Born in January 1974, he already had a very strong interest in music during his childhood. Inspired by the record collection of his elder brother, he began to collect a quite considerable number of vinyls. Parties with his classmates provided the first opportunities for "performances". After finishing school and parallel to his apprenticeship as bank clerk, he tried to get into closer contact with nearby clubs. He was allowed to perform short sets during the breaks of resident DJs. First proper bookings followed very quickly.
In 1992 Jan joined a booking agency. Within a short time, his sphere of activity spread and covered lastly the complete Northern German area. The ability of playing the greatest Techno and Trance–tunes besides cool Vocal-House-sounds, hot R´n´B-music and the best classics of the 70s and 80s, helped him to become resident DJ in various clubs. Besides his work as DJ, he got a job as a promoter, which provides him an insight into the business of music industry.
In 2001 a long expected dream came true. Jan produced his first track: a cover version of "Total Eclipse Of The Heart". He re-arranged Bonnie Tyler’s classic hit (one of his personal favourites) with a hot beat and "hands-up" style that proved to be dynamite in the clubs.
Here the success story of DJ Jan Wayne begins: "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" didn’t just cause overcrowded dance floors, it also became Top 13 in German single charts. The sensational success was easily outshone by the follow-up single "Because The Night". The title earned a spot in the Top 4 during the first week and stayed in the Top 10 for nine weeks. Both titles are amongst the ten most successful German dance titles of the first half of 2002.
Jan Wayne was far from resting on his laurels. In the same year, he published another hit single ("Only You") as well as his debut album "Back Again!". The album started at position 16 in the German album charts. As an aside, he mixed the power-rave-CD "Jan Wayne Presents The Ultimate Rave", contributed a mix to the successful compilation "Kontor - Top Of The Clubs" and participated in the beneficiary project "Dance United", where the total revenue was given to the victims of flood disaster. "More Than A Feeling," released in the end of 2002, became another chart topper for Jan.
2003 started with the nomination for the German "Echo"-award in the category "Best National Dance Act" and was even crowned in the Netherlands with the treasured TMF-Award "Best Dance Act International" Besides two further Hit-Singles "Love Is A Soldier" and "1,2,3 (Keep The Spirit Alive)", his second album "Gonna Move Ya!" shot successfully into the German hit lists. He mixed one more compilation "Kontor - Top Of The Clubs" and created the dance-act "Belushi". The debut single "Put Your Hands In The Air (Uhh Ooh!)" earned a success d´estime in the sales charts and developed to a massive hit in the European Clubs and DJ-Charts.
In 2004 Jan published "Here I Am (Send Me An Angel)", a furthermore chart hit. Already the 7th in a row!! He also had some cooperation's with other famous producers of dance music, like Christophe Chantzis and Eric Vanspauwen (Ian van Dahl), Bart Wierzbicki (D.H.T.), DJ Gollum (Neo Cortex), Hayo Lewerentz (U96, Boytronic), Ingo Hauss (U96) and Helmut Hoinkis (U96, Chocolate, Raccoon).
Simultaneous he started planning on his first own music production studio, which was completed in 2005. The first fruit of his new "home" followed soon: "Mad World"! While the single developed to a dance floor-filler, too, Jan Wayne takes delight in the award of the "DJ Meeting 2005" for the best website. In the end of 2005 the follow-up single "Time 2 Fly" was published, which included itself to the good company of the other hit singles.
Nowadays, Jan works on his third album and is involved in many other new projects. Together with his new partners Helmut Hoinkis and Cuepoint Records owner Ralf Oliver Müller, he just founded his own record label "Deutsche Dance Records". The first release will be a remake of Level 42’s world hit "Lessons in Love" featured by Mark King - the lead singer from Level 42.
Numb
JAN WAYNE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feeling so faithless lost under the surface
I don't know what you are expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
I've become so numb
And every second I waste is more than I can take
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
I've become so numb
Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly afraid to lose control
'Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
And every second I waste is more than I can take
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
I've become so numb
The lyrics of Jan Wayne's song 'Numb' convey a sense of frustration and exhaustion that come from being expected to be someone that you are not. The singer feels like they are constantly under pressure to meet someone else's expectations, and as a result, they have become 'numb' and disconnected from their own desires and feelings. The line 'I'm tired of being what you want me to be' sums up this feeling of being trapped in someone else's expectations. The sense of being lost 'under the surface' suggests that the singer is struggling with their own identity, unable to express themselves fully because of the expectations of others.
The singer feels caught in an 'undertow', suggesting that they are being pulled down by someone or something else. Every step they take is seen as a 'mistake' by this person or group, which shows just how stifling and suffocating the pressure can be. However, despite all of this, the singer remains resilient, determined to be true to themselves and not to be controlled by someone else.
The line 'Can't you see that you're smothering me' is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the pressure of being someone else is not only suffocating but potentially dangerous too. The singer is being held too tightly, 'afraid to lose control', preventing them from becoming the person that they truly want to be. However, despite all of this, the singer remains hopeful, believing that with time they will be able to break free from these expectations and become 'more like me and be less like you.'
Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the struggle to be true to oneself in a world that demands conformity and obedience. It's a reminder that the pressure can be overwhelming, but ultimately, it is possible to break free and become the person that you've always wanted to be.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
I am exhausted from constantly trying to meet your expectations and conform to your desires.
Feeling so faithless lost under the surface
I am lacking confidence and direction and feel as though I am drowning beneath the weight of my emotions.
I don't know what you are expecting of me
It's unclear to me what you want me to do or how you want me to act.
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
I am burdened by the weight of trying to emulate your actions and beliefs.
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
My struggles have left me trapped and unable to find my way to the surface.
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
Regardless of what I do, I feel as though I am constantly disappointing you and unable to meet your expectations.
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I have emotionally distanced myself from you to the point where I can no longer sense your presence or influence on me.
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I am exhausted from trying to meet your standards and have become more aware of who I truly am as a result of that struggle.
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
I am finally discovering my true self and want to continue down that path of growth and self-discovery.
Is be more like me and be less like you
Instead of continuously trying to please you, I want to focus on being true to myself and embracing my own individuality.
Can't you see that you're smothering me
Your constant expectations and pressures are suffocating me and causing me to feel trapped and overwhelmed.
Holding too tightly afraid to lose control
You are clinging too tightly to your desire to control me and the situation, causing me to feel trapped and frustrated.
'Cause everything that you thought I would be
Your preconceived notions of who I should be have led to disappointment when I was unable to meet those expectations.
Has fallen apart right in front of you
Your expectations have not only led to my own struggles and frustration, but have also led to a sense of disillusionment on your end.
And every second I waste is more than I can take
Each moment spent trying to please you and meet your expectations feels like a waste of time and takes a toll on my emotional well-being.
Writer(s): Dave Farrell, Brad Delson, Chester Charles Bennington, Mike Shinoda, Robert G. Bourdon, Joseph Hahn
Contributed by Hudson T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.