He is signed to Gnomonsong, a record label run by Devendra Banhart and Vetiver's Andy Cabic. His solo debut album Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom was the label's debut release. He later completed his second album "There's No Home" as well as "Carrion EP".
While in Texas, Hunter founded and played in the Houston band Matty & Mossy with Heath Flagtvedt, Matt Frey and John Hunter. Their album, Fraimers Haimey, was recorded in Athens, Georgia with Chris Bishop and released on Fleece Records. The album reached #1 on the radio charts of KTRU-FM and KSPC, and songs from the album were used in the soundtrack of Andrew Bujalski's films Funny Ha Ha and Mutual Appreciation.
In 1994, when Hunter was 16, he was violinist in the Greater Youth Orchestra of Fort Worth (Texas.) This quickly and naturally led to smoking cigarettes, hanging out in a VW Van and joining local hippie band McGillicutty. Hilariously, this group soon disbanded due to creative differences, and Hunter began in earnest the pursuit of solo writing, performing at local open mics and house parties.
Arlington, TX (Jana's hometown) is a depressing place, and Hunter took that sentiment to New York (1996) and eventually Houston (1998), writing dark, severe and beautiful songs that more and more reflected a paranoiac view of the world. These were shared for the most part with a few friends, occasionally in the guise of rock songs in his now-defunct band, Matty & Mossy, and eventually, at a few shows in Houston, opening up for touring bands.
A show in 2003 with Devendra Banhart, led a year later to Hunter's inclusion on his Golden Apples of the Sun compilation (Bastet). In 2005, Devendra and Jana released a split vinyl album on Troubleman Records, followed quickly by the release of Hunter's debut solo album, Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom, in October of that year on Gnomonsong.
Since his initial release, Hunter has repeatedly toured North America and Europe, joined forces with Castanets as their sometimes touring bass player and vocalist, guested on albums by CocoRosie and Metallic Falcons, played at the Banhart-curated All Tomorrow's Parties, recorded a soon-to-be-released album with a new band, Jracula, and prepared a split release with his fellow Houstonians, Indian Jewelry.
Hunter has also appeared on the following compilations: The Enlightened Family (Voodoo-Eros), The Black and White Skins (Les Disque Du Crespuscule), Furniture Record's Sheets of Easter Everywhere singles series, and the online lullaby collection from Blogupmusique.com. ...Heirs of Doom was re-issued in a very limited run as a double cassette on Fuck-It Tapes in June, 2006.
Hunter, in a fit of drunken ingenuity, helped devise a plan to tour by sea. Along with friend Red Hunter (Peter & the Wolf; no relation), Hunter charting a late summer tour for 2006 along the Intracoastal Waterway from New York City to Norfolk, VA., in a sailboat. Good friend and former WFMU staple OCDJ skippered his own vessel, and Ray Raposa (Castanets) completed the bill.
Restless
Jana Hunter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And picked a place of peace.
I found no relief in satin sheets
Or the breadcrumbs of police.
A sovereign god raised up an arm
And gave me clever hands.
With these I molded irate pleas
Call me stately, lately don't
I follow, not foresee.
Bled of all my backwards ropes.
Untangled from truancy.
Peas in a pod may laugh and trod
On morals mighty or weak.
Plastered in poems of holy unknowns
I'm whispered on slogan-filled streets.
The song "Restless" by Jana Hunter starts with the singer feeling restless and seeking peace at the shore. However, the search for peace proves to be futile as neither the luxury of satin sheets nor the breadcrumbs left by the police offer relief. The singer then refers to a higher power, a sovereign god, who gave them clever hands to mold irate pleas for an interurban band. This highlights the importance of music for the singer, as it serves as an outlet for their frustrations and grievances rather than just a source of entertainment.
The next stanza sees the singer reflecting on their current state of being, having shed their past self and become someone new. They are no longer bound by their past, represented by the "backwards ropes" and "truncancy" they have overcome. However, they acknowledge that others, like "peas in a pod," may not follow the same path and "laugh and trod on morals mighty or weak" as they go about their lives.
The song ends with the singer acknowledging that their struggles, hopes, and dreams are captured in poems of unknown holy figures, and they are whispered about on the slogan-filled streets. This suggests that the singer's story is simply one among many, and they are not alone in their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Restless, I walked to the shore
Feeling unsettled, I went for a walk by the sea.
And picked a place of peace.
I chose a spot that was calming and serene.
I found no relief in satin sheets
Luxurious bedding didn't provide me any comfort.
Or the breadcrumbs of police.
Even following the rules didn't give me a sense of direction.
A sovereign god raised up an arm
I believe in a higher power who has control over everything.
And gave me clever hands.
I have been blessed with the ability to create and inspire others.
With these I molded irate pleas
I use my talents to voice my frustrations and express my emotions.
For an interurban band.
I strive to connect with others who share similar struggles and experiences.
Call me stately, lately don't
People may see me as confident and composed, but I feel unsure and hesitant lately.
I follow, not foresee.
I am taking life one step at a time, living in the present and not worrying about the future.
Bled of all my backwards ropes.
I have let go of the past and moved forward without any emotional baggage.
Untangled from truancy.
I have freed myself from my past mistakes and am committed to living a better life.
Peas in a pod may laugh and trod
Others who are similar to me may mock me or put me down.
On morals mighty or weak.
They may do so regardless of their own ethical standards.
Plastered in poems of holy unknowns
My words may be imbued with spirituality and a sense of the unknown.
I'm whispered on slogan-filled streets.
My ideas are shared quietly among people who are looking for deeper meaning and a sense of purpose.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BILLY ROBERTSON, WILLIAM ROBERTSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind