Her last three albums have blended her love of fusion, prog and metal, but with Division World Jane Getter has redefined her songwriting with her Premonition band. On her fourth LP, zigzagging instrumental turns and elongated solos remain, but only when needed. This time around, Getter tells us she let her ears, rather than her indulgences, write what has proved to be a far more convincing blending of the musical worlds she loves so dearly.

Words: Phil Weller

Images: Linda Heath

“This album has been about letting the song dictate when it needs something, and when it doesn’t, and letting my ears be my guide.”

Jane Getter is a jazz guitarist at heart. For the New Yorker, who’s been playing guitar since she was eight years old, that means long, winding compositions rich with improvised solos come as second nature. Yet, on her latest album with her Premonition band, Getter has gone against her own intuition. She’s stripped her songs of everything but the bare necessities.

“My ability to edit songs is something that has developed over the years,” she reflects. “Sometimes, especially earlier on, I would start writing a song and then I think, ‘Oh, I really want to put this in’ just because I thought it would be cool. And so I put it in. Listening back, I feel that certain elements weren’t necessary.”