☆ Q&A with Juni ☆
- Ale <3
- May 22, 2022
- 10 min read
Updated: Jun 28, 2024
Juni on Artistry, Inspirations, and Upcoming Plans
Photographer: @jaime.lacuesta (swipe to view photo slide)
Born and raised in El Centro, CA, Juni knew from a young age that music was his calling. He picked up his first electric guitar at nine years old and his older sister introduced him to bands like My Chemical Romance and Green Day. As he got older, he was inspired by his uncle's musical talents, and he turned to YouTube to improve his own musical skills. He released his first song in August of 2020 and has continued to develop and improve his craft.
Heavily influenced by artists like Dominic Fike and Choker, Juni has a knack for telling colorful stories filled with catchy melodies and a warm energy. Songs like "Falling" take you through an indie-pop dream as its smooth chorus sticks into your brain. "By My Side" is a slower-tempo song that keeps you refreshed as it switches up the vibe a little later into the track.
I had the privilege of sitting down with Juni on a Wednesday afternoon to get to know more about his growth as an artist. I learned a lot about him as an individual and was inspired by his drive and artistry. We dug into his creative process, motivations, and life experiences that ultimately inspire his music creation and the stories he wants to tell. Scroll to read our conversation.
Ale: Hi! It's so nice to meet you! When did you first start getting into music?
Juni: I've been writing music since I was a kid. I wrote my first songs in ninth grade, but I picked up the guitar at nine years old. I took lessons and really wanted to learn rock songs. I was in band from 5th grade all the way through high school. I originally started on the drums, but then I got super bored, so I switched to trumpet. In high school, I was also in [the] jazz band where I played the trombone. I thought the movements were super cool! I just wanted to learn how to play anything. Even though music is not what I do full time, I know that it's going to be something that will always be a part of my life.
Ale: What was it like to release your first song back in 2020?
Juni: When the pandemic hit, I got a confidence boost somehow. I found myself participating more in my classes and not feeling shy. I decided to take the time I had at home to create music. I took the leap and released my first song in August of 2020. From there, I just kept going and going. It's very weird how I got the confidence. I guess it makes sense because you can hide behind a screen. I had the mindset where I knew that no one was going to be able to see me, and so if the song sucked then I would not have to talk to anyone from my class. That confidence spread to other areas of my life once things started to open back up again. I even got to do a show at Sprinkles [doughnut shop in El Centro, CA].
Ale: Are you from a musical family?
Juni: My mom's side is very musical. All her brothers and sisters know how to sing and play instruments. My tia [aunt] always outshines everyone when we do karaoke. She is such a great singer. My uncle is super musical and he's still in a band today that he tours with called Los Solitarios in Mexicali. It's crazy because we have the same name, similar birthdays, and we were both in a band. I find that very cool. My dad doesn't play any instruments, but he is super super super into music—especially classic rock.
Ale: Is voice memo something you utilize for song ideas?
Juni: On my old iPhone 5 and iPods, I wouldn't use voice memos. I used to just use the camera, and I would click record with it face down. I have so many freaking acoustic songs! So many that were never released or anything, because I would always say "I'm gonna wait for this, I'll wait for that" and then I never did. That's fine though, because now I released what I currently have out. I do wish that I had made a private SoundCloud and put all of them there so I could go back to them. Who knows? What if in five years I want to publicize it and let everyone have access. Dominic Fike has unreleased, super old tracks and I love listening to work like that by artists. You get to see how much has changed. I think that's really interesting.
Ale: Since you have always been interested in music, is there a particular memory that sticks out to you from when you were younger?
Juni: I have early memories of when I started listening to music in general. I literally remember the first CD I ever had. . . it's silly, but it's funny [laughs]. It was a CD called "Dancin' Tunes" and it had Goofy on it (like from Mickey Mouse). I thought it was a soundtrack, but it was a compilation of songs like "Y.M.C.A."—like literally random songs. I would use my sister's CD player to listen, and I thought it was the best thing ever! My sister was into pop punk music actually and she introduced me to artists like Avril Lavigne and My Chemical Romance. Having the Goofy CD along with my sister's CDs is what started my passion with music. I would always think "I have to do something like this". That later led to me getting my electric guitar. I went to Clark Baker [Music & Arts Center in El Centro, CA] back when it was on Main Street. If you bought an instrument, they would take a polaroid of you and put it on the wall. I don't know if it's still there, but I thought that was super cool.
Ale: Does being from the valley influence you in any way musically or individually?
Juni: Yes for sure! Since I have grown so much and have come such a long way, it inspires me to shed light on the positive things that the valley has to offer. You hear negative things like "We don't have anything in the valley" or "I'm going to get out of the valley". I used to be one of those people, and I was planning on leaving after high school. Things didn't work out though, and I stayed. That for me was an eye-opening moment that drained me mentally until I realized that I had to make the best out of what I had. Going to community college here changed my life profoundly and I got to learn more about myself as a person. Other than the heat, I love the valley. This is my home. . . [there is] so much hidden talent and hidden gems. I get homesick when I leave for more than three days. Anyway, I hope to change the mentality with more positivity in my music.
Ale: The name "Juni", where does that derive from?
