About The Braided Janes
The Braided Janes are a femme-fronted post-punk Latin alternative rock trio from Chicago, led by Jessica Rodriguez (vocals, keys, guitar, lyricist) and her wife Juny Alvarez (drums, percussion), with Andrew Doyle on bass, guitar, and programming. Their bilingual sound melds post-punk urgency, Latin alternative textures, rock grit, and the tropi-alt colors of their Renacer era — all rooted in justice, identity, and community.
The Braided Janes have emerged as one of Chicago’s most resonant social justice voices, earning recognition from NPR, PBS, and Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Relations (SRE). Their debut album ¡DESPIERTA!, recorded at El Cerrito Studios in California with multi-GRAMMY winners Kenya and Oscar Autie, established their bold activist sound; its standout single “Fuego” was named one of NPR’s Best Latin Alternative Songs of 2019.
Jessica was invited by SRE to participate in the Binational Artist Conference in Mexico City (2021) and again in Tijuana (2022) — early acknowledgments of her growing role as a cross-border cultural voice.
The band traveled to Minca, Colombia in 2022 to record their second album Renacer with GRAMMY-nominated producer Christian Castagno. Immersed in the mountains, the experience became a spiritual and artistic reset that reshaped their sound. Renacer was released in 2023, expanding their sonic identity into tropi-alt territory.
The album’s release was celebrated with Noche de Musas II: Fiestas Patrias — a large-scale, multidisciplinary event created by Jessica. It featured a sustainable fashion show, mariachi, and a headlining set by Mexican rapper Nina Dioz, serving as the official Renacer album release show.
In 2023 the band embarked on the Corazón Migrante tour, their first ever U.S tour launching at CECUT (Centro Cultural Tijuana) and reaching over a dozen U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Houston, Kansas City, and Atlanta — later featured on PBS Adelante | Season 25.
Noche De Musas was II was such a success that the National Museum of Mexican Art invited The Braided Janes to produce one of their official Sor Juana Festival event in 2025 - La Decima Musa, a two-day experience which included live performances, poetry, sustainable fashion show and community workshops all honoring Sor Juana.
In their newest chapter — the self-production era — the band’s evolution is unmistakable.
Andrew now records electric guitar and contributes arrangements on their latest singles, while Juny performs across full acoustic kit, electronic drums, cajón, and fusion hybrid setups depending on the show. This versatility fuels their current sound: bold, multidimensional, and intentional.
Their latest single “BASTA” (10/31/25), produced by The Braided Janes with the guidance of award-winning engineer Jeanne Montalvo, is a fierce cry against war and oppression — from Gaza to the daily struggles of Latine and immigrant communities. It follows their fully self-produced, all-women-led single “Bésame” (11/24), marking a new era of autonomy and creative honesty.
In November 2025, The Braided Janes made their first full-band performance in Mexico City at El Rule cultural center, during the ALMA Artist Gathering — a milestone in their expanding cross-border journey.
Through every album, event, and cultural project, The Braided Janes carry a simple truth:
music can heal, unite, and move us toward justice — across borders, identities, and generations.
Andrew Doyle
Jessica Rodriguez
Jessica Rodriguez
Jessica Rodriguez
Jessica Rodriguez
Jessica Rodriguez
Juny Alvarez
Jessica Rodriguez
Juny Alvarez
"one of the city’s most dynamic Latin bands [that] represent the heart and soul of our city’s musical diversity... blending Latin-influenced rhythms with intricate bass lines and thought-provoking bilingual vocals... This family trio—deliver socially conscious music with infectious energy."
- INTERNATIONAL LATINO CULTURAL CENTER OF CHICAGO
Top Tracks on Spotify
We recorded in a natural paradise nestled in the jungle, barefoot and disconnected from the outside world. We were able to enjoy a simpler, more grounded way of life and found peace in the stillness that allowed us to travel inward and flourish in the making of 'Renacer'"
Jessica Rodriguez
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The Braided Janes