“me and my friend would paint over our ID’s to get in to watch these bands that we adored”
Prepare to fall in love with New Zealand’s Juno Is, and the vibrant psychedelic joyride of their latest release ‘The Highway Song’.
Mackenzie’s musical prowess shines through as she delves into uncharted territory, blending instrumental dynamics to create a truly unique and captivating song.
The magic behind “The Highway Song” lies in its journey from conception to creation. Mackenzie teamed up with Thomas Isbister and De Stevens, and together, they unleashed their creative genius.
A trip to Christchurch proved to be the perfect catalyst for their musical adventure. Armed with a minimal setup, they experimented with an array of instruments, including a MicroKorg, Little Korg Volca, Juno 106, Congas, Timbales, and even pots and pans!
Talk about an eclectic mix! The result was a melting pot of sounds that they carefully sifted through during the mixing process, creating a harmonious masterpiece.
The music video for “The Highway Song” adds a whole new dimension to the experience. Shot on the outskirts of Christchurch, the video embodies the spirit of creativity in the city.
Robyn Jordaan, the brains behind the video, fully embraced Mackenzie’s offbeat concept and turned it into something magical.
Picture this: Mackenzie and her crew donning suits and horse masks while driving around in a borrowed car. A hilarious adventure ensued, with Robyn directing from the car’s boot, using an app on her phone. It was all fun and games until the laughter drowned out the instructions!
Juno Is is not your run-of-the-mill solo project. Mackenzie’s journey into music began as a drummer for various bands, but she felt the pull to carve her own path. And boy, are we glad she did!
After mastering singing, bass, guitar, and recording her own demos, Juno Is was born. The debut EP, “Creature of Habit,” catapulted her onto the gig scene, gaining recognition for her mesmerizing “psychedelic dream rock” sound.
Now, the anticipation for Juno Is’ debut album is mounting, and we can’t wait to get our hands (or rather, ears) on it!
With the help of local session musicians, producers, and friends, Mackenzie is crafting an album that delves even deeper into uncharted territory. Expect rich, funky, and psychedelic tones that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
From the irresistible sound to the whimsical music video, this is a joyride you won’t want to miss. Stay tuned for the album release at the end of 2023, because if “The Highway Song” is any indication, it’s going to be an otherworldly journey you’ll want to take again and again.
Mackenzie sat down with us to break down The Highway Song, and gave us some behind-the-scenes info on the New Zealand music scene
View this post on Instagram
Happy: What are you up to today?
Juno Is: Kia Ora!
Today has been a nice lull day. I woke up slowly in the loft of the cabin that I am staying in and decided to have a day that takes me wherever it wants to.
It was such a beautiful sunny day with great subtle winter warmth. The catalyst to productivity. I ended up at a wee cafe with my headphones on for an hour or so, trying to draft out a plan for the album release.
I ended up at the laundromat, went for a run and eventually here I am curled up by the fire with a homemade pizza.
Happy: Tell us about where you are from? What’s the music scene like in your neck of the woods?
Juno Is: I am currently residing in Nelson for winter, although soon heading back to Auckland which has been my hometown for the past year.
Before all of this moving around, I would say Dunedin is where I am from. Dunedin is a nostalgic yet stoic and cold coastal city. It is known for its dense student culture. Therefore, the scene somewhat revolves around that.
From my experience, I had a mixture of playing to a multitude of students but I attended a lot of smaller alternative shows at a venue called the crown.
My fondest memories are going to the crown on icy cold nights, usually catching the bus in from my flat at the beach and then immersing myself in the amazing, loud music that presented itself. There were always jugs of speights consumed at the Crown, it was a given.
Happy: Describe an average day?
Juno Is: An average day for me would be dependent on my mood upon waking. If I wake in a bad mood, I would usually be unmotivated and would sit around for the day procrastinating.
Happy: What about your ultimate day?
Juno Is: My ultimate day would be one where I wake early, go for a big walk, reflect on all the good stuff in my life and then top it off with a nice writing session at home with a beer.
Happy: Congratulations on your debut single! As a Kiwi singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, how does your New Zealand upbringing influence your music and songwriting?
Juno Is: Thank you! I guess when I started writing music in high school I was influenced by many bands in Dunedin.
I would go to gigs at a venue called The Attic (which is now shut down). Bands such as Kane Strang & Koizilla would be playing at these venues and I was always in awe of their capabilities.
I also went through a phase when I was about 16 where bands like Unknown Mortal Orchestra would come and play at a small 50 cap venue called Chicks Hotel and me and my friend would paint over our ID’s to get in to watch these bands that we adored.
Those live shows definitely influenced my tastes within my songwriting.
