EP Review: Mo(u)rning

Otautahi quartet Just Another June released their debut EP Mo(u)rning on December 7th, 2023.

Just Another June are singer songwriter Luna Cubillana, vocalist and guitarist Sam Keelty, bassist Austin Standeven and drummer Amy Claire. The quartet have been working hard establishing themselves in the Christchurch music scene, performing alongside local musicians including Jed Parsons, BEXY and Goodwill to name a few. The hard work has paid off, with their debut being a solid collection of beautiful songs. 

We begin with lead single Driving, my personal favourite. The track begins with a catchy guitar riff and smooth drums, and straight away you can visualise driving along with the windows down, perhaps on a rainy day. I kept coming back to this one, there’s something about the guitars and drums makes this a stand out track. 

Other stand out tracks include the dreamy Your Sin and Doesn’t Make You Less of a Man, a heartbreaking yet hopeful song with an important message about men’s mental health. “When you let someone in, doesn’t make you less of a man,” Cubillana croons. Clean Break is six minutes of musical bliss and the perfect conclusion to the EP. Each track is stellar in its own right, but the stand outs are when Cubillana and Keelty come together with their luscious harmonies. 

I’m blown away by the music itself. Intricate guitar melodies, complex chords and technical drums are the perfect accompaniment to Cubillana’s thoughtful lyrics. It’s clear this group of musician’s know their stuff. 

Production is strong for the most part, with the music itself being at the forefront of these tracks. The vocals however get a little bit lost in amongst the noise, it would be great for them to be really showcased a little more. 

Overall, Mo(u)rning is a beautifully crafted collection of indie pop songs. It’s clear Just Another June are clever, talented musicians with a bright future. Sadly, the band are parting ways in the new year with some members moving overseas, but they have promised more music will be released in the coming year. I look forward to seeing what’s next for Just Another June.