Last year, shoegaze fivesome Junodream spun their woozy, 90s-indebted slow jams into two EPs heavy with atmospherics and emotion. Prepped for a stellar 2020, this year, well – you know. They were meant to have just played the Omeara in London, but best-laid plans and all that. Postponing the headliner to next spring, they’ve instead been working on new music.
Hi Junodream, how’s it going? What are you up to today?
It’s all go today: we’re mixing our next release, plotting music videos, and dreaming big.
How did you lot get together then, have you known each other long?
We met at school and formed a terrible band but then after years of hard work we’re now in another one that’s not bad.
How did you land on Junodream’s sound? What were those discussions like?
It wasn’t really a discussion, just years of getting it wrong until finally, we started to get it right. Sad and spacey – that’s our common ground.
Can you remember the first song you wrote together?
Off the record, it was a four-minute pop ballad about Romeo, Juliet and erectile dysfunction when we were 15. On the record, the first song we ever wrote was Galactica two years ago.
We hear you’re working on a new mixtape, how’s it going?
The grapevine does not lie. It’s coming together very nicely.
Has creating during a pandemic been tough?
The creativity has come in waves. Yes, we have more time than normal to focus on writing, but a lack of activity or change in the environment means the thought-tank can get pretty low at times.
Where are you lot based now? You’ve spent time in both Bristol and London, right?
We each went to various universities in Bristol then graduated to London. How we miss Bristol.
Do you all live together, Monkeees-style?
Tried it when we left school. We all shared a small two-bedroom flat in Kentish Town. Never again.
What’s your favourite thing about being a musician?
Being in the studio and realising you’ve got a potential number 50 on your hands.
If Junodream imploded tomorrow, what would you do instead?
2-nodream.
How are you feeling about your April tour, do you think gigs ‘n that will be back to normal by then?
Nervous as hell. Will we be able to play our instruments? Will we be able to play? We don’t have the answers, but we’re hopeful.
What else is on the agenda for you guys?
Whispers of an album.
Taken from the November issue of Dork. Junodream play London’s Omeara on 22nd April.
