"A really classy sound, a fascinating mixture of styles and really original, as are
the lyrics."
- Paul Sexton (BBC, The Billboard)
"The stuff Carnegie Hall shows are made of." - FATEA
"Karen Carpenter, Clannad’s Moya Brennan, Enya, and perhaps Vonda Shepherd all spring to mind, on hearing this gorgeous vocal talent. She’s right up there with those stars in quality, too."
- Music Republic
@ Wivenhoe Congregational Church
Sunday, 26th October
Jana Varga
Last here performing as a member of the Joni Reimagined Quartet, when she wowed the audience with her mesmerising vocals, Jana cites a mixture of influences: from classical music to songwriters such as Janis Ian, James Taylor, and the well-travelled folk of Paul Simon.
Jana’s music transcends boundaries and takes audiences on a timeless journey. With a genuine passion for storytelling, she weaves rich narratives into every note, evoking emotions and connecting listeners to the heart and soul of her music. She has her own distinct voice that continues to evolve.
Raised on the outskirts of Bratislava and born into a musical family, Jana was immersed in music from a young age. As a child, she was already performing traditional Slovak songs and went on to study classical music in Austria and France. In 2014 she became a flautist in the Janáek Philharmonic Orchestra in Czechia, when she decided to pursue the career of a singer-songwriter and moved to London.
Co-produced by Fred Mollin (Billy Joel, Jimmy Webb) and nominated in the Emerging Artist category of the British Blues Awards, Jana’s 2022 debut album, Foreigner Face, was described as a “fascinating mixture of styles and very original” by Paul Sexton (BBC Billboard) and “amazingly beautiful” by songwriting legend Janis Ian.
Jana’s subsequent headline tour introduced her music to a wider UK audience and saw her first international collaboration with the Varga Quartett Wien, a noted Austrian classical string quartet based in Vienna and led by her brother, Pavol.
Performances alongside platinum-selling artist Rumer and other esteemed vocalists have garnered Jana international acclaim. Notably, in late 2023, she graced the stage at the O2 Indigo as part of Rumer's band, captivating audiences both as an opening act and a key member of the ensemble.
Earlier this year, Jana released her follow-up to her debut album, ?????, and she'll be performing material from that eponymous album, plus songs from Foreigner Face and material by, among others, ??????