The Los Angeles band opens up about new music, new attitudes, and going on tour with Scotland’s High Fade.

Los Angeles “baddies” Turning Jane is ready to turn some heads with new music and a new attitude.

The talented quartet talks about being a fresh voice on the pop-punk scene, hitting the road with a new album, and reveal just how many puppies they own!

Turning Jane is on a quest to redefine their genre!

The self-described hot-girl rock band from LA combines heavy power chords and riffs with a pop-punk attitude that makes their sound nearly impossible to stand still to.

With an album and EP of original music under their belt, the band has toured a bit, most notably as openers for John 5 in 2025. But 2026 will be their breakout year. New music, a brand new album called Queen of Hearts, and a new, amazing touring schedule that begins this week, Wednesday, July 8, in San Francisco.

Turning Jane will open for a series of West Coast shows with one of our favorite bands, High Fade. Then in late July and early August they’ll be opening for Geena Fontanella. After that, they’ll set off on their first small club headline tour in support of their new album. Uma and I hope to catch them if they come anywhere near us!

Here’s their upcoming gig schedule with High Fade. If you’re literally anywhere within driving distance, you must go!

Wed., July 8, The Independent, San Francisco, CA

Thurs., July 9, Brew Rock, San Luis Obispo, CA

Fri., July 10, Teragram Ballroom, Los Angeles, CA

Sat., July 11 Voodoo Room at the House of Blues, San Diego, CA

Sun., July 12 Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix, AZ

Check out their latest single, “Hot Mess,” a catchy, sassy bop that’ll become your next earworm. Uma interviewed them prior to this single being released, so we figured we’d share it here:

Originally, the band was called Black Rock Candy, and they cut their teeth in the Southern California scene playing legendary venues like the Whisky a Go Go. In short order, the band picked up powerhouse drummer Jordi Radnoti, known for her work in Olivia Rodrigo’s band, and new bass player Jasmine Dennis, rebranding themselves in 2024 as Turning Jane. Original members and sisters Taylor Heart and Izzy Jennings round out the talented lineup. Their new name, Turning Jane, came out of the idea of transformation, playing on the theme of them literally turning into an all-new, empowered female version.

For more information on Turning Jane, check out the band’s website and touring schedule here: Turning Jane Website. To prepare for the interviews, Uma listened to and watched a bunch of their music and read up on the members. She begins her interview with questions about the band’s first single, “Let’s Play Doctor,” off the upcoming album. The video finds the band cheekily dressed up like nurses looking for some “patients.”

Enjoy the interview, and many thanks to Taylor and the band for being so kind to Uma. All the photos for the interview are courtesy of Turning Jane. Let’s go!

TURNING JANE, THE INTERVIEW

Uma Szczesny: On the “Let’s Play Doctor” music video, tell us about recording the video. Was that a set? Where did you get all the costumes and medical equipment?

Turning Jane: Filming the “Let’s Play Doctor” music video was so much fun! We rented a hospital set in Los Angeles, and it was honestly so realistic that it felt like we were filming inside an actual hospital. We even filmed a behind- the-scenes tour where Taylor and Jordi walk everyone through the set —you can find it on our Instagram!

Believe it or not, we found our nurse costumes on Amazon, and we all bought matching red heels to complete the look. We’re a very hands-on band, so we’re involved in every part of the creative process, from coming up with the concepts to helping produce the videos. Watching everything come together is one of our favorite parts.

US: For the “Haunted” music video, I’m curious about all those extras in white. They were really creepy. Where did you find them and what directions were they given?

TJ: The girls in white were meant to represent “ghosts” or tempting spirits. The song is all about dealing with temptation and the inner battle that comes with it. Throughout the video, they symbolize those temptations constantly pulling at you.

During the guitar solo, we wanted the choreography to capture the tension and emotional struggle of fighting those feelings. Most of the dancers were actually friends or people who responded to a story we posted on Instagram! Whenever we’re looking for actors, extras, or dancers, we usually post on social media, and it’s amazing how many talented people want to be part of our projects.

