Introducing... Juneau.
Who are Juneau?
Shauna: A guitar/vocal duo from Derby and Nottingham.
How would you describe your sound?
Layla: At gigs or in reviews, a lot of the time we're classified as 'Folk', 'Indie' 'Alternative' or just simply 'Acoustic' - personally, I couldn't classify our sound as a particular genre because each song is very different! It's up to the listener and how they interpret our music; like our songs, it varies.
Shauna: We focus a lot on the lyrics, whilst the guitar is quite minimalist, so it doesn't take away from the poetry (a lot of our lyrics begin as poems), like Patti Smith in a way.
You recently released your debut EP 'Into The Mouth Of The Wolf', tell us a little about it?
Shauna: We recorded it at DCAS studios in Chesterfield with Martyn Stonehouse, we added some bass and drums to give it a different feel to our live shows, and to beef up our sound.
Layla: Recording and releasing 'Into The Mouth Of The Wolf' has been an amazing experience for both of us! Because it's our first EP, it includes some of the first songs we ever wrote as a duo, and it's so exciting that these songs are being listened to and appreciated by so many people. We've received lots of positive reviews and a great deal of inspiration to write more original music.
Who are your biggest influences and inspirations?
Shauna: Patti Smith for the way she combines music and poetry, also Dylan Carlson, and even jazz musicians like Coltrane and Monk, you can definitely hear that we have varied influences in our songs, we don't stick to one genre or style of playing.
Layla: For me, the likes of Alanis Morissette and Patti Smith have been inspirational lyricists, particularly when writing some of the songs on the EP. It really does vary though; sometimes I'll hear a lyric or a phrase and fall in love with the way it sounds, and a songs is born from that.
What's the aim?
Shauna: To hopefully get our music out to as many people as possible, and one day to be able to do this full time.
Layla: Although we don't currently have any long-term plans for Juneau as such, we do have ambitious dreams! Playing at some larger festivals would be great because we're always met with a fantastic reception at a festival, and writing some songs for a second EP is on the cards!
What's next for Juneau?
Shauna: We just want to keep playing gigs in as many places as possible to as many people as possible, and keep writing songs that people want to listen to.
Layla: At the moment, we're working on some new songs and trying out some new techniques with our music. Recently, we've recruited our friend Dan, who has a Cajon Box Drum to try out some of our other sounds with percussion. Keep an eye out for new music soon!
Where can we find out / hear more from you?
Facebook: facebook.com/juneaubanduk
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/juneau
Twitter: twitter.com/juneaujuneau
Bandcamp: juneaujuneau.bandcamp.com
Plus - our next gig is on 21st November at the Knickerbocker Glorious Festival in Derby.