Jano Announces Release of Second Studio Album,
The Designer Within, Available On CD August 22nd
LONDON – August 14, 2025 – London-based singer-songwriter Jano is pleased to announce the release of his second studio album, The Designer Within, on CD August 22nd. This new collection of 12 songs is a long-awaited musical evolution that blends classic rock influences and introspective, faith-infused lyrics.
The Designer Within captures Jano’s ongoing process of self-discovery. The album’s title speaks to the creative force within him as he navigates themes of faith, identity, and emotional expression. From Beatles-inspired melodies to heartfelt storytelling, Jano draws on a lifetime of musical influences to craft songs that resonate with both timelessness and fresh perspective.
“The title speaks of a true reflection of life. No matter where you look - whether it’s a building, a work of art, or a human being - wherever you see intelligent design, it testifies of a designer within,” Jano explains.
The album was recorded across multiple locations, beginning at The Warehouse, a church-turned-studio in Sacramento, California, then continuing with home recordings before being completed at Yellowshark Studios in Cheltenham, England. The Designer Within was co-produced by Jano and Matt Butler, renowned for his work with Paul McCartney, who helped shape the album’s rich, layered sound.
“Matt introduced Genevieve and Carol to sing backing vocals and they give the album a gospel sound. He also helped me to focus on what the songs really needed,” Jano shares.
The Designer Within features contributions from a talented group of musicians, and each track is infused with carefully crafted instrumentation and harmonies. The result is a seamless fusion of classic rock textures and sincere lyrics that invite listeners into Jano’s world.
“I’ve always been drawn to the sound of the 12-string guitar. It’s now become the core of this album. I play my 12-string Rickenbacker on nearly every song. It’s a joyful sound that always cheers me up, and I think this reflects in my songwriting. It helps me bring a message of hope,” said Jano.
That message of hope is central to The Designer Within. “I want to give people songs that make them think, feel good, and leave them with a positive sense of hope for the future,” Jano notes.
Born and raised in the coal-mining town of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, Jano’s childhood was shaped by the contrasting realities of working-class life and a rich musical heritage. His father, Alwyn Wall ( half of the renowned duo Malcolm & Alwyn) introduced Jano to legendary voices like Larry Norman and experiences spanning England, San Diego, Florida, and Nashville. These diverse cultural touchstones informed Jano’s musical style and personal outlook.
Jano’s journey into songwriting began at 19 in Florida, playing covers of influential bands such as R.E.M., U2, and Tears for Fears. His debut album, The Life of Riley (2008), laid the foundation for a career defined by thoughtful songwriting and melodic craftsmanship. The Designer Within is the culmination of over a decade of songwriting, introspection, and collaboration, and was finally realized through the support of close collaborators including his brother-in-law Tom Hooper, who did all the drums and percussion work on the album.
“Hold On,” the first single released on streaming services, exemplifies the album’s blend of timeless songwriting and heartfelt faith. Throughout the record, Jano’s sound weaves together echoes of The Beatles, Tom Petty, The Byrds, and Bob Dylan and is all filtered through his unique perspective and spiritual reflections.
The Designer Within will be available on CD starting August 22nd, 2025 at janomusic.com.
About Jano
Jano Wall was born into music. Growing up in the coal-mining town of Sutton-in-Ashfield, a market town in Nottinghamshire, England, he was surrounded by two worlds that couldn’t have been more different. One was the tough, working-class reality of his hometown—hardworking people, honest living, and no-frills life. The other was the world his father, Alwyn Wall, introduced him to: a world of music, creativity, and larger-than-life personalities.
His father, half of the acclaimed duo Malcolm & Alwyn, had a gift for songwriting, a gift that took him far beyond their small town. Jano remembers the voices that filled their home—not just his dad’s, but legends like Larry Norman, who in the 1970s was nothing short of Hollywood to them. And when Cliff Richard recorded his father’s song I Love for his Small Corners album, it was proof that music could open doors to places most people only dreamed of.
Jano’s childhood bounced between England and the U.S., where his father toured extensively. They spent time in San Diego - long enough for Jano to attend school there for a while - and Florida, soaking in the sounds of both places. And for about a year, they lived in Nashville while his dad’s band, The Alwyn Wall Band, toured the country. The band was a mix of musicians from Manchester in the UK and the U.S., including a drummer from South Carolina. They had a No. 1 Christian album at the time called The Prize. Nashville was a culture shock for Jano: from a mining town to cowboy hats, cowboy boots, yellow school buses, and people watering their lawns. He even went to school with Pat Boone’s nephew. It was a whole different vibe, and living there opened his eyes to the wide variety of music all around him, even though Nashville was still very much a country town back then. When they left Tennessee, Jano remembers the adventure of crossing America in the back of a U-Haul truck, watching the sunrise over Arizona’s long, straight roads - a memory that has stayed with him ever since the age of ten.
But it wasn’t until he was 19, living in Florida, that he picked up a guitar and really started making music of his own. Alongside his cousin, he played in a band that covered popular songs of the time from artists like R.E.M., U2, Simple Minds, and Tears for Fears—songs that shaped his ear and his approach to melody.
His own music, though, was always waiting in the wings. In 2008, Jano released his first album, The Life of Riley. Since then, over the years, melodies and lyrics piled up—scraps of ideas, unfinished verses, songs that just needed the right moment to come to life. That moment finally arrived. With his brother-in-law, Tom Hooper, he began the process of bringing them into the world. They started recording in The Warehouse, a church-turned-studio in Sacramento, California, then continued working on tracks at home. Finally, under the expert hands of producer Matt Butler at Yellowshark Studios in Cheltenham, they polished the songs into something ready to be heard.
The first song to step forward is Hold On, a piece of a much larger collection that spans years, influences, and experiences. No two songs are quite alike, but they all share Jano’s signature touch: a blend of classic songwriting in the vein of The Beatles, Tom Petty, Tears for Fears, The Byrds, and Bob Dylan infused with his faith and personal reflections. While Jano and Tom are the heart of the project, they’ve enlisted a talented lineup of musicians to bring depth to the recordings, with carefully crafted basslines, harmonies, and background vocals.
For Jano Wall, this album isn’t just a collection of songs. It’s a lifetime of music finally finding its way into the world.