Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I’m a Londoner born and raised, between my Mum’s in Harlesden and my Dad’s in Camden. I’ve been making music for as long as I can remember, but really began to commit to it around age 14 when I started attending The BRIT School. I grew up in a very musical household, which massively impacted my musical direction but also filled me with a strong need to find my own musical identity outside of my family life. I think it’s one of the reasons I really leaned into electronic music when I found it – it was a genre that really felt like ‘mine’ and was something I could discover and explore on my own.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Lily Juniper”?
A: My main focus at the moment is to create music that speaks to people’s emotions and sensitivities – so if you’re looking for a home for all of the uncomfortable feelings I hope that my songs can provide that. In the future, I’d also love to play some live shows and connect with people more directly, even though the idea of gigging currently fills me with nerves. I promise to feel the fear and do it anyway… one day…
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: I’ve had JFDR’s most recent album ‘Museum’ on repeat recently – I love the understated, cool, unique sound and her ethereal vibe. Her writing and vocal performances are so emotive – ‘Spectator’ pulls my heart every time I hear it. Most of my inspiration comes from day to day life and the emotions that they bring, whether they’re mine or observed. I love that we all have inner worlds and exploring them is a big source of inspiration for me.
Q: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your new single, “Heaven”?
A: It’s a song about limiting beliefs, the voices in your head that hold power over you and the thought that our personal idea of heaven is within reach if we could step out of our own way. I wanted to explore self love as if it was another person or character in your life, who lives outside of your body, that you could channel painful questions towards, like ‘Why don’t you love me more?’ – using it as a chance to explore suppressed thoughts without any consequences.
Q: What was the creative process like?
A: As it was written at home with my producer, who is also my partner, it was a very relaxed and natural process. The track initially started with yours.truly (producer) warping my voice into a sample that sounded like I was saying the word ‘heaven’. From there, the song really came together using that word as the main theme. We sat with the song in demo form for quite a long time, but it gave us space to really envision what we wanted it to sound like.
Q: How does “Heaven” differ from your previous music in terms of style and sound?
A: I think ‘Heaven’ feels the most vulnerable out of all the music I have released so far. Lyrically, it explores themes that can be quite uncomfortable, so it’s definitely allowed for a darker quality of my music to come through.
Q: Were there any specific musical influences that played a role in shaping the sound?
A: I’m constantly inspired by Sylvan Esso and their ability to create pop songs that are so cool, unique and interesting to listen to. I recently saw them live at Electric Brixton and watching Amelia Meath lead a crowd of people singing ‘my baby does the hanky panky’ is an image that will guide me forever!
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: There are so many but I always come back to Justin Vernon – mainly because he seems otherworldly to me in his talent and general vibe. I’ve loved Bon Iver for such a long time and his music has been the soundtrack to a lot of the most formative moments of my life so far.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Just make whatever you like! I think what really stands out to me as a listener is when artists really have something genuine and authentic to say. And be born before social media if poss.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Don’t take life so seriously – although this is something I’m still working on!
