Today we’d like to introduce you to JANEX
Hi JANEX, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m JANEX, an Albanian-born singer-songwriter, music producer, and DJ now based in Nashville. I enjoy blending different genres and drawing inspiration from various cultures, which influences both my sound and visuals. My journey began in Albania, where I performed in local bars, competed in national song contests, and appeared on The Voice of Albania and at the Eurovision festival.
But by the end of 2016, I felt it was time to take a big leap, so I moved to New York to keep growing and evolving. Although I’m often a “one-woman-band”, collaboration means a lot to me. I’ve always felt that working with like-minded artists can really elevate the creative process, and I’m especially passionate about supporting fellow female artists and producers. There’s something powerful about lifting each other up and creating together—it’s a way to grow, share experiences, and push each other to new heights. It’s a community I’m proud to be a part of, and one I’m committed to nurturing.
I studied Music & Audio Technology at City College of New York, which helped me grow as a producer and engineer. Inspired by that experience, I built my own home studio and have been producing and recording my songs there since 2019 including my upcoming debut album “Lonely Tunes”. Having my own space to work has been crucial in refining my sound and finding my voice. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my loved ones.
Fate had a funny way of bringing me to Nashville. After a couple of visits in 2017 and 2019, I realized this city was where I was meant to be. Nashville’s sense of community and the music that fills the air felt like home. I’m excited to explore more of the city, its music, and its people as I continue growing as an artist.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being an immigrant female producer in New York has come with its own set of challenges. Adapting to the city’s multi-cultural vibe was natural for me, but simultaneously trying to build a life and career from scratch was far from easy. Every day has been about learning how to navigate a new world—artistically, personally, and professionally. It’s a constant balancing act between finding my place and staying true to myself, all while forging new paths in a city that’s constantly pushing the envelope.
Moving to NYC reshaped everything for me—my approach to music, my understanding of the industry, and my identity as an artist. It wasn’t just about creativity; I had to rethink the business side of things, the dynamics of the industry, and how I fit into it all. It meant letting go of the preconceptions I had from Albania and starting fresh, which at times felt like shedding an old skin. But, the constant hustle (especially the spiritual one) and noise made it hard to stay connected to my inner self, and over time, that disconnect made it difficult to stay inspired. I was surrounded by creativity, yet felt further away from the core of my own artistry. I experienced this constant on-and-off feeling of inspiration, which was new to me but made sense given all the noise and struggles I had to face at once.
After 8 years of navigating the chaos, I realized I needed to step back and reconnect with myself. That’s when I began to see the signs pointing me to Nashville.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Musically, I hear everything in my head first—melodies, lyrics, structures—it all plays out in my mind before I ever touch an instrument or hit record. Vocals are my main instruments often time. Early on, it was challenging to bring those ideas to life, but now, with the knowledge and skills I’ve honed as a producer, I can execute everything I hear in my head with ease and clarity.
I’m all about songwriting, sound design, and music production. I’m constantly creating, whether it’s layering sounds or finding new ways to tell a story through music, differently. It’s within me to pushing boundaries and defying genre expectations, which is why I love experimenting with different sounds and styles. It’s not uncommon for me to produce three songs in one day—sometimes the ideas just flow.
One of the things I love most about what I do as an artist, just like any artist out there, is the ability to produce and create something out of nothing—no matter the genre, we’re creators. To take an idea from my mind or somewhere, anywhere, no matter how abstract, and turn it into a fully realized piece of music is incredibly rewarding. It’s almost like building a world from scratch. Whether it’s a soulful song, an electronic banger, or something entirely experimental.
Aside from music, I see myself as a multidimensional artist. With a strong background in both fine arts and music, I’ve always believed they should work together. Visual art plays a key role in my creative process—whether I’m designing album covers or curating my social media. Mixing these skills keeps me busy and inspired, but I must admit, it can also become exhausting at times!
To me, every visual element is an extension of my music, and vice versa. It’s about telling a story from every angle, creating an experience that captures both the sonic and visual aspects of who I am as an artist. Music and visuals are just different languages for me to express the same emotions, and I enjoy exploring how they can complement and amplify each other.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
One of the most important lessons was the value of human unification. It made me realize that no matter our backgrounds, differences, or distance, we all go through similar struggles, and we can support each other through them.
As an artist, it also reinforced the power of creativity to bring people together. Even though we were physically apart, art, music, and virtual connections became a lifeline for many. I think the pandemic highlighted that we can’t thrive in isolation; there’s strength in unity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.janexmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janexkmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janexofficial/
- Twitter: https://x.com/janexsmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@janexkmusic
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/janexofficial
