Singer-Songwriter Carolyn Fahrner, better known as the artist Junebug, is gearing up for an eventful 2023 ahead. As the Indie-Folk-Rock (“Folkcore”) artist gears up to release brand new music starting at the beginning of the year, listeners are on the edge of their seats. Fahrner’s debut EP ‘Turncoat’ was released in June 2021, and the upcoming release is a true labor of love.

Junebug’s music is bold, honest and even vulnerable at times. Her music is conversational and casual, but introspective. With an admiration for 60s / 70s Folk and Rock music, Junebug channels influences such as The Beatles, Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel. Digging a bit deeper, she finds inspiration in artists like Indigo De Souza, Elanor Moss, Madison Cunningham, and Christian Lee Hutson, alongside modern day contemporaries Big Thief, Adrienne Lenker, Phoebe Bridgers, Feist, Alice Phoebe Lou, Orla Gartland, Soccer Mommy, and Andy Shauf.

We caught up with Junebug, below. Dive in!

What can you share with readers about your upcoming release?

I just finished my sophomore EP titled ‘My Therapist Told Me’. The 6 track EP was written over the course of 2-3 years until I eventually brought it to Allen Tate to produce and mix. ‘My Therapist Told Me’ mirrors the turbulent changes that have occurred in my life. It’s commentary on struggling with mental health issues and feeling like you’re going crazy. Really, what it boils down to is pathologizing yourself. A lot of psychology is pathology – desperately trying to fix everything that’s ‘wrong’ with you but the list keeps getting longer and longer. I guess the EP addresses my own tendency to pathologize and over intellectualize everything I do and feel. It’s a reflection of my own rumination, anxiety, and paranoia – like that feeling of missing a step on the stairs, or catching a glass of water right before it falls. I’m looking forward to sharing this with the world. I hope that it’s a breath of fresh air and refreshingly honest, and that people resonate with that honesty.

How does this project compare with your other projects you had in the
past?

 ‘My therapist told me’ is a completely different feel then my first EP ‘turncoat’ – which is intimate and conversational and youthful. My first EP was stripped back and earnest. It was almost a coming-of-age EP. ‘My therapist told me’ is darker, a little more tongue and cheek, and more jaded. I approached this second EP much differently than other projects I’ve had in the past. I had more of a vision and honestly more of a need to create with ‘My Therapist Told Me’. I really tried to trust my gut as much as possible when it came to creating this EP. 

What about this project makes you most proud?

As I get closer to finishing up ‘My Therapist Told Me,’ I’m increasingly proud of how far I’ve come emotionally. Now that it’s recorded, those feelings that once were all consuming that drove me to create those songs are no longer. I’ve been able to give parts of myself their own life outside of me. Sometimes it feels like I don’t even relate to my own songs anymore, but it’s relieving. I’m proud of no longer being the person I was when I wrote those songs, but I’m also proud that I’m giving those feelings a place to exist. 

Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?

‘My Therapist Told Me’ at the time of creation was a personal need to feel, but now it’s taking on a new life. My hope is that ‘My Therapist Told Me’ resonates with my generation. Our society is filled with pathology, with feeling like something’s wrong with you, and using humor to cope. ‘My Therapist Told Me’ mirrors those experiences for myself, but also for my generation. I believe that making honest art is what drives people to truly connect with what you create, and my goal is that my EP does that. 

What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?

Inspiration strikes at strange moments, but most importantly it strikes when I’m doing something else. It strikes when I’m cooking or in the shower or on a walk. With that being said, inspiration can come from anyone or anything, there’s not one thing I can point to that really inspires me. It’s usually a combination of personal experiences, emotions, and things I notice. Keeping motivated is truly the hardest part of making art. The need to create for me comes from needing a way to process the world around me. I also think my inner child is a huge motivator for me. As a child, I had such an unabashed desire to create. I think as we get older it gets harder and harder to create without influence from society, so getting back in touch with that is really important for me and keeps me motivated. 

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown
– who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a
link so readers can check them out.

Recently, I’ve been really into this artist runo plum ! She writes incredible songs, they are so heartfelt and the lyrics are so poignant. I’d love to one day collaborate with her! I came across the song Yin to Yan and became instantly obsessed. She also just came out with a new song, ’till I go red’ which is also incredible. 

What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?

The last song I listened to is ‘Run That Body Down’ by Paul Simon. Paul Simon is a huge inspiration for me. His songwriting is so personal, yet reflective and introspective. I grew up listening to a lot of 70s artists including Paul Simon, but also The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. 

Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?

I’m most active on Instagram! 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junebug.mp3/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicjunebug/ 

Website: https://www.junebugmp3.com/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@junebug.music 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1CMvK1VPUBHWedFl9327WS 

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/junebug/1553622204 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarolynFahrner/videos