This week, Trondheim Calling-current JUNO released their very first single. In the song MIKE, the jazz band claims that life underwater may be fun, but is unlikely to be a solution to human problems. Read questions and answers with JUNO.
/ 25/01/2019 / Kristian DugstadJUNO is: Thea Ellingsen Grant, Mona Krogstad, Malin Dahl Ødegård, Georgia Wartel Collins and Ingvald Vassbø
Age: 21 – 23 years
Current with: Debut single "MIKE" which belongs to the upcoming debut album with Kristoffer Lo as producer.
TONO member since: The first JUNO concert was TONO-registered in the spring of 2017.
Photo above: Thor Egil Leirtrø.
What is their musical background?
We all have different musical backgrounds: everything from hip-hop, free jazz, rock and pop, and are current students at the Jazzlinja at NTNU in Trondheim. We have all attended music courses at high schools around the country, as well as folk high schools in both Sweden and Norway.
When and how did you start making music?
We have all written music from an early age and in different ways – at home at the piano, strumming the guitar or using music programs like GarageBand and the like.
What was the name of the first song you ever wrote, and what is it about?
The first song JUNO wrote was called Village Grey, and it was about standing still in one place.
How did JUNO come about?
JUNO was formed when Mona, Georgia, Thea and Malin wanted to play together and tried out some songs. We thought it was fun to explore the unusual line-up with two vocalists, saxophone and double bass, and decided to start a band together in the fall of 2016. After a while we found out that having drums would be really cool, so we asked Ingvald in class if he wanted to join.
The story continues below the picture.
How do you work together? How does JUNO's music come about?
It starts with someone in the band coming up with an idea, such as a riff, rhythm, lyrics or melody, which we arrange together in the rehearsal room. We have a flat structure in the band that allows everyone to bring their ideas, which leads to a diversity of genres and great variation in the songs.
Tell us about your first single, Mike?
Mike is the newest song we have made, and is about a person who wants a change from everyday life. The person jumps into the river to live with the fish. This is fun for a while, but he quickly finds out that it is not a long-term solution to the problems on the surface. We have produced the song together with the amazing Kristoffer Lo, and it feels incredibly good to finally have released a song since we have only been a live band for the last two years.
What are you working on now? What does 2019 bring for JUNO?
We are currently working on producing our upcoming debut album, which we hope to release in the fall of 2019. We are also working on new songs that we will showcase at the upcoming concerts we have planned this year.
What does it mean to play at Trondheim Calling 2019?
It means a lot to us to be playing at Trondheim Calling. We get to showcase our music to a different audience than we usually play for, and it is very educational to get an insight into the Norwegian and international music industry. Trondheim Calling has a great support system that we have benefited from as a band, both musically and with good advice on how to develop and push yourself further.
What is your career highlight so far?
There have been many highlights during our two years as a band. To name a few, we were extremely grateful when we were asked to play abroad at the Jazz and Blues Festival in Edinburgh, Vinterjazz in Aarhus and InJazz in Rotterdam. In the fall of 2018 we were in a professional studio for the first time, Sørgården Studio, where we recorded our songs. It was very educational, and gave us a new perspective on our music.
Do you have instruments or other equipment that are indispensable in the writing process?
Everyone actively uses the piano in the writing process, and sees it as a very important compositional tool. In addition, we often use singing to create melodies and clapping to create rhythms.
What do you do when you're not making music?
Office work. Way too much.
What is your greatest musical experience?
This fall we warmed up for Broen at Verkstedhallen in Trondheim, and it was so much fun! There was a great atmosphere in the audience, and in advance of the concert we had bought matching clothes and practiced choreography, which made performing extra fun.
