I recently had the pleasure of sitting down (virtually) with Saff Juno, fresh off her exhilarating performance at the BBC Introducing Showcase in the South West this past February. Saff, an indie-pop/rock artist from Devon, UK, has been making waves with her latest single, '5 O'Clock Sun'. Saff graciously opened up about her musical journey and shared insights into her creative process and what lies ahead.
Delving into the inspiration behind her latest music, Saff revealed that '5 O'Clock Sun' was written on her 18th birthday nearly 4 years ago. "It was during lockdown," she shared, "and I was sitting playing my acoustic guitar in the garden during the early evening. You can see where I got the title from!”
Reflecting on her artistic evolution, Saff shared, "Lyrically, I really feel like it reflects how I've grown on my journey and the feeling of gratitude that has risen after some of my more feisty works like 'Nightmare Nightmare'."
When asked about her proudest accomplishment thus far, Saff's excitement was palpable.
"I would definitely say that I am really pleased with the most recent gig I played, which was the BBC Introducing Showcase in the South West back in February."
She recounted the electrifying atmosphere at the Exeter Phoenix, where she witnessed her fans singing her lyrics back to her. "A highlight was seeing the front two rows singing my lyrics back at me - so very surreal, but wonderful!" she exclaimed. "I'm definitely looking forward to experiencing that feeling again."
Turning to her personal favourites among her released tracks, Saff admitted to a recent rediscovery of her debut single, 'December Daisies'. "I feel like it represents my innocence before getting more into the industry as an independent artist and before I created more pressure for myself when creating,” she shared. “Also, it seems to remain a strong fan favourite, and it makes me appreciate it from a different perspective.”
Saff's music has often been a reflection of her personal journey, including experiences with trauma. "I hope to give more positivity and empowerment to my fans, but in a new way.
All of my discography so far, except 'December Daisies' and '5 O'Clock Sun', has been reflecting on my journey with anger after trauma, and how I escaped past relationships that were abusive," Saff explained. "However, I really want to write about what I love in my life now, since establishing boundaries, and share things in a lighter way!"
Looking ahead, Saff teased some exciting ventures in the pipeline. "I have lots happening at the moment, with recording being one of them! Anyone will be able to get their hands on a physical copy of my music soon (with something unheard too), and see me in a record store near them when the weather gets warmer!" she revealed. "I'm also playing some new cities, including London for the first time."
Saff Juno is undoubtedly an artist to watch. Keep an eye out for her upcoming projects as she continues to captivate audiences with her unique sound and authentic storytelling.