Junny is the musical project of Jenn Tamati (she/they, Te Arawa, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāpuhi), a vocalist and songwriter based in Whangārei.

Since 2020 Junny has established herself through frequent collaborations with award winning electronic producer Amamelia, providing aching toplines for her tracks Sad & Lonely, Give Me Space and Love Is Useless. “I like condensing big thoughts and feelings down into simple phrases with lots of layered meanings,” notes Junny. “It helps me make sense of things.” Having recently joined the Sunreturn roster, Junny’s debut single Kumara Suite found favour in Sunday Magazine, Undertheradar.co.nz, 13th Floor and the charts (Aotearoa Hot Singles Chart, 95bFM Top 10 & SRN Top 10).

Only days after following her first live performance alongside Noa Record’s LEAO & Hun Lynch today Junny releases ‘OOTD’, the second single from her debut EP Kumara Suite on May 21.

Reminiscent of the 90’s & 00’s R&B that Junny would hear on the car radio or watch after school on C4, OOTD gallops with too-forward drum machine beats, pitched 808s, computerised spanish guitar and harpsichord. OOTD was produced by Amelia Berry (Amamelia) as a part of the NZoA New Music Development Fund.

“OOTD is a nostalgia driven pop song” says Junny “At the time of writing, I was reflecting on my love of popular music in my childhood – 2000s R&B groups like Destiny’s Child. Singing along to that music is how I learned I could sing and it heavily shapes my vocal sensibilities even now (also shout-outs to my mum and Okaihai College Kapa Rōpu of 2001).”

“I also had Moana Maniapoto, Teremoana Rapely and Ardiijaah on heavy listening rotation at this time. Their music is everything. Amelia named K’lee as inspiration which was spot on – her cover of Broken Wings is so good.”

Junny’s stacked layers of harmonies are deadly, speaking truth to capital and colonial hierarchies.

“OOTD is a challenge to those in power. It’s a challenge to political actors making short sighted decisions for short term individual gain that create obvious, immediate and long term harm for people and the environment. It’s about waiting for the day we don’t have to be in a state of resistance to that.”

“It’s also a reminder of our collective power. We the people can do so much when we’re able to harness it together. It is in power-hoarders best interests if we feel disconnected and disenfranchised. Know that we are in this together, keep pushing forward bit by bit and one day, we will feel the relief of holding strong in our values.”

“Ka whawhai tonu mātou. Ake ake ake.”

Check out all things Junny below:
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Bandcamp

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