Jan Hellriegel is a singer/songwriter based in Auckland, New Zealand. Her first recorded appearances were in Dunedin band Working With Walt in the mid-1980s when Jan studied at the University of Otago in Dunedin. She then formed all-woman band Cassandra's Ears, moving back to Auckland and going solo in the early 90s. Hellriegel has released four solo studio albums, It's My Sin 1992, Tremble 1995, All Grown Up 2009, and Sportsman of the Year in 2019. She has toured with and supported many international acts including The Cure, Jeff Buckley, David Byrne, Diesel, and Ron Sexsmith. She has also performed as a guest vocalist for many bands such as Straitjacket Fits, The Verlaines and The Mutton Birds, notably on the latter's hit single Nature. History Early Jan Hellriegel was born and raised in West Auckland with her three brothers and attended Henderson High School. She famously worked in her father's panel beating shop, though only in the office. Nonetheless, the combination of her birthplace and early employment led to her being branded a "Westie" by the New Zealand media. Jan took vocal training in speech and singing at St. Mary’s College, Auckland under Sister Mary Leo. She then moved to Dunedin in the 1980s to attend the University of Otago, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. While in Dunedin, she joined her brother Rob Hellriegel's band, Working With Walt. She performed backing vocals, piano and guitar on their 1984 7" LP The Prophet and wrote and performed the song "Christina" on the band’s 1985 LP 4 Sides. In 1988, Jan performed backing vocals on the Leonard Cohen song "So Long Marianne", performed by Straitjacket Fits. Cassandra’s Ears In the late 1980s Jan formed the band Cassandra's Ears with Dunedin bandmates Flick Rhind (bass), Zan Wright (backing vocals), Vanessa Anich (drums) and Leanne Ibell (guitar). Jan wrote music and lyrics and performed vocals, guitar and keyboards. Their first release was the song "Replacements" for the National Student Radio 1986 compilation, Weird Culture Weird Custom. The band played local gigs, toured New Zealand, wrote more material, and eventually released two EPs, Private Wasteland in 1988 and Your Estimation in 1990. Cassandra's Ears reformed in November 2010 for a one-off show in Auckland to support the release of "The Cassandra's Ears Story". Solo career Hellriegel signed with Warner Records New Zealand in 1990. Her first album, It’s My Sin, was recorded