After cementing himself with a wealth of rich and dynamic efforts throughout last year, emerging artist jnr. returns for 2023 to deliver his dreamy new single 'i didn't know myself (before i met you)'.
Channelling the same woozy aesthetic as acts like The 1975 and LANY, 'i didn't know myself (before i met you)' makes for a wonderfully intoxicating listen. With his sweet and calming voice layered across a shimmering production throughout, he is definitely one to keep a firm eye on for the year ahead.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I started playing piano when I was about 7 or 8. I remember seeing my grandma play it and wanted to learn the old classical pieces that she was playing. I started learning and would practice every single day.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I was into a lot of Top 40 music in primary school but slowly fell in love with rock music through the 60’s-90’s. It was strange, one day my favourite artist was Justin Bieber, and the next it was Guns N’ Roses.
What was the first album you remember owning?
My dad got my Raymond v Raymond by Usher on CD when I was in primary school - I would absolutely rinse that album, I was so obsessed.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
This changes a lot, but ‘Love It If We Made It’ by The 1975 is such a great moment in time and I really wish I could write a song that captures an era in such a succinct way.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I’m always walking around the room, sitting in different places, trying to imagine myself in different scenarios and seeing how whatever song I’m making connects with me at that point in time. It’s weird but if I can picture the song attributing to a moment, I know there’s something to that song. A lot of my favourite memories have a song or an album attached to it.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to a lot of BROCKHAMPTON since their breakup. Little Simz and The 1975’s new albums have also been on repeat. I’m also really enjoying Skrillex’s new singles.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I saw LANY for their recent tour and thought they had such a live presence. It’d be amazing opening for them - I think we have a lot in common musically as well.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Seeing the response from a new song that I’ve been living with for the longest time. Hearing that people I don’t know connect with music I’ve been mulling over forever is an incredible feeling.
And what is the most frustrating part?
For me, it’s probably technology. Most of what I do, both on the production and promotion side is done on my laptop. So if something goes wrong there’s not much I can do. It doesn’t sound like the biggest issue, but I’ve just had my laptop fixed after a few months of ongoing issues - which means it’s been a few months of intermittent creativity which can be frustrating when I want to get an idea out.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Nobody cares as much as you do! At this early stage of my career, I have the freedom to take as many risks and try as many weird things creatively because I don’t have a team of people telling me not to, nor millions of fans expecting a certain thing out of me. It’s just me doing what I love, and if I want to do something, I’ll do it. And the best thing about that is there is definitely other people out there in the world who are going to love that too. I used to get so held up on how I was perceived, but figured out that if I stopped worrying too much about that, and focussed instead on making and doing what makes me happy, I cared more about making great art instead of pleasing people I didn’t even know.
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jnr.'s new single 'i didn't know myself (before i met you)' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.