Juniore: When Art & Music Coalesce

Kendal Calling drew to a close yesterday, meaning we all look forward to a near 12-month wait before we're back in the fields, sat on a cheap camping chair, drinking warm cider in British countryside.  

We've got some treats in-store for those who are still pining over festival season, so strap in and enjoy three new interviews with some of the best new bands, from the U.K. and beyond.

In the second of three features, we chat to French psych outfit, Juniore. We spoke to Anna Jean, Swanny and Sammy at this year's festival…

Can you tell us a bit about your festival experience so far? 

AJ: We haven’t really experienced much so far – because it’s a massive, massive place. I don’t think we really have the equivalent in France, in terms of having so many tents and stages everywhere. It seems like a really full experience.

So you’ve just had your first UK debut release, ‘Magnafique’. What does it mean to you to break through to an English audience? 

AJ: It means very much. There’s something incredibly gratifying knowing that we could potentially have a British crowd. Especially because we sing in French, and all three of us are very big fans of English music, and have always been. I think it’s very rare for French bands to have a following here in England, so it’s obviously really nice! 

Could you tell us a bit about your writing process? Are you the ‘lock ourselves in a room for 6 months’ type, or do you go out and observe? Where do your influences and inspirations come from? 

AJ: I think it’s maybe a bit of both. There’s a phase when you sort of take in a lot of stuff from the outside, and conversations that we have about the music that we’d like to play together, and the music and films that we like too. But then there’s another phase when I started writing by myself on my own in my room; then we’d work together to make it whole. Sammy records our music, he takes my demos and turns them in to something real, basically. 

So, could you tell us a little bit more about those influences you mentioned? What music and films are you guys in to for example? 

AJ: I mean there’s a lot of things. It started with the 60s, and then it became the 70s, 80s, 90s and, you know, it started with bands like The Beatles and The Kinks, as well as Serge Gainsbourg; who is a very famous songwriter in France. He wrote for a lot of female singers who became sort of iconic France; like Francois Hardy. Then it became the 60s viewed by people from the 80s; like The B-52’s and bands like that. Then even further down the line, like The Last Shadow Puppets. 

Could you tell us a bit more about any female bands, or female fronted bands? Specifically, in France, or any others you’d care to mention. 

AJ: Well, in the U.K. we’ve played with a few female bands. I can’t quite remember their names right now, but yeah we’ve played with at least two bands over here. One was from Bristol; they were really great! Also, we recently played in Southampton with a few female artists and bands too. 

Anna you create both the visuals and the Art for Juniore. How important to you guys is the combination of Art and Music in terms of your image as a band? 

AJ: I think it’s vey important. When you listen to someone, you kind of step in to the artist’s mind in a way. So having the ability to add photos, videos, drawings, or whatever it is, sort of makes you build an entire 3D universe that people can step in to. So yeah, I think its really important. 

So do you have a background in Art?

AJ: I do actually, yeah! I went to art school in Paris. 

Swanny: I studied Art History too, in Paris but not the same place. 

Sammy: Music in my life started when I was about 13 or 14. I studied physics but music was always the main thing every day. Physics was mainly for my parents!  

Have you got any tales or funny stories from the road you want to share? 

AJ: There’s always a bunch of funny stories, I can’t think from the top of my head though! Although when we were trying to get here today, we realised that we were so late and only had 20 minutes to get here, eat, go to the loo, and get on stage! We tried to get to a service station but ended up going the complete wrong way! We got there in the end though. Sorry guys!

Finally, are there any up- and-coming French bands or artists you guys want to share to our readers? 

AJ: Come on Sammy, you know way more bands than we do.

Sammy: Do I?

AJ: Well we have some friends that we really like and appreciate, I think they might be coming over at some point too. Their name is Film Noir; I’d describe them as sort of garage, dark and crazy!