JUNNY, a Canadian-Korean artist, debuted 6 years ago with the EP Monochrome, and established himself as a note-worthy R&B singer-songwriter. Whenever he performs, JUNNY knows how to enchant his audience with atmospheric and engaging shows. 

Last year, JUNNY toured in North America, and also performed a sold-out show in London, UK, for the first time. But if this wasn’t enough, the artist is about to begin his second world tour, blanc TOUR 2023, in the US in February and Europe in March, including 13 European cities such as London, Manchester, Dublin, Milan, and Paris, just to name a few. With the first stop being in London, the singer will perform at the Lafayette on March 12th. 

There is no denying that JUNNY’s beautiful and unabashed songs demonstrate his second-to-none talent. The artist is not only a skilled vocalist, but also a fascinating lyricist who can effortlessly evoke various emotions through his music. 

Prior to his European tour, we sat down with JUNNY for a quick interview and chatted about his music, his songwriting process, and the upcoming London show. 

You have just announced the blanc Tour in Europe, with 13 cities on the menu. We are super excited that London is on your list again. Last year’s show at The Garage was incredible. I’m wondering, what are you going to bring to the London stage this time?

JUNNY: I’m bringing the same energy as last time along with some new songs on the list. I had such a great time last year, and I’m just so excited to go back and be able to perform in more cities in Europe! it’s going to be a life-changing experience yet again!

Out of curiosity, how do you generally pick cities for your tour?

JUNNY: It’s all about the timing and availability. A lot of people may think it’s all up to the artist, but as performers, there is a lot of planning and organising behind the scenes. Arranging dates and figuring everything out is a lot of work. Obviously, I would love to go anywhere, anytime I want, but it just doesn’t work that way. I’m just so thankful – I’ve got to give it my all for this tour.

You will start your 2023 tour in London, that said, how was London last year, and do you have any expectations for the upcoming London show? You will perform at Lafayette London, one of the most exciting venues in North London. 

JUNNY: London was crazy last year. I had so much fun being able to go around the city and really breathe in the atmosphere and culture. It was also my first time visiting, so everything just felt surreal, and coming back to London this year, I’m expecting the same energy, if not more.

Last August, you released your first studio album called blanc, a beautiful and personal release. Whenever I listen to it (and your entire repertoire, for that matter), your delivery comes straight from the soul. Your vocals add that warm, edgy, and sexy element to all of your songs. With that in mind, on which of your songs from the blanc album do you think you’ve delivered your personal best performance so far, from an emotional and technical point of view?

JUNNY: Boyhood is definitely a song that comes to mind – the topic of the song is so personal, and I wanted my words to sound genuine to the listener. I did my best to really pour my emotions into that song.

Looking at your current life, to what extent do you think your surroundings have shaped you, creatively speaking, and in what way?

JUNNY: I am surrounded by music and musicians all the time, and if it weren’t for these talented people, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m someone who is easily influenced, and I have a tendency to absorb characteristics from people I adore, so I’m basically a mixture of everyone that I love [laughs]. I learned so much through the years, so I’ve got to give a shoutout to all the lovely people that shaped me into who I am so far.

When I listen to music, I see shapes and colours. What happens in your mind when you’re listening to your favourite tune, and how does it influence your approach to creativity?

JUNNY: Since music is my profession, when I’m listening to music, I’m trying to study it more than actually feel the song. It’s something that we can’t help but do. I try my best to feel the vibe of the song and imagine the work environment too. I like to think about how the song was created and where the idea came from. I often do this with movies and other random things too. I guess I’m just weird.

How does it feel when you release music in general? Personally, I feel like when an artist exposes their work, it’s like revealing their soul to the public. I have major respect for that, and I’m curious, how do you feel when you put your music out there for people to judge? 

JUNNY: So good! Especially when I know I have fans that are waiting on new music. It’s like cooking up different styles of food for them to taste and hope they enjoy it. Even for new listeners, it’s an opportunity for me to catch their ear, leading them to becoming a fan. I think there’s beauty in that, and I enjoy every part of it.

Would you say the music that inspires your work matches what you listen to when you are a part of an audience? Or are you a fan of genres other than your own?

JUNNY: Yes, for sure. I don’t listen to only one specific genre, I’m just a fan of music. If I enjoy the song regardless of when or where it came from, that’s my jam. Do these songs influence my work? Yes, but not to a point where it takes over my creative freedom, although knowing that these genres exist in my mind definitely helps me think outside the box and go past my comfort zone.

I am really curious about the creative process behind your songwriting. When you write a song, how do you get into a creative mindset? What kind of approach do you use to write your lyrics?

JUNNY: Most of the time, the lyrics are actually personal thoughts and stories of mine. Sound-wise, in terms of the melody or the track, I try to set a vibe in the workspace itself, depending on the style I want to write that day. There needs to be something visual constantly present to remind me of the mood, and songs playing in the background that can get me into that certain mode to create. When it all feels right, we get to work and just try to stay as open-minded and creative as possible. It doesn’t have to be exactly what we wanted from the beginning. As long as the song turns out fire, we’re happy.

You are now preparing for your European tour, having said that, do you have any new music coming this year? 

JUNNY: A bunch. These songs are so special to me, and I’m so excited for you to hear them. It’s definitely a new step in the right direction, and 2023 is looking really nice so far. STAY TUNED!

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

JUNNY’s European Tour Dates:

_{View of the Arts is a British online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, and art, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop / K-music, and Asian music in general, and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}