Having played a sold-out headline show at the Bermondsey Social Club last month, rising London alt-rockers Junodream today release their eagerly anticipated second EP ‘Isn’t It Lovely (To Be Alone)’, featuring the recently shared tracks ‘As Far As I See’,‘Limiter’ and ‘Nobody Wants You’. Listen to the new EP HERE.
Junodream have garnered a host of support from numerous new music champions including Phil Taggart at Radio 1, BBC Introducing, Radio X, Felix White, This Feeling’s Track of the Day, The Line of Best Fit, Gig Slutz, Clash and Wonderland. Meanwhile, playlist support from Spotify’s Hot New Bands and Deezer’s Hot Alternative have helped push their streams in excess of 3 million.
While the track’s atmospherics vary dramatically on ‘Isn’t It Lovely (To Be Alone)’, the songs are all thematically linked. They’re a collection of vignettes in the life of an ordinary young man, whose dedication to making the best of his position in life masks the turmoil that lies just under the surface. Think Gregor Samsa from Kafka’s The Metamorphosis dropped into a modern metropolis.
The topics that Junodream address are drawn from the band’s personal experiences. But they’re frustrations which are common amongst people in their early twenties: anxiety; the financial demands of debt and rent; lack of fulfillment at work; insecurity in relationships; and an overwhelming lack of control. Junodream like to see the funny side in things, and these themes are injected with a wry sense of humour. It becomes a catch-22 situation: you’re constrained by the very things that you want to escape.
Ed explains the meaning behind the EP’s title track ‘Isn’t It Lovely (To Be Alone), “The track is about a failed relationship in free-fall. It’s centred round a sordid night out where things break down, hidden tensions come out the woodwork and you just want to go home”.
Junodream are comprised of Ed Vyvyan (vocals), Dougal Gray (guitar), Tom Rea (guitar), Will Ryder (bass) and Jake Gidley (drums). The five old school friends formed the band on the back of a shared passion for alt-rock greats including Radiohead, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Beck, Pavement and Slowdive. After finishing university, moved to the middle of nowhere (near Andover) to develop their sound. Away from the distractions of the city and constantly surrounded by each other, they descended into madness and their sound quickly evolved into something distinctive.
Now back in London, the band’s recent shows including gigs with The Magic Gang and Lazy Day plus sets at the Neverworld,Jigsaw, Wild Path Festivals and Live At Leeds’ Ones To Watch, plus they have just been announced to play the Communion presents X-Posure Winter party at London Omeara on 23rd January, curated by Radio X’s John Kennedy. Tickets can be purchased from www.communionmusic.co.uk.
A further London headline date has also just been confirmed for 8th April at Moth Club. Ticket information will follow soon.
The tracklisting for the EP is:
- Limiter
- Nobody Wants You
- As Far As I See
- Isn’t It Lovely (To Be Alone)
Listen to ‘Isn’t It Lovely (To Be Alone)’ here.