Juni: Juni is short for Junior. My dad has the same name as me, and so I was "Junior". I always have flashbacks of me as a kid dreaming about being a rockstar one day. Having that stage name is my way of carrying on that little boy's dream. I am in love with the idea of following his story, and I don't want it to end. I love asking people "What's your number one fear?" When I think of mine, I imagine myself in a hospital bed, looking up and thinking about how I don't want to die regretting that I didn't at least try. I don't want to kill this kid's dream, because he's still here.
Ale: What is the process like for creating a track? Do you focus on lyrics? Do you do your own production?
Juni: It's always different. I can feel inspired through lyrics I write or by listening to beats or by playing chords on my acoustic guitar. In the beginning, I was writing songs and using Logic Pro trying to mix my own songs. I hated how it sounded though and I knew that I needed help. I ended up searching "Imperial Valley music producers" on Google. An IV Press article about Tony Slumz came up explaining that he was a music producer from Brawley. I decided to message Tony on Instagram and ask if I could book a session with him. He let me know the price and I ended up meeting him at his studio. I was at my most vulnerable state. The idea of showing someone your work and singing in front of them the song I made had me thinking "What am I doing here?", but I knew I had to do it. I remember that I kept having to restart again and again. At one point, Tony stopped the recording and told me that he'd charge me per song instead of per hour. I thought that was cool and I kept going to him week after week. He mixed and mastered everything. Now, I consider him one of my best friends.
Ale: Your EP, “the things I’ve seen”, can you give me some insight on the story of that project—is it representative of that particular time of your life? Do you have plans on releasing a new EP?
Juni: Yeah, it's totally representative of a more emotional time of my life. A new EP would sound completely different in every way for sure. I haven't told anyone this, but I want to go back and redo "by my side". I have a friend who's a sound engineer at UCSD and they want to use "by my side" for a play that they will be showing. It didn't feel real—like I thought he was joking. I later got sent a video of the exact scene where the song is playing and I thought it was really cool to see. I don't really go back to that EP to be honest, because I am very critical of certain aspects. However, now that it's in the play, I did go back to this song. As I was listening, I was thinking that it deserved to be re-done in the way that I want it to be re-done. This all happened last week actually!
Ale: Is there a certain mood that you hope your listeners gain from your music?
Juni: Yes, I think before, I had more specific expectations for what I wanted to convey to the listener. For example with "Into You", my intention was for people to read the lyrics and see how it comes from my perspective. The thing is that everyone is a different kind of listener. I feel like a lot of people liked "Into You", but I don't think everyone truly understood it. That led me to think about how I can satisfy myself and satisfy the listener. I think "Falling" was a really good in-between. I was expressing what I really wanted to say while also making it easy to listen to. I wanted them to feel happy. I had the vision of people in the summer with their windows down jamming out. In the end though, I accept the fact that I won't be able to control how a listener feels.
Ale: I saw your music video for “Falling”. There was a lot of cool, fun shots that give off a really authentic, lively feel. How was your experience in filming that in terms of the process and everyone who was involved?
Juni: Tony showed me an Instagram story of a guy named @milliframess showing a variety of camcorders along with prices for shooting a music video. It was in my budget and it fit the vibe, so I went for it. After some back and forth communication, I went to San Diego to meet him at his studio. He showed me the story board and explained what was going to happen. I remember feeling so vulnerable but trying my best to be social around people I had never met before. That day I hit up one of my best friends, Marlene, to ask her if she wanted to be in the video and she said, "Dude I'm skydiving right now—as soon as I land, I'll be there." Milliframes is calling a lot of people to come for the video and everyone is showing up. It was so crazy. There was a scene where I had to get run over which was so funny because there was security on the street getting us in trouble while a random mariachi band was playing down the road—I really had to get it right in the final shot. After that, we went to Chicano Park to film what we thought would be the last part. As we headed to the parking lot, a group of people asked us if we were filming a music video. We said yes and then they asked if we wanted to use their lowriders for the video. Milliframes immediately said yes. We all looked at each other thinking "This is not real" and Marlene said, "Dude this was meant to be". I felt this euphoria that you'll never believe. The people lined up their lowriders in the parking lot and we began to film. After we finished, everyone was clapping and I was able to get everyone's information. It was just so beautiful. I was so amazed and felt so much love for everyone. I have a music video planned for the future, so keep an eye out for that!
Photographer: @jaime.lacuesta
Ale: For the last portion of the interview, I want to ask you some fun "get-to-know-me" questions. Which celebrity would you love to be best friends with?
Juni: Probably Dominic Fike. . . or Kendrick Lamar, but I would be afraid of asking too many questions [laughs], I just want to know everything!
Ale: Who would be your dream music collaboration?
Juni: Dominic Fike, I get a lot of inspiration from him.
Ale: One meal you could eat for the rest of your life?
Juni: Chicken and rice.
Ale: Your favorite album of all time?
Juni: DAMN or To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar.
Ale: If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Juni: I'm in love with where I am, but if I had to choose, it would be close to home.
With summer just around the corner — Juni's "Falling" is a necessary piece of work that is a must-add for your summer jams playlist. Make sure to check out his Instagram: @juni.music_ and keep him on your radar as his future in music is very promising.
Click here to view my Summer playlist "car ride but if i was in a movie".
Click here to view my playlist filled with artists you need to "keep on ur radar".
Article was written by: @alejandrmor
Article was edited by: @marthaa.22
Photos were taken and edited by: @jaime.lacuesta
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