Jane Doe’s latest music video “The Menu” is more than a visual stunt. It is an unflinching act of self-definition. On screen, Izzy, lead singer of Jane Doe, shaves her head in real time while delivering each lyric with precision. The moment is raw, symbolic and entirely her own.

“Honestly, I was concentrating so hard on making sure I was singing all the lyrics properly that I didn’t have time to think about the head shaving part too much,” Izzy said. “Each part of the process had to be done in a single take, and I didn’t want to be the one to mess up. After we were done rolling and the head ‘hath been shaveth,’ I think there was a moment of ‘holy shit’ across the entire set.”

It is a scene that captures everything about Izzy’s approach to music: balancing chaos and control, intensity and restraint. On stage, she channels rage as openly as she does vulnerability.

“Music has always been a crucial outlet for me,” Izzy said. “Performing in a rock band is the ultimate cathartic experience. On stage – more than in regular life – it’s easier for me to express emotions in a big way. I think rage is one of those that a lot of us have a tendency to hold back, so I let it fly in my music, especially when we perform. I hope the audience feels just as free with their energy during a show. In the studio, we want to capture the same emotions but in a more polished form. Though we embrace chaos, we also appreciate some quality chill – and definitely humor.”

The message of “The Menu” is unmistakable: traditional beauty standards, along with the control they enforce, are being dismantled. For Izzy, the choice to shave her head was not a publicity move, but a personal reckoning.

“I was bullied growing up – mostly for the way I looked,” she said. “So, self-confidence has been tough for me. Music and writing give me the strength to reject traditional beauty standards and judgements. I definitely feel that women and femme-presenting people are historically and societally tied to their hair – pardon the pun. So much value is put on it, and that’s bullshit. It’s just hair. So, shaving my head was a very freeing experience. If I were a man, would shaving my head be as ‘controversial’? I don’t think so. Gender standards are still very different. I think the whole band would like to see that change.”

Her band’s upcoming album marks another kind of evolution. From their early record Identified to the forthcoming Found, the group has sharpened its sound without losing its edge.

“We definitely grew from a music writing aspect, delving further into the uniqueness of our style,” she said. “The songs show a larger breadth of composition while staying authentic to our sound, which has always been inspired by the legendary rock that came before us. With the experiences that have come with time, we’ve matured in many ways. We still have a serious amount of youthful angst, just this angst knows how to do its taxes.”

The period leading up to the video was one of the hardest years of Izzy’s life. Personal loss weighed heavily, and her hair became a symbolic burden.

“I went through the saddest and hardest year of my life, filled with loss and grief,” she said. “My hair felt heavy – even if it was just in a symbolic way. Getting rid of it was the start of a new chapter. It was my decision, reminding myself that I have agency. We can’t control everything, but we can take personal steps to feel more powerful.”

Her openness is not calculated. It comes naturally to the band.

“First of all, thank you – that’s an awesome compliment!” she said when told her lyrics felt fearless. “I think that speaking honestly and authentically comes naturally to the band. The four of us don’t shy away from difficult conversations or being vulnerable with each other. We actively want that to come across in our music. I write lyrics that I feel reflect my thoughts and perspectives. We don’t think of it as courageous or fearless. It’s just us – and hopefully, we resonate with people.”

Grunge’s history is steeped in rebellion and truth-telling. For Izzy, it still holds that power, even as the genre struggles with representation.

“The thematic elements of grunge are alive and well today,” she said. “Rock has always had a hugely diverse audience from all walks of life, yet it’s a genre that lacks representation at the top. Only a handful of women have crossed over to the mainstream, and it’s certainly not for a lack of trying. Pop and country music greats pave the way for new artists, bringing them to the stage – and those artists are often women. Let’s go, rock musicians: it’s time!”

One constant in Izzy’s career has been director Ava Taulere, a childhood friend who brought “The Menu” to life with surgical precision.

“She’s amazing,” Izzy said. “If you knew that we’ve been friends since the seventh grade, you might say I’m biased. But truly, Ava is one of the most visually talented people I’ve ever met in my life. She co-directed our last two music videos – this one taking the helm by herself and she knocked it out of the park. We wanted the video to be simple, focusing on the progression of my hair. Ava ran full throttle with that, being incredibly deliberate with her framing and scheduling – knowing that we really only had one take for each part of the process. We also wanted the video to show the balance between calm and chaos, and Ava instinctively knew how to showcase that. We’re stoked for people to see her vision come to life. Plus, she makes every set super fun. With Ava at the helm, we always have a blast.”

Izzy’s audience is not defined by age or demographic. The songs are aimed at anyone who rejects the mold.

“We hope they hear themselves in our music,” she said. “And rock is timeless. We hope they want to listen to it at every stage of their lives – and share it with new generations. We’re for the people, by the people. Our stuff is not all seriousness. If we melt your face, we’ve done our job. At our core, we’re a plug-and-play band looking to keep one of the greatest genres of music going forever.”

That connection to people, both inside and outside the band, is what keeps Izzy grounded. The chaos of touring and promotion can be intense, but the relationships make it sustainable.

“I think we keep each other grounded,” she said. “We’re also a very goofy, self-deprecating bunch, so it’d be virtually impossible for any of us to get too big for their britches – they’d get called out in a flash. Our friends and family are so supportive, and we love having them be a part of our journey. We’re incredibly proud of our music and we feel it’s authentic to us as people, that in and of itself feels sacred – staying true to our vision despite trends or opinions. From wild idea music videos to salty lyrics, slower heartfelt songs to head-bangers, Jane Doe wants to bring people together. That’s what rock-and-roll means to us.”

For Izzy, the shaved head is not the point. It is the act behind it. It is the decision to shed weight, whether symbolic or real, and step into the next phase with eyes forward. That is what “The Menu” captures – not just the hair falling away, but the freedom that follows.