“Like these dreams, the whole process of revisiting experiences as a kid growing up in Ballarat heightened that feeling of wanting to go back and experience those memories again.” In our interview, we delve into the creative mind behind Juno Mamba, the Filipino-Australian electronic music producer whose upcoming EP, Cold Rush, is a heartfelt homage to his hometown of Ballarat. Known for his emotive soundscapes and captivating melodies, Juno Mamba has blended his personal experiences and memories into a collection that is both emotional and danceable.
His latest single, “Slow Dreams,” is an incredibly atmospheric and peaceful track that captures “the feeling you get when experiencing a vivid dream that you don’t want to end.” Released ahead of the EP, the track invites listeners to immerse themselves in a golden dream from which they don’t want to awaken. Enjoy our chat, where Juno Mamba discusses the inspirations behind Cold Rush, the challenges of balancing club-ready beats with deeply personal themes, and how his experiences as a Filipino immigrant in rural Australia have shaped his unique sound.
photography by Max Ianna
Juno, can you share more about the creative process and ideas behind your upcoming EP “Cold Rush”?
The idea of writing a body of work dedicated to my hometown of Ballarat came to me sometime in 2019, and not long after that, I came up with the title Cold Rush. I knew I wanted to explore more of a club sound and the words “cold” and “rush” stood out to me, as a way to explain the moment of euphoria listening to dance music. The actual writing process started about a year after, during COVID lockdowns.
How does “Cold Rush” differ from your previous works in terms of theme and sound?
My previous releases up until this point have always been electronic soundscapes, as opposed to dance music with more conventional, song-like structures. Working a lot with vocals on this EP allowed me to explore shorter, more recognisable song structures. Thematically it’s still very much emotive (like previous releases), but I did focus a lot more on positive memories. I finished most of the early demos by 2021 but I knew that the production/sound design wasn’t quite where it needed to be. There was over a year’s worth of experimenting and learning before I revisited the demos again, to apply these new sounds and techniques I’d acquired to finish the EP.
I am in love with the track “Slow Dreams.” Its depth and emotional resonance are truly captivating. Can you share more about the story behind this track?
‘Slow Dreams’ was inspired by dreams that you never want to end. It’s that moment when you feel yourself beginning to wake but you try everything you can to slow things down to stay in that moment, and prolong it as much as possible. Like these dreams, the whole process of revisiting experiences as a kid growing up in Ballarat (during the writing process), heightened that feeling of wanting to go back and experience those memories again.
“‘Slow Dreams’ was inspired by dreams that you never want to end.”
“Slow Dreams” beautifully captures the feeling of a vivid dream you don’t want to end. However, the track ends at 2:28, almost like an abrupt wake-up from that dream. (smiles) What led to this decision? Also, can you remember a moment in your life that you wish you could hold onto forever?
It just felt right to end it in that way, and is very much like an abrupt wake-up from a beautiful dream. I love really short, one to two minute songs, that you just want to have on repeat forever. That’s something I was striving for with Slow Dreams. I always wish I could hold on to my last conversations and moments with people I’ve unfortunately lost.
How do you hope listeners will feel when they listen to “Slow Dreams”?
Hopeful, peaceful, content and nostalgic.
Your music has been described as emotive, nostalgic, and reflective. Would you say these qualities also describe your character? (smiles)
Very much so. (laughs)
How do you balance creating music that is both club-ready and deeply personal?
Both come hand in hand for me. I find it challenging to write any type of music that isn’t personal, as my writing process often starts with a personal experience – so it’s a very natural process.
“I always wish I could hold on to my last conversations and moments with people I’ve unfortunately lost.”
Can you explain the ways you incorporate elements from your past releases into your new work, and why this is important to you?
This is something I’ve always loved about albums I listened to as a teenager. Some of my most treasured records often reused and recycled melodies and lyrics throughout the album, and it’s something that I always gravitated towards. When I started writing ideas as Juno Mamba, I knew I wanted to incorporate this with all my releases. In the beginning it was a lot more subtle but now it’s quite obvious, especially with Cold Rush. Having sounds, melodies and vocals that reoccur and weave throughout all my music, makes it feel like the songs all exist in its own little universe.
After considering quitting music during a period of artistic stagnation, what motivated you to keep going?
I wrote my first track “Flicker”. This is exactly what I needed. It motivated me to continue exploring music and sparked my curiosity for music production all over again.
How did your experiences growing up as a Filipino immigrant in rural Australia influence your music?
Music made me feel safe during this time. I always felt like an outsider and music protected me from that. It was my way of escaping the “real” world. I would often daydream and reflect while listening to music, which is why I’ve naturally produced songs with these types of qualities.
Where do you see yourself in around 10 years?
Having a small, purpose built studio that overlooks nature, still making music.
The most important thing in life is?
My family
Follow Juno Mamba for more:
www.instagram.com/junomamba
x.com/junomamba
Check out “Slow Dreams” here: junomamba.lnk.to/ColdRush
