As the world crumbled around us, juuku was there to pick up the pieces and provide peace through his soothing releases. Earlier this year, the enigmatic producer dropped the EP’s title track ‘warmth’, ‘leaving’, and ‘just lost’ featuring Manila Killa. Now, juuku’s debut EP warmth has arrived via Moving Castle, and we’re super excited we get to finally experience the whole project together.
Although juuku is known as quite an anonymous artist, he took time to reveal parts of himself in an exclusive interview with us. So while you’re taken on the sonic odyssey that is warmth, get personal with juuku and learn his inspirations, ways to recharge, and what we can expect from him for the rest of 2021.
Thank you for taking time out of your day to talk with us! First and foremost, how are you?
Thank you so much for having me!! I’m doing great. Just got over the most random bout of depression this week. feeling mentally and spiritually recharged. Made a song this week and I’m really excited about how it’s coming out!
We can’t wait to hear it! I also have to ask, how do you feel now that you got your first dose of the vaccine?
Tbh I feel good! I slept like a baby and woke up with a sore shoulder. But other than that I’ve been feeling great. heard that second dose is a heater though lol
I read in your interview with Saint Audio that you started doing your own visuals because you felt like you could see what was happening in the song. Even at first glance from the titles of your EP—starting with ‘arrival’ and ending with ‘departure’—it seems like you’re curating a journey for your listeners. Can you tell us more about what you’re hoping we experience while listening to warmth?
Yeah! I wanted this EP to feel like a destination separate from the world you live in- a place you can visit and collect and discover parts of yourself. And when the moment you need to return to your own world, you’ll bring the parts of you that you’ve found along the way.
So your identity’s a mystery right now, but on March 6th you tweeted “𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺.” Now that live events are coming back soon, are you planning on staying anonymous?
Yes and honestly, that’s something I’m still trying to figure that out- I’m probably going to do some kind of silhouette paired with some kind of face covering. No full-on helmet though bc they get really hot lol.
Being anonymous doesn’t stop you from sharing small parts of your life though. Sometimes you’ll tell us you’re walking your dogs or showing us nature videos… What other ways do you like to recharge, especially after making such emotionally centric music?
Watching any shows/anime/movies that put me in my feelings. Making visuals also really helps me recharge in an interesting way too since my creative output is fully focused on the visual aspect than the usual auditory aspect. Also traveling is also such a huge one but I haven’t been able to do that (along with everyone else!) since quarantine.
On another note, for someone who makes such soft and romantic sounds, why do you like shooting games so much? LOL
Lmaoo right? I guess it’s my outlet and clears my headspace a lot. what’s weird is I’ll play in the morning before a long studio or render session and it’ll get me 10000% ready to start creating. I have no idea why or how that works. Maybe it just empties out all the non-creative energy that I have.
Okay, so you made 2 tracks a month last year, which is super ambitious and admirable, considering everything that’s been going on. Do you have any big goals for 2021?
Thank you ♡ honestly the EP was the main goal of this year and it’s such an amazing experience to see it manifest and grow (s/o moving castle and the team) and the collab with Manila Killa was another huge goal too. For the rest of the year, I’d love to get another big collab under my belt and do a proper debut live show (if safety permits).
Is there anything else that you want to talk about that I didn’t ask about?
Just wanted to say thanks again for having me! You’re such an amazing interviewer <3 and I hope you and everyone enjoy this little creation I’m about to put out :)
Thank you again for chatting! Be safe and congrats on being microchipped! (I’m not an anti-vaxxer, I am also vaccinated)
