About The Braided Janes
The Braided Janes are a femme-fronted post-punk Latin alternative rock trio from the vibrant Chicago music scene, 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 blends post-punk urgency with Latin alternative rock textures, rock grit, and the tropi-alt colors of their Renacer era — all deeply rooted in themes of justice, identity, and community.
Emerging as one of Chicago’s most resonant voices in social justice music, The Braided Janes have earned 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.
In 2022, the band traveled to Minca, Colombia 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, further 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 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 events in 2025 - La Decima Musa, a two-day experience which included live performances, poetry, a sustainable fashion show, and community workshops, all honoring Sor Juana.
In their newest chapter — the self-production era — the band's evolution within the Chicago music scene is unmistakable.
Andrew now records electric guitar and contributes arrangements on their latest singles, while Juny performs across a full acoustic kit, electronic drums, cajón, and fusion hybrid setups depending on the show. This versatility fuels their current sound: bold, multidimensional, and intentional, perfectly embodying the essence of Latin alternative rock.
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, deeply rooted in their commitment to social justice music.
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
About The Braided Janes
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