Juno Mamba Shares New EP ‘Freedom’ + Announces Headline Shows For Aug

Opening track and first single ‘Siargao Dreams’ is named after the Philippine Islands surfing capital, which Vinci made his first-ever trip to in 2019. Born in nearby Cagayan de Oro and then raised in Ballarat from the age of five, the pilgrimage back to his family’s homeland was a chance to explore the history of his father, of which he knew little about. He reveals, “The emotional connection I felt as soon as I got there was incredible. For the first time, I felt like I belonged and I was free from judgement. I wanted this song to feel exploratory and in a dream-like state.” 

On ‘1996 (feat. ANTONMOND)’, Vinci reflects on his childhood. He recalls “I can remember that year vividly as a sports fan, because of the Atlanta Olympic Games. I have a lot of happy and naive memories but looking back, there were also a lot of difficult moments trying to fit in culturally.” It also marks Juno Mamba’s first-ever artist collab, with Naarm/Melbourne vocalist ANTONMOND. A match made in a warehouse somewhere in heaven, the track is straight 90s rave at its finest. Like an Antipodean nod to artists such as Underworld, Orbital and Chemical Brothers, the fist pumping vocal chant serves as an elegiac ode to the power that memory can hold.

As a curtain call on the immersive listen is the final track ‘Slow Malady’, which leans on emotion and experience. A more downbeat number on the EP and serving as a beautiful palate cleanser after the rave that was ‘1996’. Not only an incredibly emotive listen, the track acts as an aural journey to a very personal story of Juno Mamba finding out during his first trip to Siargao that his Papa’s health was in a serious condition. He describes this as “a surreal experience visiting a place where he was born and raised, which I was only starting to discover, then being told this jarring news. I wanted to convey the sense of freedom and positive energy he displayed when I saw him.” 

Musically, the four songs on Freedom demonstrate Juno Mamba’s advancing capabilities as a producer and musician, crafting textured electronic sounds for the head and heart, as much as the feet. Mixing two of its four songs himself, he revels equally in slow-build moments as he does headrush highs, and in the freedom the EP title implies. Juno Mamba surmises, “The journey has been far from perfect, but I’m in a place of peace.”

‘Siargao Dreams’, ‘1996 (feat. ANTONMOND)’ and ‘Slow Malady’ have garnered support from BBC Radio 1 (‘Siargao Dreams’ was featured as their ‘Chillest Record’ back in March), Double J, Triple R, Soundcloud, Amazon, Spotify, Apple, Pilerats, NME AU and Purple Sneakers. They have also received love from RÜFÜS DÜ SOL, Tchami, Qrion, Bob Moses, Lane 8, Eelke Klein and Moullinex amongst others.

A step up in production and sound, Freedom straddles the lines of deep yet emotive dance music. It serves as the perfect vessel for Juno Mamba to bring back the applauded live show to crowds in Victoria this August (with more shows to be announced), and Soothsayer could not be more excited.

“The way a drum machine and a couple of synths can conjure up certain thoughts and images is pretty f***ing magical. Listening to these songs, Vin creates new worlds and invites me away with each of them… Whether it’s a sweaty warehouse rave (1996), a heady nighttime trip through the city (Frequency) or sunrise swims in the ocean the following morning (Slow Malady), this EP has the potential to transport you to another place. I like that and I reckon you will too (hopefully).”
– Chris Rigney (Soothsayer)