Interview: Junior

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

I think music has always been a part of my life; my dad was a professional musician and played a variety of instruments. I got into music kind of by accident, making funny songs with my friends until we realized they were quite good. If I wasn’t making music, I would have tried to make it as a footballer.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I’m sport mad, whether it’s going to the gym every day or playing football. I actually end up writing a lot of lyrics in the gym, its surprisingly a very creative space.

How long have you been active as an artist?

Just under 7 years.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

I’m based in Bedford. Coming from a small town motivates me to make my music as big as possible. Coming from somewhere where there aren’t many successful artists, made my music very original and unique.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

My first show ever was my most memorable. I wasn’t expecting a lot of people to come, but we sold over 100 tickets, I was buzzing.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

My favorite is my local music venue, Bedford Esquires. My dream is to play Brixton 02 Academy.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

I think to be on the same lineup as Kanye would be a trip.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

My advice would be to make as much music as possible and if you’re serious about making it, 6 months of hard work can put you years ahead of people.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would it be?

I would say don’t let your pride stop you from reaching out to people and networking.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

I think my song ‘The Cards I Was Dealt’, was made in such a cool way and holds so much depth. I set up a make-shift studio in my room during the pandemic and that was the first song I made.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

Again, ‘The Cards I Was Dealt’ is a personal favorite, purely because it gets the crowd going. Also, ‘Baby Blue’ is a great summer song and I love playing it.

What is your creative process, and what inspires you to write your music?

I try to mirror my personal life into my music, so my songs serve as real-time chapters.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

I don’t think I’m consciously attempting to get anything across. I speak my truth and people more often than not can relate to it.

Do you ever have a creative block, and if so how do you get past it?

All the time, as a perfectionist who strives to get better every time, I find myself sitting with not finished songs for months. I try not to force myself when writing, the best songs write themselves. I always try to remember to keep digging.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

I have my first BBC Introducing + Festival performance on the 23rd of July, at The Bedford River Festival, which is going to be a moment for me.

Social Media Links:

IG - https://www.instagram.com/juniorthe40/

TW - https://twitter.com/juniorthe40

Song links:

Spotify -

Youtube -