Having released her debut single ‘Lover, I Swear’ last week, Melbourne musician Juice Webster has sat down with us to help her fans get to know more about their new favourite artist.
If you’ve been paying attention to the Aussie music scene in recent years, you might have found yourself coming across Melbourne electronic duo Hemm. Comprised of Bobby Downie and Juice Webster, the pair make emotional music that manages to stay with you everywhere you go.
Now, Juice Webster has stepped away from the duo briefly to unleash her debut solo single ‘Lover, I Swear’ just last week.
Noting that she was “brought up on a balanced, healthy diet of Nick Cave, Cat Power, Emmylou Harris, and Jeff Buckley”, Webster’s music sounds exactly like how you’d expect, with raw beauty and intensity present at every turn.
With her You Who Was Myself EP on the way, Juice Webster is about to be one of those names that you’ll be unable to escape, with their pure talent being recognised by fans all over the world before long.
Ahead of her worldwide musical domination, we sat down with this stunning artist to get the low-down on her music, and allowing fans to get to know the person behind this amazing music.
Get To Know: Juice Webster
How did your band name come about?
My band name is just my name. My birth name is Julia, but my brother couldn’t say that when I was born so he called me Juice and it’s stuck ever since, for better or for worse.
How would you describe your music to your grandma?
I would describe it as “very appropriate folk music” and probably ask her to tell her friends about it.
Tell us about a few of your tracks; their titles and what they’re about?
‘Someone Else Might Realise’ is the first track on my yet-to-be-released EP. It’s about feeling conflicted between being homesick and anxious while away but feeling stuck and dissatisfied when at home.
It’s also about the early stages of falling in love with someone which is simultaneously the best and scariest feeling in the world.
The chorus lyrics of this song were actually written by my brother in 2010, I think. I remember hearing them and just loving them so much. And then when I was writing this song, I remembered those lyrics and they just seemed to fit so well with how I was feeling at the time and the rest of the song. He didn’t end up using them, so I snapped them up.
‘Lover, I Swear’ is my first single and the second track on my forthcoming EP. It’s a break-up song, written many years ago in an attempt to regain control of my thoughts and feelings after said break-up.
‘Sleeping Somewhere New’ is the closing song on the EP and it was recorded through my phone and one room mic at the very end of our time in the studio. It’s about feeling like my childhood was a very long time ago and loving my mum so much.
You can hear my friend and co-producer, Joe [Buchan], walking around and packing up in the background. At the very end you can hear them say “cool, that sounded really nice”, which I think is really sweet.
What do you love about your hometown?
Probably the creative scene and that all my favourite people live here.
Fave non-music hobby?
Sewing. I’m not very good at it but it’s nice to use my hands and be away from screens.
What’s on your dream rider?
Fancy cheese.
Dream music collaboration?
Too many! Adrianne Lenker and/or the whole of Big Thief, Mica Levi, Okay Kaya, PJ Harvey, Sufjan Stevens…
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I truly have no idea. Thinking that far ahead doesn’t tend to do me much good! Hopefully I’ll be surrounded by people I love and admire, doing something fulfilling and meaningful. That’s the dream.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
‘Running Up That Hill’, for sure.
Check out ‘Lover, I Swear’ by Juice Webster:
Juice Webster 2019 Live Dates
Sunday, August 11th
(with Imogen Cygler)
The Retreat Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Tuesday, August 13th
(with Leah Edmond)
LongPlay, Melbourne, VIC
