Setting the tone with a luscious and rippling keys riff accompanied by dimensional bass and layered guitars, we are already hypnotized by Jun Parker‘s release, つつまれながら (Embracement).
Opening with atmospheric vocals and emotive lyricism, we love the energy that Jun Parker shares with his artistry. Based in Portland, in South West Victoria, Australia, Jun has just finished a series of shows and radio show appearances and interviews in Japan. Speaking on his art, Jun says, “My music is strongly influenced by the genre of City Pop, a style of music that flourished in Japan in the 70’s and 80’s incorporating elements of pop, disco, jazz, soul, bossanova to name a few.”
The fusion is rare and Jun Parker blends the genres cohesively and dynamically on the opus. Elaborating on his soundscape, he says, “Let melancholy ride on grooves, and evoke that sense of funky-nostalgia are some key themes I have in my music making process, while cherishing the retro Tokyo feel in my melody line and bilingual lyrics. In addition, sprinkling the sound with modern Australian influences and lyrical point of view – in an effort to create a new genre locally here in Australia, that is Australian Neo City Pop.”
つつまれながら (Embracement) comes with a cinematic performance video filmed in Tokyo. The track was recorded in Port Fairy, Victoria and in Yokohama, Japan.
Expanding on the message of the song, Jun Parker confesses, “I’d like you to imagine this to set the scene for the song”
In your mind’s world where dreams, memories, past and present are intermixing, there is a lady with a blue scarf walking down the street. Why is she wearing a blue scarf when the cold winter has already passed?“
We love the authenticity and vision that Jun Parker shares with his artistry and have added つつまれながら (Embracement) to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we await the English language version of the song!