Drawing on a range of genres, from country, folk, soul and indie pop, Oxford born singer-songwriter Joely June has been releasing music independently since her first single ‘Desire’ in 2018. Since then she has performed live around the UK, notably at Truck Fest and two Rough Trade sets in Bristol and London. Joely June’s unique sound generally favours a predominantly acoustic mix, which forefronts her versatile voice and heartfelt lyrics.
Having recently changed her stage name from Joely to Joely June, the singer wrote on her blog that she felt she was ‘due a bit of a fresh page’. ‘Cool’ feels like a new sonic era for her music, and signals a shift to a more indie, electronic sound. However, the lyrical storyline and fresh folk melodic hooks that are characteristic of Joely June’s sound remain central to the track.
The song begins with guitar feedback launching into a sliding pop-country guitar riff over upbeat crashing drums.The spacey electric guitar texture reduces in the verse to give the vocals centre stage, as she sings ‘my eyes will look for you in every room’ over strummed acoustic guitar. Whilst embracing a fuller production, Joely’s vocals remain at the front of the mix, highlighting her honest and vulnerable lyrics. The instrumental builds as distorted guitars kickstart the soaring melodic chorus hook: ‘I’m just a kid with a crush at school/ and I’ll never be as cool’. Joely’s lyrics are honest and vulnerable, comparing adult love to the feeling of having an unreachable high school hall crush. The crashing drums over a wash of shoe-gaze guitar textures further embody a sense of pent-up teenage rage. Joely’s relaxed, effortless voice has an ethereal quality; her delicate vibrato and clear diction create a feeling of intimacy, as we feel a connection to the awkwardness of those high school years. ‘Cool’ is the beginning of a ‘fresh page’ for Joely June, and we cannot wait to hear more from this new era.
You can see Joely June live at the Bullington Bar Shed Sessions in Oxford on 30th January.