After a turbulent few years that saw line-up changes, a global pandemic, and a world seemingly in chaos, Brisbane/Meanjin punk powerhouses Being Jane Lane are back with their eagerly awaited sophomore album, We’re Doing Fine. The album, set for release on Valentine’s Day, February 14, represents a daring new chapter for the band, diving deeper into themes of love, war, heartbreak, and resilience while maintaining the raw energy that has made them a staple of the Australian punk scene.

The all-girl queer punk outfit—comprised of Teigan (guitar/vocals), Louise (bass), Sarah (lead guitar/vocals), and Ami (drums/vocals)—have been pushing boundaries since their formation in 2013. Originally making waves with their high-energy performances and riotous punk anthems, their upcoming record showcases a heavier, more introspective sound.

Recorded by Jay Whalley at The Pet Food Factory in Marrickville, Sydney, We’re Doing Fine offers 11 tracks that reflect on personal and societal struggles while embracing the sonic evolution brought by their new lineup. The album follows their debut Savage Sunday—a record that explored lust and death with a celebratory fervor. This time, the focus has shifted toward deeper emotional and political commentary.

The album features previously released singles “Tiny Hands,” “Cats On A Saturday Night,” and “Vanilla Nation”, with their latest track, “Ordinary Shell,” capturing the raw emotion of heartbreak and self-discovery. As the band describes it, the song encapsulates the turmoil of post-breakup emotions—wanting to move forward while grappling with past attachments.

While Being Jane Lane are known for their high-energy punk anthems, We’re Doing Fine leans into introspection without losing its edge. The shift wasn’t entirely deliberate but rather a natural progression with the addition of new members and evolving perspectives. “Teigan now plays guitar as well as singing, which changed the sound and vibe compared to our last album,” the band explains.

The album’s themes were also shaped by real-life challenges. The time following their debut was a period of upheaval, both personally and as a band. “We released Savage Sunday a couple of months before the pandemic hit, and then both our original guitarists left, so it felt like starting from scratch. Also, the state of the world is pitiful right now, that definitely has an influence on the songwriting.”

Despite speculation about a breakup, Being Jane Lane have returned stronger than ever, ready to hit the road in support of We’re Doing Fine. The album’s release will pave the way for an east coast tour kicking off in March at the Bonez Alternative Queer Party in Melbourne/Naarm. Fans can expect a cathartic mix of old favorites and fresh material that captures the band’s growth while staying true to their punk roots.

In a time of uncertainty, Being Jane Lane’s message is clear: we’re doing fine—even when the world isn’t.

We’re Doing Fine drops February 14. Be on the lookout for upcoming tour dates in 2025! Meanwhile, read our one-on-one interview with the band and get to know them a bit more:

PRESS PONDER

What’s the most unexpected or surprising thing that happened during the recording process?
Teigan: Matilda’s Mania happened while we were recording in Sydney, that was cool and fun.

What would you want your listeners to take away from listening to any of your music?
Teigan: I would like for people to maybe feel a sense of not being alone in their feelings.

How has the music industry changed since you first started? What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing musicians today?
Teigan: TikTok was not a huge thing when we started, that platform really changed the game for a lot of artists. It seems not much has changed in the industry though. Artists are still fighting to be paid fairly, women are still struggling to be seen as equal, the same challenges still exist, but there seems to be more opportunity for change now, we just have to take action.

What are you most proud of in this latest release? Lou: Honestly just getting it out into the world. We are going to talk a lot about hurdles over the coming months because everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong. Not even just with the band but we all have had ups and downs in our personal lives. There was a lot to overcome. I am proud of us for pushing on, and getting this done. 

What’s the best and worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given as musicians?
Teigan: Best piece of advice has been “don’t sign with anyone” and the worst piece of advice was “sign with someone”.

PRESS PLAY

If ‘We’re Doing Fine’ was a reality TV show, what would it be about?
It would be about poor musicians who work part time as clowns.

If you could collaborate with any musician, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Sarah: Not a musician per se but Sylvia Massey producing Being Jane Lane would be an absolute dream. I think she’d push us to our absolute limits creatively and produce something we probably wouldn’t have come up with just as us.

If you could time travel and attend a legendary music concert, which one would you choose and why?
Teigan: It would have to be Woodstock, I was obsessed with the event when I was a teen. It seemed like a whole universe happened there in that field in three days. People were born there.

Imagine you could time travel and perform at any concert or event in history. Where would you go, and why?
Lou: BIG DAY OUT!!!

If you could have a superpower related to music, what would it be? Would it be something like perfect pitch, infinite creativity, or the ability to control people with music?
Lou: My fingers could turn into piano keys and I could play whatever song I wanted, whenever I wanted.

Track listing

Cats On A Saturday Night
Company
Forever
Misery
Ocean Gate
Race Runner
She
Tiny Hands
Ordinary Shell
Titanic
Vanilla Nation

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