Boston
Theatrical Folkadelic Americana

Hayley Jane was only 12 years old when she informed her friends and family that she would prefer to be called exclusively by her first and middle names. It was a product of her then-newfound love for all things simian, and a tribute to her new hero, ™Jane™ Goodall. “I was just absolutely obsessed with apes and monkeys when I was little,” the singer says. “It was after I saw the picture of the evolution of man [Rudolph Zallinger’s™March of Progress]. I was raised  Christian—my parents are born-again Christians—and it just blew my mind. I became really enamored with the relationship between apes and humans.” So when it came time to name her barely formed project, Hayley Jane & The Primates, before their debut performance, she decided on a moniker that would serve as both an homage to her former obsession and allow for a continually evolving group of musicians to support her. And while the band’s cast of characters has changed over the years since they first came together around the Berklee College of Music scene, the star of the show has always been™Hayley Jane, who boasts a strong background in musical theater and brings that flair to the stage with every performance. Now, with a steadily solidifying lineup that includes bassist Josh Carter, guitarists Justin Hancock and Greg Smith, drummer Ryan Clausen and the band’s namesake supplying lead vocals and washboard, the ensemble is fully immersed in the Northeast grassroots scene thanks to their blend of folk, Americana, country, blues and pop. Hayley Jane relishes the company, even if she’s usually in the minority, demographics-wise.™“The music world, in general, is dominated by men, but I think that’s especially true in the jam scene,”™she says. But the singer is taking the challenge head-on and is looking forward to continuing what she calls the “genre-crazy” style of that was the ticket for her band, even though The Primates don’t embark on many extended improvisations. “The challenge is to not try to put a box around the jam scene, either. I’m just happy we found a scene where we’re so welcome. I feel like we’ve found a home.”