Live Review: PREMIERE: June Jones shares stunning, cinematic visuals for new single 'Home'

Just before the anticipated release of her second album, Leafcutter, on February 19th, prolific artist and singular voice in the Australian music landscape June Jones is releasing one final single this week. Titled 'Home', it's another deeply emotive, captivating and honest release, and Purple Sneakers is thrilled to premiere the stunning, cinematic accompanying visuals today.

Entirely self-produced, Jones presents an art-pop leaning production style on 'Home', with hints of inspiration from game-changing records such as Robyn's Body Talk. Featuring a rhythmic arpeggiated bass line, striking synths and piercing percussion, the instrumentation creates the perfect foundation for Jones' poetic and confessional lyrics to float above. As the hook kicks in and the synths bloom and swell below Jones' passionate singing, grounding by skittering beats, you're completely and utterly hooked.

Jones explained the themes and meaning behind the song, saying, "It's a song about being a trans woman in love, both with another person, and (eventually, hopefully) with herself. It's a reflection on the idea of the body as a place that we are always arriving at, a home that is both constant and constantly changing."

The ambitious and impressive accompanying visuals were directed by Geoffrey O'Connor, and was made with the help of assistant director Lara Gissing, stylist Thea Basiliou, makeup artists Chloe Rose and Zoe Jane, and guest star Kalyani Mumtaz who makes a cameo. It was shot almost entirely in front of a green screen, with the exception of some scenes filmed in O'Connor's apartment. The concept of the clip was June's, just like all her videos. She explained the video, saying, "Originally, I was planning to just play a single character in the clip, one who could embody the way that I see myself as a trans woman, as someone whose relationship with her body has been tumultuous but in no way altogether negative. It soon dawned on me that I could never do that with just one character. So I play a dystopian science fiction character, who speaks to my experience as a cyborg, having undergone 6 years of hormone replacement therapy and multiple surgical interventions. And I play the ancient Greek tragedy actress, who embodies the way that my experience of gender fits inside a tradition of womanhood, as well as entertaining my love for melodrama. And I play the lesbian housewife, who longs to be loved and felt, and to feel and love."

Setting the scene for what is sure to be one of this year's best records, 'Home' not only represents some of Jones' most ambitious work to date, but also her finest as well. Released later this month via her label Emotion Punk Records in collaboration with Remote Control Records, Jones has also announced a show for Naarm/Melbourne residents which you can check the details of below. Watch 'Home' here:

Release Day Instore

Friday 19 February - 6PM

Rocksteady Records, Melb

Limited Capacity

Free Entry, All Ages

Leafcutter is out February 19th via June Jones' label Emotion Punk Records in collaboration with Remote Control Records. Pre-save/pre-order here.

Words by Emma Jones

Image: Jess Brohier

LISTEN TO NEW MUSIC HERE

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