Photo provided by Saff Juno
Saff Juno is a true reflection of her music. She is vibrant, passionate and 110% authentic. From her roots in the small town of Bovey Tracey, Devon has gone on to play at Boardmasters and featured on the prestigious BBC introducing.
Saff’s journey as a musician has been one of both personal and creative growth. Her influences include AURORA and Wolf Alice, and this resonates through sound weaved together through raw emotion, empowering messages and musical experimentation.
We caught up with Saff to learn more about her inspirations, her latest release, and what it’s like to bring her dynamic and catchy music to life. It made sense for us to interview Saff in the colourful alleyway of Sidwell Street, where the bold and colourful backdrop mimicked Saff’s style of music, fashion, and personality.
In the Spotlight with Saff Juno
Where are you from, and where are you currently based?
I’m from Devon, in a small town called Bovey Tracey. I’ve always been living here and love the scenery.
What inspired you to become a musician?
My parents are both musicians and I was raised listening to lots of different kinds of music. I loved being in music clubs through primary school to sixth form, so it’s always been a passion for me.
Who are your biggest musical influences, and why?
AURORA is my biggest inspiration, despite her genre being more electronica. Her lyrics and vulnerability really captured me in lockdown, and I wanted to create music authentically in that way too. I also love Wolf Alice’s sound and we have incorporated a lot of guitars into the music to reflect this too!
How would you describe your music in your own words?
I would say that it’s honest, empowering, and maybe even comforting to some people!
Can you tell us about your latest release, "Escaped the Box"?
Escaped the Box is a track about breaking free from society’s expectations and truly living for yourself. It’s for celebrating how beautifully individual we all are and taking control of your own life.
What inspired you to write and produce this track?
I wanted to highlight the feeling of freedom, as sometimes I personally struggle to remember we often have a choice in how we live. I knew people would relate and I’m happy to say a lot of my audience have already resonated with the track, as well as the BBC Introducing team!
How do you typically approach the songwriting and recording process?
Inspiration comes in bursts for me, so there’s not a strict routine, but on the whole I put chords together that I like on my acoustic guitar, and usually the lyrics and melody fall naturally on top of that. I mostly like the leave the lyrics in as raw as form as possible, so that my original thoughts and feelings don’t become diluted.
What’s been the biggest highlight of your music career so far?
It’s so hard to choose, but playing Boardmasters festival this summer was truly special, as it was my first time at the festival – let alone playing it! Dan Pascoe from BBC Introducing choose me as an artist to come and perform – I remember screaming when I got that email haha.
What do you enjoy most about performing live?
I really love connecting with the audience at live shows. It’s something that’s totally unique each time, and there’s something so magical about that. I make a point to chat with people after we’ve played – it’s always amazing to hear everyone’s stories!
What’s the most challenging aspect of being a musician for you?
I have experienced a lot of mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, and staying on top of every aspect of being an independent musician can be really overwhelming sometimes. I need to remind myself to reach out for help, as I can get a bit too perfectionist about things and forget to lean on others.
Photo Credit: CHELSEA BRANCH
Quickfire – Just for Fun
The absolute essential item for you on tour?
Bit of a boring answer, but a phone charger! I love filming behind the scenes and outfit reels, so a dead phone wouldn’t be much use for that!
What’s your favourite place to perform in Exeter?
We’ve played multiple venues, but I’d say my favourite at the moment is the Exeter Phoenix.
Do you have any pre-show rituals or ways to get ready?
Weirdly I don’t! Having a bit of nerves is usually part of my pre-performance routine, but that adrenaline fuels me to have fun on stage!
What’s the weirdest or funniest thing that’s happened onstage?
When I was performing solo acoustic once, someone misheard an unreleased track title, ‘Glass House’, as “assholes” and exclaimed loudly in the crowd. It was hilarious and I managed to laugh it off before playing!
What’s one Exeter-based business you’d like to shout out?
A1 Print & Stitch are my go to for all my merch needs! They are super helpful with my questions and very quick at executing and delivering the product. I would really recommend them for anyone looking to produce some great apparel.
Describe your music style in three words.
Dynamic – my songs are all quite different in terms of pace and sound, something I want to keep in my discography. Provoking – I hope that my music does inspire people and evoke strong emotions, as the topics I write about are generally quite deep. Catchy – feedback I’ve received often is that the music is very danceable and song hooks get stuck in people’s heads, which is wonderful (and hopefully not annoying haha)!
Finally, what's the best piece of advice you've received as an artist?
Honestly, it’s very simple, and I couldn’t pinpoint exactly who or how many people have said it: “keep going”. Just that reminds me that the journey will be a continual path that could take me anywhere if I work hard enough, and I find that encouragement very inspiring.
Saff Juno’s personality and passion shine through her music and stage presence. Saff’s music celebrates individuality and breaks free from societal expectations, and her authenticity is what makes her such a unique and inspiring artist.
Saff is carving out her space in the music world, and we can’t wait to see where her journey takes her next.
