Boats have serendipitously shaped the life of Northampton singer-songwriter Corinna Jane recently. She had been travelling the seas as resident piano vocalist on cruise ships and has now just purchased a canal boat to live on. Corinna plans to write music, and document her adventures on her Instagram account, https://www.instagram.com/corinnaonaboat
Additionally, she has just released a new song, titled ‘The Storm.’ I hopped on board to find out more.
In Conversation with Corinna Jane
If you prefer, you can listen to the interview here
Thanks for having me aboard your new canal boat and congratulations on the release of your new song, ‘The Storm. ’
To start, can you tell us more about the song?
‘The Storm’ is a bit of a departure from my usual style. It has more of an electronic sound as opposed to my typical piano- driven pop rock. I collaborated with a very talented Irish producer called Louis Ryan, who approached me via Instagram looking for new singers to work with. I had this song sitting on my mental and literal hard drive for the last 7 years and I had created various demos of it. Louis took the song and reimagined it. The premise of the song is still the same but he invented an intriguing electronic whimsical ethereal sound that really suited the song.
It’s about about another form of heart ache and captures the feeling of moving on, but still feeling that presence of a former lover around you.
The past two years have been eventful for you, with boats playing a significant role. Can you tell us more about that?
I’ve always been a singer-songwriter and a travel presenter as well, but I had never considered performing on cruise ships.
After being trapped in my house for a few years due to COVID, I was about to cancel my subscription to a casting site when, lo and behold, I saw an advert for a lovely boutique size cruise ship touring the Mediterranean. I got the job as the resident pianist vocalist on board.
I soon developed a taste for life aboard a cruise ship, and went on to perform on bigger cruise ships travelling around the Caribbean, Miami and parts of South America.
What is incredible about cruise ships is that you create a whole new audience and a fan base who connect with you night after night and who genuinely want to be there.
I also had the opportunity to travel extensively, get paid to do it and make wonderful friends along the way.
You have to be aware of the sometimes crazy ship life, the military precision with which things are executed and of the debauchery that goes on!
Ships can be a little like people living on Love Island on sea.
You meet the best and worst kinds of humanity on cruise ships.
What led you to buy a canal boat to live on?
I was moving out of London as my rental lease was ending, when my father suggested, ‘why don’t you live on a barge?’
Initially, I thought the idea ridiculous, but then I asked myself, ‘is it really that ridiculous?’
My intention had always been to be a travelling singer-songwriter, but I what I meant was to continue being a travel presenter creating on-line shows which I supported by my music – two separate entities.
However, I googled canal boats for sale across the UK, and the third one down on the list was named after my favourite tarot card. Coincidentally, the boat was only 20 minutes down the road.
I follow a tarot card reader on Instagram and the tarot card of the day was the same one as name of this boat. The owner wanted me to have the boat and gave me first refusal. I couldn’t turn the opportunity down. I blame serendipity!
What is the plan going forward?
I’m excited about having my own creative space to write and record music with the scenery and movement that inspires me artistically. From a presenter perspective, it will be a great way to create my own niche for content creation.
There are so many different channels such as Tik tok, Instagram or X where you can have your own show and run it yourself. What better way to do that from your own canal boat? There is the premise there for all kinds of content.
I have a new Instagram account called https://www.instagram.com/corinnaonaboat/ and you can follow the joys of me decorating her, getting things fixed up, and going on my first cruise with her. I call my boat a her – apparently that is the correct terminology for boats.
I feel I need to use her as a boat and travel around the UK so my plan is to take her out on the canals.
I’m not imagining it will all be plain sailing – life on boats can be hard. Its basically a vehicle on water and you have to keep your wits about you and stay safe, especially as a female.
However, there is a lot of adventure and excitement in that your abode isn’t fixed but the walls you reside in are.
I may head towards London to be near the hustle and bustle.
Have you always lived an adventurous lifestyle?
I have been really adventurous with a strong travel bug and a love for spontaneity and variety. At times, though I wonder if I have played things a bit too safe.
There is two conflicting sides to me; the one that is adventurous and wants to be free and have these really cool creative experiences and the other side of me that always overthinks things and is a little bit risk averse.
I think as I get older I try and be a little more decisive and just do things.
Like buy a boat?
Yes!
You’ve also been writing music for film as well. Can you tell us more about that?
One of the things I’ve been working on with Luke Wood, my long term musical collaborator, is writing music for a film called Hyde directed by local film maker Dan Brothers. The film will feature some top actors and will have a premiere in Leicester Square. I’m written and produced the soundtrack myself. It’s exciting for me. I want to explore more opportunities in this area.
I’ve also been signed to a label that specialises in film and TV music, Pretty Decent Music Records, and I’m hoping it opens up new avenues for me.
Follow Corinna’s adventures on her canalboat on Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/corinnaonaboat/
‘The Storm’ is available to download on all streaming channels platforms.