Interview: Hamilton, ON’s Junestone Fuses Funk, Fusion, and Self-Discovery on High-Energy Single “BRIDGE!” from New ‘FIRST TRY’ LP

Hamilton, ON-based band Junestone have dropped their highly anticipated new full-length album, FIRST TRY, featuring the lead single “BRIDGE!” The song and album showcase a fearless leap into a world of genre-defying sounds, blending elements of funk, fusion, and rock with themes of self-discovery, empowerment, and embracing life’s transitions.

“BRIDGE!” serves as an energetic anthem for overcoming self-doubt, while the album delivers a dynamic exploration of personal growth and transformation, capturing the essence of moving forward in a turbulent world. Musically, the track embraces elements of jazz fusion, funk rock, and psychedelia, blending improvisation with meticulously crafted moments. “BRIDGE!,” filled with a punchy bassline and dramatic spoken word over a complex musical backdrop, is one of the standout moments on FIRST TRY, a record that captures evolution and Junestone‘s deep connection to one another.

What did you enjoy most about the recording process of this new release?
I enjoyed the process of learning to record vocals the most! At first, it was daunting because when it’s you there alone, you become more than the singer. You also become the producer, the audio engineer, and the editor. Learning how to switch between these different roles while recording is a skill in itself.

I tracked vocals for 5 of the FIRST TRY album songs at Fort Rose studio, here in Hamilton. The other 5 songs were tracked more casually, just wherever I was. I have a pet budgie and she loves our songs. When I would record at home, sometimes she would sing for an entire take and I’d have to start over. It was a longer process recording at home, but ultimately it was really fun because my bird was there too. I am grateful to live in an era of music where home recording equipment is more accessible than ever before.

Share a nugget of advice that has resonated with you most over the years.
I like the phrase “change or be changed”. It’s something I have heard in passing many times. I am not sure who originally said this or if it’s from a longer, more famous quote, but I find it inspiring to say. Especially when things don’t seem to be working out or making sense for me, “change or be changed” reminds me to focus on what is going well and to not let my vision sway. These words give me back a sense of power when I feel overwhelmed with emotion.

Who would be your dream artist/band to co-headline a tour with?
We would want to go on a world tour with… The Beach Bats!!! They are an amazing fusion band from Hamilton. If you have not heard them before YOU SHOULD. We have played a few bills with them before and the hang is amazing. Plus we just want to listen to them play every day. We are huge fans of their music. They put out an album called Limbo in 2023 which we highly recommend. Right now they are working on a Wild West adventure-themed album which we are looking forward to very much.

We would also love to go on tour with Caribou or Hiatus Kaiyote! I believe that people who love these artists would love seeing a Junestone show too.

What sets your music apart from others in your genre?
Well, I’m still not sure what our genre actually is. So there’s that. It’s funky, psychedelic, and like some kind of alternative, soul music that we are making? I do imagine that many artists are writing music like ours! It might not sound quite like ours, but many musicians in 2025 are certainly between genres. Because of internet access, the upcoming generations of musicians are a truly unique combination of many musical eras they have not necessarily lived through.

What sets Junestone’s music apart from other singer-songwriter projects is that there is an underlying improvisational quality to it. When we do write our songs down, we write them as lead sheets – so as chord structures with 80-98% consistent melodies and lyrics. We write songs that are made to be stretched out and changed over time. This goal of flexibility lets us include any configuration of instruments or band members we’d like to as we go. This also means that if you come to a live show, the solos and breaks you will hear in our songs will be unique to that show.

Tell us what your favourite song is at the moment and why.
My favourite song right now is an Irving Berlin song called “Reaching for the Moon”. It is from a musical with the same name. I don’t know what the musical is about, I just really enjoy the song. I heard it on Ella Fitzgerald’s Irving Berlin Songbook records. It’s exceptionally beautiful. I’ve played it live with Borys a few times now, and “Reaching for the Moon” seems to be a song that makes people stop what they are doing and connect to something very peaceful. Not all audiences want you to calm them down, but this is a highly effective song for bringing mystery and dreaminess to a set. It feels special to perform something that is almost 100 years old and see people relate to it.

“BRIDGE!” invites you to leave behind your old self and step into something new. It’s about trusting your instincts and pushing past the doubts that hold you back; saying yes to your own potential. It’s a song for anyone who’s ready to cross that bridge to something better. – bandleader Olivia Brown

Recorded over several years, FIRST TRY blends elements of alternative, jazz-pop, funk, and fusion into a collection of deeply personal tracks. It is an album that balances introspective lyrics with explosive rhythms, aiming to capture the moments of self-realization and bold decisions we all face. Each song on FIRST TRY speaks to the universal struggle of overcoming personal obstacles, while Junestone pushes musical boundaries, layering intricate melodies, tight rhythms, and unexpected shifts in style. With tracks that seamlessly move between genres, FIRST TRY demonstrates the band’s unique ability to create music that is both experimental and deeply connected to their roots.