One fun fact is that the entire music video was filmed in under 45 minutes, which still feels crazy to us! Taylor and Izzy’s cousin, Valerie Virgen, is an incredibly talented choreographer and helped create the dance during the guitar solo. Even more impressive—the dancers learned the entire routine in under two hours the night before filming!

US: How did Turning Jane come together? What’s the background of each member? Do any members play different instruments?

TJ: Before Turning Jane, Taylor (lead vocals) and Izzy (guitar) had been performing together under a different name for about eight years. During that time, Jordi joined us on tour as our drummer for about a year, and we quickly realized how naturally we worked together both on and off stage.

When we decided it was time to rebrand and start a new chapter, asking Jordi to officially join the band was an easy decision. The three of us built Turning Jane together from the very beginning, helping shape the band’s new identity and even brainstorming the name Turning Jane.

Jasmine is our newest member! After our original bassist stepped away for personal reasons, we started searching for someone new. As soon as Jasmine auditioned, we all looked at each other and knew she was the perfect fit. We actually called her back almost immediately because we were so excited. She’s incredibly talented, brings so much positive energy to the band, and honestly feels like she’s been with us from the very beginning.

Between all of us, we play a handful of different instruments, which is really helpful during songwriting and rehearsals!

US: You’re not metal, but you’re not pop. What genre would you consider Turning Jane?

TJ: We usually describe Turning Jane as alternative pop-rock, but we’ve also started calling it Hot Girl Rock because it just feels like us.

At the end of the day, we’re just four girly girls who love turning the amps up, putting on a great show, and feeling like rockstars on stage! It’s almost like having an alter ego. Off stage we’re pretty goofy—we’re always laughing, joking around, and making each other laugh—but once we step on stage, something changes. We become a little bolder, a little louder, and a lot more fearless.

Our manager likes to call it “baddie rock,” and honestly… we don’t hate that either!

US: Does the band have a main composer or lyricist? How do you all sit down to write?

TJ: For our upcoming album, as well as our recent singles “Let’s Play Doctor” and “Hot Mess,” we had the opportunity to work with Brasko and producer Franco Gravante. They’re both incredibly talented collaborators.

All four of us contribute to the writing process, whether it’s lyrics, melodies, musical ideas, or concepts. We’d usually start with a title, an emotion, or a story we wanted to tell, and build the song from there. Brasko and Franco helped shape those ideas into the songs everyone hears today.

Before songwriting sessions, we’d listen to artists who inspired us like Velvet Revolver, Paramore, No Doubt, Joan Jett, Olivia Rodrigo, and Chappell Roan. We also tried to let the album guide us. Instead of thinking about each song individually, we wanted every song to feel like a chapter in one bigger story—the story of Queen of Hearts.

US: Taylor, where did you learn to sing? What advice do you have for kids learning to sing?

Taylor Heart: I definitely didn’t wake up one day knowing how to sing! I’ve been taking vocal lessons since I was 13 years old, and it’s taken years of practice, trial and error, performing on stage, and lots of patience.

The biggest piece of advice I have is to find a vocal coach you really enjoy learning from and stick with it. I’m actually a vocal coach myself now, and one thing I always tell my students is that lessons are only part of the process. You have to practice at home too.

I compare singing to going to the gym. If you want stronger muscles, you have to keep working them consistently. Your voice works the same way. Daily warm-ups, practicing good technique, and staying consistent really do make a huge difference.

US: What advice does the band have for young musicians?

TJ: Get on stage as much as you possibly can! There’s no better way to grow than by performing in front of people.

We also encourage young musicians to start writing their own songs early. Even if songwriting doesn’t come naturally at first, that’s completely okay. It’s just like any other skill—the more you practice, the better you get.

