Los Angeles-based trio Junaco crafts a dreamy, ethereal sound that captivates listeners with soothing melodies and introspective lyrics. Comprised of Shahana Jaffer, Joey LaRosa and Tejas Leier Heyden, the band draws inspiration from the world around it, often finding creative fuel in nature. The group’s latest single, “Serene,” offers a glimpse into this signature sound — gentle, calm and warm — as the band prepares to release its anticipated LP, “In Motion,” this summer.
This spring, Junaco is hitting the road, bringing its soulful melodies to life on a southwest and northwest tour. Before its stop in Bend on Friday, April 4 at Silver Moon Brewing with special guest Palo Sopraño, the Source Weekly caught up with the band for a conversation about its journey, creative process and connection to nature. The band members answered the questions collectively.
Source Weekly: All three of you come from different backgrounds: Indiana, Southern Oregon and Southern California. How did the three of you come together to form Junaco?
Junaco: We all met in college, but we started playing together when our producer for our first record recommended Tejas and we’ve been playing together ever since!
SW: What is the meaning behind Junaco and how did you come up with the name for the band?
J: Junaco is a word we created. Joey grew up on a sweet called Judaco Drive and the name was inspired by that.
SW: Your music has such a calm and soothing essence. What inspires you to create a sense of emotion and dreaminess in your songs?
J: There isn’t a specific intention to create calm and dreamy music. I think we write music based on how we feel, or sometimes how we want to feel, and a lot of the times that’s how it comes out!
SW: Your latest single, “Serene,” was influenced by your time spent in the woods of Northern California last winter. Does nature often play a role in your songwriting process?
J: 100%. We are all constantly inspired by the world around us and how it mirrors our own personal lives.
SW: Can you share any behind-the-scenes details about the songwriting or recording process for your upcoming LP, “In Motion”?
J: We wrote a lot of the album in a yurt in Northern California, secluded in the woods and without cell service. We spent the days writing and playing, hiking, sauna-ing and dipping in the river. Without constant connection to the world, we really sat with the silence and the songs felt like they wrote themselves.
We recorded the album at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, Texas — which is on a large pecan farm. Once again, we found ourselves secluded, but deeply connected to each other and the music. It was a lot of fun.
SW: What’s your favorite part about being on the road and on tour? Do you have any memorable experiences so far?
J: It’s wonderful to get to share our songs with people from different places and get a real-time reaction and connection. A lot of times it can feel pretty isolating to put music out but getting to play to different people night after night is very special.
SW: Have you played in Bend before, or will this be your first time? What excites you most about performing here?
J: We played at Bunk+Brew last spring and had no idea what to expect since it was our first time playing in Bend, but people were dancing and having a great time and it was a sweet surprise.
SW: If Junaco’s music were a place, where would it be? A misty forest? A quiet beach at sunset? A cozy cabin in the mountains?
J: It’s hard to pick just one thing! It feels like we are constantly changing and evolving.
Junaco
With Palo Sopraño
Fri., April 4, 7pm
Silver Moon Brewing
24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend
junacomusic.com
$12
This article appears in The Source Weekly March 27, 2025.
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