“As Rainforth forges a new musical future, it’s important not to divorce it from her fearless and catalytic past.. Releasing these long-gestated ideas into the public sphere, and especially returning to the stage after over two decades, took some guts..” Geraint Davies – Crack Magazine
Original co-founder and front woman of post punk band Maximum Joy, Janine Rainforth returned to performing her music in public in 2014, after her music career was cut short following assault and trauma.
One of her first return live performances was supporting the Pop Group at Islington Assembly Rooms.
After being approached by Simple Things in 2015 she spearheaded the reforming of Maximum Joy. More live footage here. From there she was at the forefront of making a new Maximum Joy album, released in 2019, and was invited to play at Dimensions (live footage) and We Out Here (live footage) amongst other live performances.
With the band, Janine of Maximum Joy is now booking live gigs for 2025. To feature first live airings of some of her new solo album (due out Feburary 2025) and draw from the rich back catalogue also.
More live music footage snippets and reviews below –
Janine and Maximum Joy live @ We Out Here and London Corsica Studios 2018
It’s singer Janine Rainforth that best embodies Maximum Joy’s exuberance: Having co-founded the group when she was just 18 years old, she channeled her inspirations —into her own shape-shifting style ..It’s a quality you won’t find in any of their contemporaries. Pitchfork
‘Maximum Joy is pivotal to the history of post-punk… ‘I Can’t Stand It Here on Quiet Nights’ combines the three EPs Maximum Joy recorded for Y Records in 1981 and 1982, acknowledging the group’s rightful place in the post-punk canon as pioneers of the Bristol Sound. Bandcamp Daily’
Janine Rainforth …. the perfect non-singer, lightly gorgeous voice but no impulse to shake it around, just like it glide out…. Matthew Schnipper, The Fader
“Marrying digital technologies with found sounds and otherworldly vocals, she’s dabbling in ambient crescendos and synth-laden melodies to maximum effect.” Janine spoke to M Magazine
Selection below from Janine’s discography
“Rainforth’s new work comprises rich, blurry lullabies which flow sonorously through space, dripping searching keys over shuffling rhythms and, of course, Rainforth’s piercing but pining vocal. It’s a sweeping, ambient sound which recalls another strand of 80s alternative in the otherworldly ethereal wave of Liz Fraser’s work with This Mortal Coil, or even the contemporary avant-pop of Zola Jesus or Glasser. ” Geraint Davies – Crack Magazine
Janine’s writing on Substack link below
“(P.E.A.C.E.) feels like a celebration of togetherness ..sliding, airy vocals, lending a spooky quality to the tracks, like a ghost slipping in and out between worlds” Crack Magazine 7/10
for DJ bookings : davide@greymatterltd.com
Anything else: mail@londonfieldrecordings.com
