This time, we get to know Junior Bones, a Melbourne-based indie rock band. Beautiful, resonant and emotive songs with clever melodies and dreamy atmospherics.
"I'll Have the Same" is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.
Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:
š. Where are you from and what are your hobbies?
Hi, Ryan from Junior Bones here. I'm from Melbourne Australia but grew up in a small country town about 3 hours north of Melbourne.
Apart from writing music, playing gigs, and all the other work associated with being in an independent band, I love to travel and get into the outdoors. Snowboarding's a big passion and I'm certainly looking forward to it this winter after being in lockdown the past 2 seasons! I also tried surfing fairly recently but am only now appreciating how hard it is - although I do seem to be getting better at swallowing seawater!
š®. How did your get into music?
I was a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to music. My parents didn't play much music when I was growing up (Mum says now she was too busy raising two kids to play records). So I appreciated music early on but was much more into sports and running around outside. It wasn't until I was 17, when my friend, bored, asked 'doesn't your mum have a guitar?' Turns out she had an old nylon string in the back of the wardrobe. We dusted it off, plucked on the strings, and from that moment I was hooked on learning guitar and making music
šÆ. Who are your biggest influences?
Broadly my influences come from 70s/80s/90s guitar and synth bands like Zepplin, Creedence, U2, Dandy Warhols, Doves mixed in with more recent (ish) acts like The Panics, M83, The XX, The National. I went through a massive mid 90s guitar band phase where I spent a lot of time listening to The Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Stereophonics and The Tea Party along with local Australian acts like Pollyanna, Hoodoo Gurus, Silverchair, INXS and Midnight Oil - so I'm sure that blend spills out somehow!
4. What are your goals in the music industry?
Goals and dreams are tricky at the best of times little own the music industry! I remember when we first had a chat about this as a band, one person wanted to play cafe gigs, one wanted stadium shows and one just wanted to release studio grade music. And being honest with ourselves I think the goal for us is really to have and share in special moments. Whether that's an amazing gig where everything comes together and the audience is singing along, or we release an album and all our hard work behind the scenes comes to fruition, to making new fans who really connect with the music and they share how it makes them feel. They may seem like small goals but I think ultimately that's why we're here.
5. If you could choose a location to perform at, what would it be?
Beautiful classic venues are where its at for me. In Melbourne we have the Forum and Palais theatres that have an amazing character and charm with high ceilings, art deco architecture and a great sense of timelessness. I've been lucky enough to play at the Forum a long time ago and I'd love to do it again!
6. What is your all-time favorite song?
I mean I could easily caveat this one by saying 'it depends on my mood' but that's cheating right?! I actually think its a toss up between Pearl's 'Present Tense' and Lionel Richie's 'All Night Long' - and for completely different reasons. Present Tense has such beauty both musically and lyrically and amazing build up, crescendo and release that gets me every time. While All Night Long is such a perfect, happy song that doesn't over sell itself - it always puts me in the best of moods!
7. Most embarrassing moment?
Probably early on when I hadn't played many live gigs, I was playing a solo acoustic show of mostly originals and some little known covers to a drunken audience who just wanted singalong pub songs they could karaoke and air guitar too. I had one particularly unhappy punter who kept yelling 'play Khe Sanh!' at me (Khe Sanh is a very classic Aussie 'bogan' song by Cold Chisel that people in country Australia absolutely love). This harassment continued constantly for about 45 minutes before some kids brought out their CD player and kicked me offstage due to popular demand and DJ'd through my PA for the rest of my set.
8. Proudest accomplishment?
Most recently its having the guts to finally record and release my own songs with my band. Late Night Luxury is our first EP and I'm pretty damn happy about ticking that bucket list! I've played with other bands in the past who've released music with me playing on there but there's something equally exposing, terrifying and rewarding about releasing your own music
9. What is something about you that might surprise someone who knows you the best?
I used to sing an octave higher. After years of playing in cover bands, that's just the 'normal' range. Then one day my girlfriend said I sing better when I'm badly hungover. As this is a pretty unusual thing to say I thought about it and realised I always sing an octave lower when at home on the couch recovering from a 'social outing'. I tried it with the band and it just created a delicate dynamic and intimacy to the songs and really shapes the sound we have today
šš¬. What is your dream collaboration?
Jamie XX would be great to work with - I love the way he can take an indie song and remix it into a beautiful downtempo electronica tune suitable for a late night cocktail bar
Stream "I'll Have the Same" now
and follow their socials
Please share this post and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
I luved this 10 questions!Everything about it is so true of how an audience react at times, especially a drunken one. Interesting about singing an octave lower. That hapenned to me when i was about 13 , lol, šš¤...but now i try sing in all sorts of different keys to create layers.... i must try it with a hangover and see what happens...Seriously, well done Junior Bones, i think u guys rock! š¤šāšÆš„