Harpist Becca Babin, marimbist Melissa Wilson and guitarist Heather Feierabend are anything but “plain janes.”
The three Louisiana natives make up an unlikely female power trio as members of the all-women band, The Wilder Janes.
More than a year after the band’s formation, they continue to perform “chamber folk” music at local venues.
Though The Wilder Janes were set to release their first full-length album, “Someday with Someone Else,” the week of Baton Rouge’s Great Flood of 2016, they released it one week later because of halted shipments.
“I really love the orchestration, and everything that we wanted to put in it, we were able to,” said Wilson, who formerly attended the University.
Babin, who also attended the University, and Feierabend met while performing at local venues. Babin mentioned to Feierabend that she wanted to start an all-female band, and the two decided to form The Wilder Janes. Wilson did not join the band until several of the group’s original members left.
The bandmates said the idea behind the album’s title, “Someday with Someone Else,” came from the frequent member changes The Wilder Janes endured. It is also the title of one of their songs.
The band has been able to place the album on every major music streaming application.
Despite the trials and tribulations behind the album’s release, Babin said she is just happy the band was finally able to record and distribute its music.
The trio said they always knew they wanted an all-female band.
By paying attention to every musical detail, Wilson said the group embodies a more feminine character.
“We use our feminine tendencies to figure out what we can do to make each and every song better,” she said.
Feierabend said the band tries to “nurture” their songs to perfection.
“We all spend a lot of time listening to [each song] before adding our own flair,” she said.
Wilson attributes the band’s special sound to its instrumentation.
“There’s not a lot of bands [where] you will find a harp, a banjo and a marimba all at the same time,” Wilson said.
In addition to playing several different instruments, all members participate in singing and songwriting. Wilson said they also play with other bands in the “helpful, collaborative” folk community.
“I love the other bands I play with, but this group is unique,” Feierabend said.

Gallery • 9 Photos

Caroline Magee

Melissa Wilson, marimba player for the band The Wilder Janes, talks about their newly released album on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016 in then bands practice room.