A tender and ethereal surrender, Junaco’s dreamy song “In Between (Reprise)” is an intimate escape and an ambient indulgence.
Stream: “In Between (Reprise)” – Junaco
There’s something about accepting the unknown that’s very comforting, almost feeling like a surrender.
We are living through an unprecedented time of universal uncertainty and heightened insecurity. 2020 has been the most destabilizing and fractured year in living memory, and it’s all too easy to forget that it’s not just happening to you; it’s happening all around you, to everyone you know and everyone you don’t know. There’s comfort to be found in this shared state of being, and Junaco’s latest single effortlessly captures this simple truth. A tender and ethereal surrender, “In Between (Reprise)” is an intimate escape and an ambient indulgence: A dreamy, soft release of tension, anxiety, and stress that invites us to float, if only for a little second, with our feet above the ground.
in between where it starts and ends
i’ve been here before
though the line is thin
oh, I could tell a lie
i don’t know if you know
but i’d rather not
i know this is the way I have to go
but i don’t know
i’ll be back and I will be what I show
Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering the soothing “In Between (Reprise),” Junaco’s second single of 2020 (out now via Side Hustle Records) and a special collaboration with James McAlister (known for his work with Sufjan Stevens). The Los Angeles based duo of Joey LaRosa and Shahana Jaffer, Junaco introduced themselves in early 2019 with their first singles “Willow” and “In Between,” delivering a five-track debut EP Awry later that summer. A mix of ambient folk and indie rock gives Junaco’s music its own signature flavor. Their songs are a balance of two force that work in tandem to mesmerize and enthrall listeners.
Although its original grittier recording may have been released long before our present global pandemic, “In Between (Reprise)” feels tailor-made for the bizarro world that is 2020. The fresh take is more atmospheric and ethereal than its guitar-driven predecessor, with lilting keys and effected guitars breaking a tranquil, stirring silence.
Shahana Jaffer’s sweetly seductive voice melts over the immersive soundscape, daring listeners to close our eyes and just be:
a busy life don’t mean a thing
no matter where I go
or where i will be
take the time to let it breathe
let it go
let it find me in a breeze
i know this is the way I have to go
but i don’t know
i’ll be back and I will be what I show
when i go home
soon is never now
soon is never now
“‘In Between’ was one of the first songs we ever wrote, at a time when we both felt a lack of control in our own lives – unsure of how to get to where we wanted to be,” Junaco tell Atwood Magazine. “Leaving town and writing felt like a step towards something – even though we didn’t know what that was. We didn’t intend to write stories, we just wanted to describe a feeling.”
“There’s something about accepting the unknown that’s very comforting, almost feeling like a surrender. Each time we’ve played the song live, I’ve always felt a relief from just saying ‘i don’t know.’ Now, we’re experiencing a collective feeling of uncertainty – no matter who you are and what you believe. The reprise is a reminder. Working with James McAlister in revisiting the song has given it a new color; he solidified our intention of creating a mood with our music.”
Now, we’re experiencing a collective feeling of uncertainty – no matter who you are and what you believe. The reprise is a reminder.
According to the band, the term “Junaco” means “rolling with the pace of life and enjoying the present; living and working with intention, not just running.” In keeping with this mentality, their song “In Between” might as well be their mission statement, mantra, and motto all at once: It captures this mentality of continuity, perseverance, acceptance, and serenity – of finding and embracing balance in an otherwise unbalanced, turbulent world.
i know this is the way I have to go
but i don’t know
i’ll be back and I will be what I show
when i go home
Junaco’s career has only just begun, but we’ll be paying close attention to them in the months and years ahead. With a beautiful sound, poetic lyrics, and Jaffer’s stunning vocals adding magic wherever they go, Junaco are bound for great things – not to mention the perfect addition to you Autumn playlist!
Stream “In Between (Reprise)” exclusively on Atwood Magazine.
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Stream: “In Between (Reprise)” – Junaco
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