made it"? Or do you feel you have? If not, what do you think it would take?
I definitely do not feel like we've made it at all. We are happy and we get to play music, so in that way we have absolutely made it. But as for being even slightly rich or famous, we are such a long way from that.
What job would you want to do if you weren't a country music superstar and Taylor Swift understudy?
I know I am so lucky that I get to play music with my friends. I have the best job in the world! But if I had to pick a different one, I think I would want to be an elementary school teacher.Find Janice on the web, and tell her how cool she is:
