Intimacy and Resilience Come Alive in Junaco’s “In Motion”
Photo by Jacob Boll
Most of the record was written last winter, when the members lived together in a yurt on the banks of Northern California’s Smith River. Many songs surfaced quickly, as if they had been waiting for the right setting to emerge.
Musically, "In Motion" spans a wide emotional spectrum. Each track feels deeply personal to its writers, serving as a mirror of transformation, movement, and resilience.
The album took shape in a near-unreal environment: no internet, little natural light, and the forests as their only backdrop. In that timeless space, between wood stoves, ice-cold baths, and long creative days, the songs unfolded naturally, as if the surroundings themselves guided the music.
Recording moved to Sonic Ranch in El Paso, Texas, a renowned studio set at a pecan farm. With engineer Mario Ramírez, the band produced each track with an organic and intuitive spirit. Oliver Hill’s string arrangements added richness, while Jake Aron, who had also mixed their EP “Without a Head,” took care of mixing, and Heba Kadry handled mastering. Together, they shaped a warm, expansive sound that flows across 12 tracks.
Each song weaves profound human experiences with a sense of spontaneous freshness. The album’s light, reflective aesthetic makes "In Motion" a companion for moments of calm, introspection, and quiet reflection.
The standout track, "Time To Run," is among the album’s most personal. Inspired by one of the band members' mothers, who was to leave her homeland. The song reflects both the pain and sacrifice of migration and its lasting impact on future generations. It carries a deep sense of longing that resonates with anyone who has faced displacement or the complexities of leaving home behind.
Gentle vocals and delicate instrumentation awaken a quiet magic in the listener. With “In Motion,” Junaco strengthens their place in today’s indie landscape, showing that life flows, that music can guide those transitions, and that loudness isn’t necessary to connect with emotions.