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.

Janine formed the band Maximum Joy when she was 17. They toured Europe and the UK; released 4 singles (Stretch; White & Green Place; In the Air and Why Can’t We Live Together) and an LP – Station MXJY (recently reissued) and built up a solid fan base. The music still has a solid growing fan-base today over 40 years later and has been repeatedly reissued. They are played on radio stations and is a DJ’s  (BBC 6 Music; NTS -Tom Ravenscroft; JD Twitch; Giles Peterson; Zakia) favourite. 

After being approached by Simple Things in 2015 she spearheaded the reforming of Maximum Joy. More live footage here. And 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 her 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) as well as selection 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

Janine Rainforth by Geraldine Ewer - cover of her first single Stretch - with Maximum Joy

‘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

this is the beginning ... by janine rainforth

becoming a not so silent girl

Read on Substack

“(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

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