BLACKSTARKIDS reflect on growing up in nostalgia-laced track “JUNO”

Linked together by artistic expression, BLACKSTARKIDS use waves of nostalgia and vibrant aesthetics in service of larger-than-life pop hooks. Hailing from the suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri, the three-piece – made up of Ty, Deiondre, and Gabe – make versatile summer bops that lean into their DIY ethos as Gen Z creatives.

From its plucky guitar riff to its fluid synth harmonies, “JUNO” is flooded with rap-rock influences and effervescent synths. In keeping with the trio’s sunny disposition, the track is a gaudy proclamation about coming-of-age.

The initial droned vocal delivery reels off the pressures of growing up with zeitgeist lyrics including “When you think about your future did you leave me in the past? / Life feels like a race and I’m always coming last”.

Since their inception in 2019, BLACKSTARKIDS have dropped full-length, self-released records at breakneck speed via their own label, Bedroom Records. While debut Let’s Play Sports introduced listeners to their ambitious breed of indie-pop, 2020’s SURF and Whatever, Man reflected on the highs and lows of adolescence amidst a global pandemic.

Evolving both musically and personally, the trio is expected to release their new album Puppies Forever later this year.

"'JUNO' is a really honest reflection of how we were feeling at the time of working on the album, which is why we wanted to lead with it,” says BLACKSTARKIDS. “In context of the album, it’s one of the more personal and reflective moments”.

Set to be their first album since signing to new label home Dirty Hit - known for leveraging the careers of The 1975, Beabadoobee and Rina Sawayama amongst others - BLACKSTARKIDS explain “Signing to Dirty Hit has been super helpful, having a team who understands the vision and is always willing to help means a lot.”