8/10

Junipo’s debut EP 'Soundspeed' is a striking introduction to a project that balances personal storytelling with bold sonic ambition. Across six tracks, Oliver Kirby navigates the tension between youthful recklessness and the challenges of adulthood, crafting songs that feel both immediate and reflective. The project’s DIY roots are evident in its loose, spirited energy, where guitars roar with unapologetic intensity while Kirby’s vocals carry a blend of vulnerability and determination that grounds the sound in raw honesty.

The arrangements effortlessly shift between alt-rock grit and pop sensibilities, creating a sense of momentum that keeps each track compelling. Moments of melodic clarity are threaded with punchy guitar lines, atmospheric textures, and hooks that linger long after the song ends. Collaborators Fabian Odame and Campbell Burns contribute to the songwriting, adding subtle layers to the project without diluting its central voice, while Nick Ward’s production brings cohesion to a sound that could easily have become chaotic.

Recorded across a bedroom in Parramatta and a cottage in Southern NSW, 'Soundspeed' wears its intimacy proudly. The lo-fi charm of its origins imbues the collection with a sense of authenticity, where every note and lyric feels deliberate yet unpolished in the most appealing way. Junipo captures the exhilaration and anxiety of forging one’s path; an exploration of self, collaboration, and creative freedom that resonates beyond its immediate alt-rock framework.

'Soundspeed' is an impressive first statement from Junipo: brimming with energy, emotionally honest, and unafraid to push the edges of its genre. It’s an EP that signals the arrival of a voice to watch, one that could redefine how indie-rock approaches storytelling and personal expression.