INTERVIEW: Juno Disco On 5 Movies They'd Love To Soundtrack
Juno Disco. Photo supplied.
Melbourne-based pop duo Juno Disco recently dropped their latest single You’re So Hung Up On My Colours, and it’s full of funk. You’ll find yourself getting lost in the layers of the track, and each listen will throw up a new experience. This project is the first time the duo have ventured into the world of disco-pop, but they’re pulling it off with ease.
I spoke to the band (aka Nick Bond and Albert Salt) about the track’s release, as well as how their 2020’s been. The band are a couple of film buffs, so I also asked them which film soundtracks would suit the new single and why. Juno Disco are planning some big moves in 2021, and this is just the beginning.
Ben Madden: Firstly, can you introduce yourselves and your music?
We’re just a couple of mates trying to put smiles on peoples’ faces with some fun dance music.
2020 was one hell of a year – are you excited to have it in the rear-view mirror and move into 2021?
1 million per cent. 2020 was a horrible year for everyone and, whilst there were a handful of positives for us (wrote a stack of new Juno songs, released our new single etc.), we can’t wait to do all the music things that we love again in 2021.
Can you tell me a bit about the story beyond You’re So Hung Up On My Colours?
The song was a bit cursed, to be honest. We recorded it in late 2019, but it was lost when my laptop blew up at St Kilda Festival, so we had to re-record it at the start of 2020. Then coronavirus happened, and we weren’t able to organise a release. We managed to squeeze in a music video shoot between lockdowns, but then that was lost as well!
For a while, it seemed like it just didn’t want to come out, but the lyrics focus on the trials and tribulations of the music industry and showbiz in general, so in the end, we felt like it was meant to be.
Having released the single in 2020, is there a sense that this track will always be tied to the events of that year?
I hope not! We were very proud to manage to salvage something from such an awful year. Still, you can bet your bottom dollar that there’s an avalanche of songs coming in 2021 called Quarantine or Isolation Blues or whatever (not from us by the way, we plan to keep on rockin’ in the free world). I think those are the songs that will be tied to this whole shemozzle when people look back in 10 or 20 years.
Finally, what are the next steps for you both, both personally and music-wise?
I think I had enough personal time this year lol. I’m going to be putting all of my emotional eggs into the music basket this year, making heaps of Juno Disco music and producing as many bands as I possibly can (see: Aeroplane Mode, Kitschen Boy) - hopefully, we can play some festivals towards the end of the year as well!
5 Movie Scenes We Think Our New Single Could Soundtrack
This was a very challenging exercise. The movies that we’ve chosen are some of our favourite of all time, so we’re very hesitant to change anything in them, but it would be an honour to be associated with any of these five movies.
Boogie Nights (1998) - Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
The opening scene of PTA’s Boogie Nights features a massively long take set to The Emotions’ 1977 hit Best Of My Love, soaring through the Hot Traxx nightclub, instantly setting the pace and tone for the entire film.
It’s incredibly reminiscent of the Copacabana Club long take from Goodfellas and, whilst I’d struggle to bump The Emotions from this scene; it would be pretty cool to hear You’re So Hung Up On My Colours in the background as Roller Girl glides across the dancefloor.
Also, Best Of My Love just doesn’t slap as hard as it should whilst Coles still uses it to sell toilet paper.
La La Land (2016) - Directed by Damien Chazelle
This one was honestly a toss-up between this and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood as both movies muse on Show Biz and what it means to be an entertainer. La La Land wins out though, due to its focus on the music industry specifically, and the fact that it features both classical and contemporary music (I’m not sure Cliff Booth would be listening to Disco/House tracks on Sunset Blvd in 1969).
You could pick any scene really, but if Emma Stone requested Ryan Gosling’s cover band play You’re So Hung Up On My Colours at the pool party, that would be pretty wild.
Swingers (1996) - Directed by Doug Liman
This is probably here because it is the most recent film I’ve seen, but there’s a great scene where Vince Vaughan and Jon Favreau are driving back from Las Vegas and reminiscing on their night and what went wrong.
It’s a hilarious exchange between the two of them, and they address Jon Favreau's insecurities as a recently single man hung up on a relatively short relationship. I’d love to hear You’re So Hung Up On My Colours blare out of the car stereo as they speed off towards LA.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) - Directed By John Hughes
This is one of my favourite movies of all time, and there are so many iconic musical moments in it. From the opening monologue set to Sigue Sigue Sputnik’s Love Missile F1-11, to the iconic parade scene with Danke Schoen and Twist and Shout, the choices are endless - hell, the closing credits are straight heat with Yello’s Oh Yeah wrapping up the flick.
However, in the interest of not messing (too much) with a good thing, I think using our song to score the final chase scene would be the most fitting (and least jarring) inclusion.
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Burn After Reading (2008), Directed by The Coen Brothers
This is just one of my favourite films ever. The Coen Brothers do what they do best and feature a very underrated comedic performance from Brad Pitt. I’d love for You’re So Hung Up On My Colours to be playing in Brad Pitt’s car as he’s waiting to see what the heck is happening at Osbourne Cox’s house.
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