JANITA to Release New Album 'Didn't You, My Dear?' 3/31

Most singer-songwriters, when building up to releasing their breakthrough new album, are getting publicity photos taken, proofreading lyrics on their album booklet, and readying to hit the media circuit. Not too many are doing that and also meeting with members of Congress. But then Janita is used to striking out on a different path.

Last week, the Finnish-born, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter took a break from making the finishing touches to her new album Didn't You, My Dear? ahead of its March 31 worldwide release on ECR, and getting ready for her March 26 album release concert at New York's fabled Webster Hall, to head for Washington DC to meet with Congressmen and women including Representatives Marsha Blackburn, Doug Collins and Ted Deutch, as well as representatives of the National Music Publishers' Association and the Recording Industry Association of America. Janita (pronounced YA-nee-tuh) was there to represent the #IRespectMusic campaign, the grassroots movement that has been galvanizing musicians on their right to get paid for airplay, joining the movement's leader Blake Morgan in pushing for legislation to make crucial change in this area.

#IRespectMusic's petition has garnered over 12,000 signatures, including from stars and bands like like Patrick Stewart, Gavin DeGraw, Gloria Steinem, Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Jane Fonda, Jean Michele Jarre, Marisa Tomei, Roseanne Cash, Mike Mills, John McCrea, Civil Twilight, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

It's a fight to protect the livelihood and value of musical artists that Janita understands deeply. "I was delighted to became an American citizen last year," Janita recalls, "New York has really become home to me, so it meant a huge amount to become an American, officially. What wasn't so great was when I instantly lost my radio royalties by doing so. You might be surprised to hear artists don't get paid for radio airplay in the United States. In fact, it is currently the only democratic country in the world that doesn't. And the short list of countries that share the United States' position on this issue includes Iran, North Korea, China, Vietnam, and Rwanda!"

Janita's story has been so compelling to members of Congress that Californian Democratic Congresswoman Judy Chu read Janita's story into the Congressional record during the recent Intellectual Property Hearings.

Interacting with the political world has been an enlightening experience for Janita. "It's been fascinating to see a glimpse of how our legislature works in this country, and to meet some of the people who are making decisions on our behalf. Perhaps surprisingly, it has actually been more heartening than not. What's more, the concept of government is no longer an intangible abstraction to me, it is present in my life. I feel it's my responsibility as a citizen to participate, and to have my voice heard."

Janita really feels this movement and this moment are deeply important in ensuring digital progress in how music is delivered doesn't lead to undermining musicans' livelihoods. "I feel we're really making a difference. Each of these legislators love music and are horrified at the idea that American music makers can't make a living right now even when they are getting played thousands of times on the radio, or on services like Spotify. It's really important we ensure musical artists continue to be valued, or we'll lose out on some amazing talents."

Janita already had plenty on her plate, putting her heart and soul into her new album Didn't You, My Dear?, which marks the marturing of an artist who has already drawn plenty of plaudits. Billboard Magazine has said "This woman's got the goods. Stardom awaits." "It probably shouldn't be allowed for someone as talented as singer-songwriter Janita to also be goddess beautiful. She not only writes beautifully powerful songs, but sings with such passion and conviction that it's hard to take your eyes off her," says the UK's Daily Telegraph. The Village Voice has said, "This belle can belt and pen. Janita teems with vocal wattage and knows it." Marie Claire proclaims, "Janita keeps listeners hooked...HEAR IT!" PopMatterswrote, "For some artists, it's enough to be known by one name like Madonna, Prince, Sade, and Sting. Janita might be another name to add to the list."

It's been a lot of pressure for Janita to live up to, but she feels strongly that Didn't You, My Dear?, which marks the culmination of four years of developing material, is her best record yet. "This new album feels like the fulfilling of a promise I've been making to myself, and to my fans. It's an album about arriving, joyfully, in this brave new world and not turning away, and not turning back," she says. "I wanted to make a record that was powerfully melodic and lush, but with the emotional availability and rawness of my shows. Intentionally unrefined, and unreserved."

Even though she had played piano since a child, becoming a professional singer at age 13 led to her letting other people largely play the instruments. So Janita was hugely excited in the course of making the album to return to being an instrumentalist herself. "Yes, during the making of the album, I discovered guitar and rediscovered piano," Janita notes, "I play both on the record. It's been quite a transition going from being a vocalist who never played any instruments on stage, to one that does most of the time. Playing instruments is one of the many areas in which I've had to go back to my childhood to reclaim a part of myself, in order to make myself whole. There are many gems abandoned in our youths, but they're still there where we left them, if we decide to go a-looking. Personally I'm determined to collect each one!"

"One of the great aspects of my musical life is that I get to work with and alongside artists that I believe deeply in and admire," says Blake Morgan, CEO of ECR Music Group, who produced Janita's new album. "Janita is not only no exception, she is the gold standard at our label. It's not simply admiration she evokes. She pushes each of us artistically--including myself--and pushes us higher. Her album is as extraordinary as the artist behind it, and I've never been prouder of any work I've done as an arranger, recording engineer, or producer, ever."

It's a proud moment for Janita."'All songs written by Janita' on the back of the CD-well, that is profoundly gratifying to me," she says. "This is a brand new beginning for me, of independence. This project truly feels different: honest and true unlike ever before."

Whether taking a chance on a new kind of sound or stepping into the world of Capitol Hill, Janita isn't afraid to be brave.

"Well hopefully a little brave!" she says, "I am excited about what this year might bring and I feel ready. That's a pretty great feeling."

Janita's new album, Didn't You, My Dear?, will be released worldwide March 31st, 2015 on ECR Music Group. It will have its official album release concert March 26th at New York's Webster Hall.