NZ powerhouse Janine pens heartbreaking tribute to her father ‘Make You Proud’
Award-winning LA-based, NZ-born singer, songwriter and producer, Janine, has shared the heartbreaking and hopeful R&B ballad Make You Proud ahead of the release of her full-length album, Pain And Paradise (out August 22).
Listen to Make You Proud HERE / Pre-save Pain And Paradise HERE
With stripped back production that builds and intensifies, Make You Proud is a raw and vulnerable ballad that showcases Janine’s exquisite vocal and ability to write deeply emotional songs that tug heavy on the heartstrings.
“This is the most personal and painful song I’ve ever written. I lost my dad unexpectedly in 2021 and Make You Proud is my way of communicating a piece of that grief. It’s a letter to him, telling him I’ll do my best to make him proud, take care of Mum like he would have and let him know that I’m proud of him too.”
And while Make You Proud is centred around grief, Janine points out that it’s also about love and honouring those you’ve lost by living the life they’d be proud of.
“I hope listeners who have experienced the loss of a parent, a loved one, or even a version of themselves feel seen in this song. I hope it reminds them that it’s okay to fall apart and start again. That grief is the price of deep love and that love never really leaves.”
The sense of pain and joy, which Make You Proud evokes, is captured in a lovingly crafted video compiled of old VHS footage. “I’ve been gathering footage from my childhood videos of my dad, my family, and our life. It’s been beautiful and painful, but really nice to see and hear Dad again through the footage,” says Janine.
“Of all the songs I’ve ever made, this one reaches deeper into my heart and pain than any before. It’s been the most challenging and the most beautiful. It means the world to be able to share it with others.”
Make You Proud follows the recent release of Fit, which is also on Janine’s upcoming album Pain And Paradise, which explores themes of love, grief, healing and joy.