Another piece of advice is to connect with other musicians in your community. Some of our biggest opportunities have come from simply meeting other artists and making friends.

Most importantly, do it because you love it. There will always be ups and downs, and building a career in music takes a lot of patience. If your love for making music is bigger than the challenges, keep going.

US: What are each band member’s biggest influences?

TJ: We all have pretty different influences, which is one of the reasons our music comes together in such a unique way!

Taylor: Olivia Rodrigo, sombr, Ann Wilson, and Dorothy.

Izzy: Synyster Gates, Dan Sugarman (who is actually her guitar coach!), Tom Morello, Eddie Van Halen—and pretty much everything from pop to heavy metal.

Jordi: John Bonham, Taylor Hawkins, Dave Grohl, plus lots of indie and punk bands.

Jasmine: Classic rock, indie music, and modern pop artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo.

US: Tell us about touring with High Fade. We really love them. Do you have a favorite High Fade song?

TJ: We love High Fade! They’re incredibly talented musicians, and they’re even more fun to watch live. They have such great energy and really know how to get a crowd involved.

One of our favorite songs to sing along to is “Jokes On You.”

They’ve also been so kind and welcoming to us on tour. Something we really admire is how hands-on they are. Just like us, they’re very involved in every part of what they do, and it’s inspiring to see another band working so hard for their music.

US: Can you tell us about upcoming music? Are you still with Pavement, or are you going independent?

TJ: We’re no longer with Pavement and decided to go in a different direction after releasing “Let’s Play Doctor.” Right now we’re working with Catchbuzz Management as we prepare for everything coming later this year.

One thing we’re especially excited about is giving our fans the chance to hear the album first. Before it eventually arrives on streaming services, we’ll be releasing it through our website, at live shows, on CD, vinyl, and as digital downloads through Bandcamp.

We know streaming is how most people listen to music these days—we use it too! But we also know that buying music directly from independent artists is one of the best ways to support them. We wanted to create something really special for our fans before sharing it with the rest of the world.

US: What is each band member’s favorite color, favorite snack, and favorite animal?

Taylor: Red or pink • Anything chocolate • Dogs

Izzy: Red or pink • Seaweed and chips • Both dogs and cats (I seriously can’t choose!)

Jasmine: Dark green • Dark chocolate pretzels, Drizzilicious, popcorn, Trader Joe’s bon bons, chips, and In-N-Out • Dogs

Jordi:Pink • Popcorn • Dogs

US: Do any band members have pets? What are their names?

TJ: Yes! We are definitely animal people.

Taylor and Izzy have one very spoiled white English Lab named Leia. She’s the baby of the family, loves attention, and definitely knows she’s in charge.

Jordi has six little rescue dogs—Charlie, Moose, Heath Bar, Louis, Mei Mei, and Dante! Her family fosters dogs all the time, so they’ve welcomed lots of pups into their home over the years.

Jasmine has an adorable little black dog named Buddy.

US: Finally, for someone who has never been to a Turning Jane live show, what can they expect and look forward to?

TJ: Expect lots of energy! We love putting on a show that makes people want to sing, dance, jump around, and just have fun. We try to leave everything we have on stage every single night, and we hope people walk away feeling like they were part of something special.

You’ll hear big guitar riffs, catchy choruses, and plenty of moments to sing along—but we also like to surprise people with little theatrical moments throughout the show. We won’t spoil them here… but let’s just say you might even leave with a rose!

Interviews By Uma is a regular question-and-answer feature developed by 11-year-old Uma Szczesny and formatted and managed by her journalist dad. The column and Substack focuses on interviews between Uma and some of her favorite musicians, artists, and teachers. Uma is also a kid reporter for Manchester Ink Link and has written for Paperjam Magazine. Her interviews have been published in several media journals and newspapers in the United States and Canada. For more information on Interviews By Uma, to read her archive, or to propose or suggest an interview, email interviewsbyuma@gmail.com.