After meeting June and the Bee at Aspetta Cafe in Kensington Market, I was delighted when the band’s lead singer Emma agreed to do a Behind the Band interview.
What makes June and the Bee’s music unique?
We write our music using our lives as a malleable creative substance from which to draw upon. We play from a place of infectious joie de vivre and are utterly unconcerned with being anything other than what we are.
What can you tell readers about your songwriting process?
As a trio we all bring an ingredient. My brother, Eli, is the melody guy. While he plays, words are usually jumping down from the shelves of my mind and arranging themselves into lyrics. Lyric writing happens all the time. My way of processing an experience is turning it into a song. Zoe, our third member writes the wonderful harmonies. Her technical background in classical music grounds the band in an awareness of dynamics and all those elements that may seem miniscule but are responsible for the song being something we love to sing. As we have continued to grow as a band, we have started to share the different roles in the songwriting process.
Professional role model: Carrie Ferguson
When we first entered the folk scene, Carrie took us under her wing, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the essence of pure joy when playing regardless of the stresses and pressures the road ahead could present. We pride ourselves in being able to tend to that creative joy and let it radiate through our music. This joy is detached from the ego and is more about collectively sharing than about individual self-worth.
What is your approach to promoting the band?
I manage the band’s social media, regardless of the fact that I have historically been ‘living under a rock,’ so to speak. We love to keep things as personal as possible. Being from a small town, you know everyone. We want to invite all of our fans to be a part of our musical family. We usually just send out our mailing list via carrier pigeon. so if one morning you hear a tap on your window…you’ll know we are in town. If you are a part of the Facebook world, Like us because we adore you!
What is something funny that has happened to June and the Bee on tour?
Another moment was when we were playing in this fancy old space called the Lion’s Den. This old gentleman approached us after the show and said, “You sound wonderful but you guys look like you just met in the parking lot.” We took the cue that we may want to consider leaving the overalls behind and adopt the dapper life.
What kinds of challenges do you experience while you’re on the road?
We haven’t encountered anything treacherous. When we go over the border to Canada, we always try up and come up with a compelling story of what brings us crazy cats with a car full of instruments this way…if you have any suggestions, please don’t hesitate to share.
What is your most memorable concert?
After a 9:30 PM show in Manhattan’s Googie’s Lounge, we decided that the night was still young. After a rousing street performance was brought to an end by the New York City Police (who claimed to really enjoy our music), we journeyed a few blocks down to a kebab shop. The owners were kind enough to let us play! By around 3 AM, the restaurant was flooded with passersby.
Needless to say, we have made the spontaneous show phenomena a trademark of our band. When we’re in an elevator or driving on the highway, we’re ready to make music with whoever is willing.
If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would you pick and why?
Mountain Park, which is a beautiful venue tucked into the hillside of Holyoke, Massachusetts.
What can concertgoers expect to hear, see and experience at your shows?
We will all have a grand time. We will get you singing most certainly and hopefully grinning as largely as we are. We will lull you with infectious lullabies, sing songs of sweet honey and leave you with a little sunray to tuck in your pocket and keep you warm.
June and the Bee will record their debut album this fall, so stay tuned for more music from this lovely American band!
You can learn more about the band on ReverbNation and listen to their music on SoundCloud.