Juniper – Interview – Thanks for Asking! by Liam Sweeny
Written by Staff on October 10, 2024
Juniper – Interview – Thanks for Asking! by Liam Sweeny.
RRX: Stereotypes are a bitch. I mean, aside from the really bad ones, you have cultural stereotypes about everything, including music. Would do you think is the stereotype for the music you play, and how far are you away from it?
Juniper: I love the quote, “what other people think of me is none of my business.” The worst thing you can do as a musician is fall into the trap of caring what others think. It will affect how you play, what you play, the words you write, and how you present yourself. It’s a slippery slope that will make you overthink everything. As a result, you will not be your most authentic self. We all have done it and our output was worse for it. If someone wants to put my music and characteristics into a stereotype, that’s up to them. I don’t take myself that seriously.
RRX: What do you think is the most dangerous song to cover from the perspective of criticism? Who do you think is too hard to cover, and why?
Juniper: I’m very self-critical with most of the songs I cover because they mean so much to me. I do a cover of Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell. People who love that song are seeking an emotional connection and waiting for their heart strings to be pulled. I feel a responsibility to give it my all in order to provoke that level of feeling that transcends a typical cover. I don’t think any artist is too difficult to cover if you are making the song your own. You just have to accept that you aren’t Joni Mitchell and roll with it. I always ask myself, how can I make this my own? If I can successfully take a song and tell the story from my own perspective in a way that feels believable to the audience, then I’ll keep playing it.
RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow performers. Who do you admire in your community, and why?
Juniper: My partner inspires me everyday. Anyone who knows Chris Carey can attest that he is such a gifted musician. He can pick up any instrument and make it sound good with a versatility in genres that you don’t come across often. One day he will be teaching a kid how to hold their drumsticks and then zooming over to play the keys with Family Tree. The next day he will be playing traditional Irish music and then running home to produce an album for a client. Very few are lucky enough to find their true purpose in this lifetime. He has dedicated his life to the arts and the world is a better place for it.
RRX: Playing out is tricky because you never know what’s going to happen when you get there. Sometimes everything goes wrong. What was your worst show like?
Juniper: I haven’t had a “worst show” but I will say playing out is like a bag of trail mix. You have no idea what you’re going to get. Sometimes it’s the equipment that fails you. Sometimes it’s the patrons. Sometimes it’s the management at venues. One time a guy pulled an antique dagger out of his jacket after a gig just to “show me.” Not kidding. Another time a guy brought his guitar up in between songs and asked me where the sign up sheet was. He thought it was an open mic night. I witnessed a woman throw her drink in the bartender’s face and then yell at the top of her lungs to everyone in the restaurant while she was escorted out. That made it pretty awkward for me to land the Sheryl Crow plane. Another time a venue hired me to play and they didn’t actually have a place for me to play, so I turned around and went home. The most discouraging kind of night is when a piece of my equipment fails because that’s beyond my control. When I first started playing out, my PA system blew. I was inexperienced and mortified, but eager to finish my set. The restaurant let me finish the last 2 hours acoustic and luckily the venue was small enough to do so. When something unpredictable happens, it better prepares you for the next scenario. You gig, you learn!
RRX: Artists, musicians, we immortalize. We set it in stone. Is there anyone who has passed that you feel you have immortalized in your work? If so, can you tell us a little about them?”
Juniper: I adore Eva Cassidy’s work. She was known for her emotive voice and breathtaking covers. She was also a fantastic guitar player. She died way too young and never saw her music lift off or the lasting impact it had on future generations. In a short amount of time she recorded such quality material while staying true to herself. I resonate with Eva because it’s often only me and my guitar playing covers at local restaurants, just like she did. She is proof that a cover can have just as much meaning as the original if you put your heart into it. She made the most in such a brief amount of time doing what she loved. She inspires me to make the most of every day and every idea.
RRX: It’s a lot of fun living in the present, but we all collect memories and give birth to dreams. We’re talking dreams here. Where you see yourself next year? In the next five years?
Juniper: I want to keep finding myself and improving as a musician. Specifically, I want to become a better guitar player. I’m a fine rhythm player but I want to take things to the next level. I’ve never had a formal music lesson and I’m making it a goal to learn more about the theory behind what I’m doing. Currently I’m dreaming of new projects, original music, and an EP happening in the near future.