| Janita | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Janita Maria Raukko |
| Born | 28 December 1978 Helsinki, Finland |
| Genres | Alternative, soul, Alternative rock, Smooth jazz, R&B, adult contemporary |
| Occupations | Singer–songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, Piano, Guitar |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Reel Art, Dig It, 550 Music, Epic, Carport Music, Ofir Music, Lightyear, Jupiter/Texicalli, Engine Company Records |
| Website | www.janita.com |
Janita Maria Ervi (née Raukko;[1] born 28 December 1978),[2] better known by her stage name Janita, (pronounced "YA-nee-tuh"[3]) is a Finnish soul, alternative rock, and R&B singer–songwriter. Born in Helsinki, she started her career in Finland and later moved to Brooklyn at the age of 17. Janita has released eight albums in her native Finland, some of which reached the top 40 charts in Finland. Her album Seasons of Life peaked at #36 on the Billboard charts in 2006.[4] Her most recent solo album, Haunted, was released on Engine Company Records in 2010.[5][2]
Contents |
Janita Maria Ervi[1] was born December 28, 1978 in Helsinki, Finland.[2] She learned to sing before she could talk, and began playing electric piano at age three. She started writing her own songs on piano at age four, and often performed and danced with the encouragement of family and her mother.[3] While she was never formally trained in singing, she seriously studied both classical piano and ballet.[3] She was exposed to diverse music at a young age, often singing along[6] to soul music, hip hop, and R&B.[3]
At age 13[7] she met her long-term songwriting partner and musical collaborator Tomi Sachary. She began recording and performing pop vocals with Sachary.[6] Janita signed to the label Reel Art at age 13,[8] who released her first single, "Jos Jäät," in 1992. Her first full album, Oma Planeetta, followed in 1993.[5] She released a second album on Reel Art, Sävyjä, in 1994.
As a teenager she soon broke into the mainstream in Finland, and became a fixture on radio, television, and on the touring and commercial circuits.[3] According to The Telegraph, as a teenager she was "Finland's biggest popstar." She also won two Finnish Emma Awards.[8] Her third album, Believer, was released on Dig It records in 1997. The album reached #14 on the Finnish music charts.[7] Dig It also released her single "Ready Or Not" around that time.
Janita moved to Brooklyn, New York at age 17. She was quickly signed to Sony Music Entertainment's 550 Music at age 18. Janita, which included new music and the track "Getting Over" from Believer,[7] was released in Australia and Japan in 1998, and also released in Finland.[5] The album was never officially released in the United States by Sony as a result of label infighting.[6]
Janita chose to leave Sony and independently[6] released the solo album I'll Be Fine in 2001, which again featured both her songwriting and vocals.[7] According to SoulTracks, the album was released to generally positives reviews for its "brand of smooth, jazz-infused vocal music. Compared by some to India.Arie or Jill Scott, her music was much more reminiscent of talented smooth jazz artists such as Basia or Everything But the Girl. I'll Be Fine also showed her growing talent as a songwriter."[6] The album, released as Tunteita in Finland, reached #37 on the Finnish music charts.
In 2006 she released her second American release, Seasons of Life, on Lightyear Entertainment. Seasons of Life was released in the United States on 16 May 2006 and in Japan on 21 September 2006. As her seventh release in Finland, the album reached #31 on the Finnish music charts, and peaked at #36 on the Billboard charts on July 1, 2006.[4] It also scored two Top-40 hits on the US Charts.[3] A 12" remix was released on Lightyear in 2006.[5] According to SoulTracks, the album is "well written, well performed album that should get the attention of Smooth Jazz radio. Janita's wispy, pretty voice works well with the restrained, jazzy arrangements, creating a tasty, very listenable collection. Most notable are the album's compositions (generally written by Janita and Sachary), which are the best of her career."[6]
On July 27 2010, she released her album Haunted worldwide on Blake Morgan's independent label Engine Company Records.[9] According to Janita, interacting with Meshell Ndegeocello partially convinced her to try a new alternative direction with the album.[10] "She exposed me to music I hadn't explored before. I loved it. Totally devoured it. I moved into Keane, Tom Waits, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, and PJ Harvey. A natural progression."[3]
For the album she worked with co-producer Jamie Siegel, whose credits include the Smashing Pumpkins and Joss Stone.[10] The album was first mastered and edited at Masterdisk in New York for the Finnish release, then later remastered and resequenced by Blake Morgan.[10] According to SonicScoop, "If the sonic purity and emotional intensity of Haunted sounds like it’s coming from somewhere very real, it’s because it is. Hearts broke in the making, as Janita split with her longtime collaborator/life partner Tomi Sachary even as he served as co-producer on the album. Along the way, Janita...crafted a collection of songs that leaves her adult contemporary reputation – foisted on her by years of chart-chasing advice – in the dust."[10]
She continues to perform music from her albums live, and her performances have been described by critics as “alternately sultry and savage.”[8]
Janita, as of 2011, continues to live in Brooklyn, New York.[3] According to The Telegraph, as of 2011 "her personal style is verging on androgynous; she cut off her long blonde hair and wears men’s suits on stage – a reaction to the over sexualised image promoted by her earlier managers, perhaps."[8]