In today’s age, technology has flooded our lives with content. Caught in the mire are today’s musicians who champion an art form that’s more widely distributed than any other throughout human history. And we, more often than not, overlook the music created by unfamiliar faces because it’s challenging. We’d rather have an easy listen, a known quantity to skim through while we think about something else.
Hearing is easy, but listening is difficult. Welcome to “Why We Like It”, where we rebuke the trends in favor of thoughtful analysis and underknown sounds.
NJUNE – “DON’T CRY”
Listen on:
How We Found It
Making music out of Nebraska, USA, NJUNE and his latest single, “DON’T CRY,” came to our attention through our portal on SubmitHub. Following his 2019 EP Highs and Lo-Fis, this single marks NJUNE’s first release of the new decade, hopefully leading to a new project soon.
Why We Like It
“DON’T CRY” wastes no time in throwing you into its world. The hazy soundscape blended with tinges of a vocal sample brushes across from ear to ear. NJUNE’s voice arrives with fundamental conflict in its composition – his natural heaviness in battle with the reverb applied to it. The song reminds me of a painting composed of slight brushstrokes pointing in opposite directions, but stepping back reveals its true beauty. Every glitch and chop in the instrumental compliments each switch in flow from NJUNE. The harmony between beat and flow establishes a dynamic platform for NJUNE to spin yarn.
From NJUNE’s substantial bars emerges a personal story detailing his heart’s burdens, his delivery ever so slightly shifting as the track develops, emotion bubbling. NJUNE sets up this passage with a series of blunt bars, merging reality with the world of “DON’T CRY.” He raps “I’ve been battling stats ever since the womb/ but if they can do it then I guess I can do it too/ but I’m feeling like there’s so much to lose/ lemme give you a little dose of what I’ve been through.” The track closes with NJUNE reciting the track’s title, a possible method of reassurance to those around him and to NJUNE himself. “DON’T CRY” describes the almost impossible balancing act of life and provides a medium for NJUNE to keep it all together.
From NJUNE
The story really arose naturally as soon as I heard the beat. I knew I wanted to tell a story and I knew what story I wanted to tell and it just flowed naturally to that point. Also, with my music, I have an interest in wanting to get off bars but tell stories, relatable and/or personal.” – NJUNE for CentralSauce (2020)
More From NJUNE
NJUNE’s EP from last year entitled Highs and Lo-Fis is available everywhere. Stay up to date with his releases through his Twitter.
More To Discover
Subscribe to the CentralSauce mailing list so you never miss out on the freshest sauce. Check out this continuously updated playlist of songs Ryan has added to our Discovery section! Each track or artist has been featured in our “Why We Like It” section, so be sure to check out the page here on the site.
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