Meanjin/Brisbane-based alt-pop group JUNO have returned with their radiant new single i’m the man – produced, mixed and mastered by band member Sam Woods and co-produced by longtime collaborator Taka Perry (RUEL, Sycco, Thomas Headon, BOY SODA).
i’m the man dazzles with a vivacious retro charm, where a spirited horn section pirouettes gracefully through Kahlia Ferguson‘s velvety melody, casting a shimmering spell amidst a vibrant kaleidoscope of rich hues. The arrangement glistens, letting animated echoes of soulful melodies linger, creating a symphony of R&B swagger that glows with an effervescent allure.
Kahlia talks about the inspirations behind i’m the man: “During my high school years, I remember boys who displayed unwavering confidence on the sports field were admired, yet it was almost taboo for a girl to acknowledge her own intelligence, beauty, talent or lovability. I grew up watching female stars get tossed aside once they hit 30 after reinventing themselves a thousand time over, while ‘silver foxes’ were revered. I wrote ‘i’m the man’ for my younger self, who would never have imagined being capable of standing on a stage and exuding the sort of confidence required to sing a song like it. The song tackles themes of self-doubt stemming from societal expectations, particularly those I’ve noticed are imposed on women. Our song seeks to challenge traditional gender roles by asserting that even as a woman, one can exude the confidence and swagger typically attributed to being ‘the man’.”
In the live scene, JUNO will be joining English pop star girli alongside her Australian East Coast tour in April and will also be supporting Drax Project at The Zoo. This continues on from a run of shows supporting the likes of Peking Duk, Pacific Avenue, Selfish Sons, CODY JON, Adraian Dzvuke, Safety Club and Greatest Hits. They have also played Spaced Out Festival, sharing the stage with Royel Otis, Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers, DICE and Super Fun Day, alongside FIDLAR (USA), Pale Waves (UK) and Ruby Fields.
Previous singles have seen support from Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, triple j, triple j Unearthed, iHeart Australia, FBi Radio, 4ZZZ, 2SER, RTR FM and JOY Media. In the blogosphere, they’ve also seen love from The Music, Pilerats, Purple Sneakers, The AU Review, Music Feeds, Livewire AU, MILKY and Breaking Through Podcast. Their music videos have also been added to MTV Upload and ABC‘s rage.
With thanks to Good Intent