Happy: New Zealand has a vibrant music scene. How has being a part of this community impacted your journey as an artist, and how do you see yourself contributing to it?
Juno Is: That is so true! This community has been constantly supportive. As a musician there is always uncertainty when you are trying to develop your sound and push yourself to get out there.
I have found that having the opportunity to open for many NZ bands has helped me gain more confidence within myself. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without this community.
In terms of my contribution, I am not too sure at this point. Since covid I haven’t really been out in the scene as Juno Is.
But I hope that when I play shows again, my music can inspire people to take the solo route if they feel that way inclined. It is a crazy but rewarding experience.
Happy: Your debut single showcases indie-pop leanings. Can you share some of the musical influences that have shaped your sound and style?
Juno Is: This new single has been a development in my sound for sure! When I wrote the Highway Song I was listening to a lot of Cate Le Bon and MGMT.
Without thinking of it, these artists have somewhat seeped into my creativity. Though, working with 2 other producers has changed my overall sound too.
Happy: As a multi-instrumentalist, what instruments did you play on this single, and how do they contribute to the overall texture and atmosphere of the song?
Juno Is: Writing this song was a lengthy but fun process. I wrote and recorded the original demo parts, then my producer De came in and added parts and changed the structure.
In the studio sessions, I believe I only played some percussion and organ parts. I had my friends De, Hamish and Thomas session on all the other parts.
The more I write, the more I realise that I like to oversee the recording process and fine tune the performances as they happen. Or sometimes leave them be.
I found when I was playing all of the instruments in the studio sessions I got caught in the performances and lost sight of the overall sound of the song.
Happy: Can you share any insights into your creative process?
Juno Is: My creative process for most of the album began from me playing around on my Juno 106 synth. I plug it into my interface and open a session on Logic Pro and then build a song from the chords.
I then layer bass and midi drums and then vocals. I had to keep quiet as I was living at a flat so it was limiting
My creative process has recently changed. Because I have a house to myself in Nelson over winter, I have mic’d up some drums. I have access to a bunch of amps and guitars so I have been micing up amps and setting up room mics to try and get more whacky and precise demos recorded.
Happy: How about the recording process? The single’s production is praised for its precision and attention to every layer of sound. How did Juno Is strike the right balance between untamed and traceable, creating a track that feels both expansive and focused?
Juno Is: I take my hat off to Thomas Isbister and De Stevens for this one. The reason this sound came about was because me and De flew down to Christchurch for a week to do additional recordings on this track alongside other songs on the album.
We planned to record at Thomas Isbister’s home studio. I had never met Thomas prior so I was a little nervous to be creative with a stranger but it was completely worth it.
We went down with the demo track + drums that we had recorded at Roundhead studios with De and Hamish. At Thomas’s we had a minimal set up, it was made up of a MicroKorg, Little Korg Volca, Juno 106, Congas, Timbales, an old electric organ (which I completely adored and couldn’t stay away from), pots and pans, a piano, a barrel, drums etc.
Thomas was extremely experimental. He just kept throwing stuff at the track and then when it came to the mixing process me and De carefully selected what to keep and what to discard. I believe the way that De mixed this song made it come together perfectly.
Happy: The intro of “The Highway Song” carries a distinct Hawaiian vibe with bongo percussion and shimmery synths. What inspired that creative decision?
Juno Is: The congas were born from the song being ‘Thomasified’. I didn’t have much of a vision for percussion on this track but I am so glad that the congas are there.
The synths were a reference from the original demo that I wrote. Neither the synths or congas were inspired by anything, they just came about from being in the moment and feeling the music.
Happy: We love the music video, a classic kiwi rd trip, where was it filmed? Can you share any insights into the making?
Juno Is: Thank you! This video was filmed in the outskirts of Christchurch. There is something special about creativity and Christchurch as you can probably tell from this interview haha. I reached out to the lovely Robyn Jordaan when I got a round of Nz On Air funding.
Robyn was so on board with my bizarre concept and she helped me develop it into something quite special. She borrowed her friend’s car, organised the locations and when I flew down for the weekend I rounded up a bunch of friends, put them into suits and horse masks and hoped for the best.
It was an insanely fun video to shoot. Most of it was us driving around on the country roads outside of Christchurch. Robyn was in the boot of the car with an app on her phone so she could direct us, but we could barely hear her. It was hilarious. Caleb was shooting in the car with us. He had to manoeuvre himself around the car with the wide lens on.
Happy: Lastly, what makes you Happy?
Juno Is: My cat Spy makes me so happy. He is the goodest boy. But I think jamming with people and playing gigs makes me extremely happy. It gives me a huge sense of euphoria.
Check out The Highway Song and keep in touch with Juno Is!
