Juto (April 2018)
Is there anything worse than feeling you aren’t yourself? To feel like a different person looks inside the mirror everyday, that every action and feeling isn’t of your own and instead a manufactured product of the society around us. Of course the looming question of how to change sticking in the brain.
For musician Juto, the answer has always been simple, just be confident in who you are. The young 19 year old is wise beyond his years and reflects it brilliantly in his sound, speaking of themes and ideas few understand yet all experience. Juto cares not to be like others, but to be himself more than anything, to create art that reflects his soul and speaks to others who connect to him in any possible way. Juto is the man the world has been needing desperately, a smile happy and laid back individual to remind you of the good life holds, no matter what weight may be on your shoulders.
Paramind had the special opportunity to speak with Juto on his perspective on life, his future music and what it means to be unique.
PM: First question as always, how is your day is going?
Juto: I’m chill, I’m unbothered now.
PM: Feeling free?
J: Yes, nothing can stop me.
PM: For the people out there, why don’t you tell us who you are, what you do and where come from?
J: I’m Juto, I make crazy music on my phone by using irig, I play any instrument you think of and hail from Georgia but grew up in a little ass town in Missouri, always felt like a fish out of water. But now people gravitate to me more, maybe because I haven’t changed at all.
PM: When you were little and people may have ignored you, did you ever have a time you felt you needed to conform to what everyone else was? Or did you know you had to be different?
J: I conformed in my way, but still was an outsider. I still was myself and never lost that, though. My parents just told me that being myself was the key and I kept that close.
PM: So, how did you get started with music, and maybe where did it come from in your life to grow the passion you have?
J: When I was like 5 my mom was in the choir and I’d be behind her doing the same shit she was doing because it felt right, I just grew up and never stopped. Never classically trained or anything, it’s just my nature. But around 14 I got a Playstation 3 and met some kids on it and we made music on a video game, It started as a joke saying “what if we made music on this”, but from then on I made this joke a reality.
PM: What were your inspirations then coming into music? You for sure give off that Odd Future, Steve Lacy feel with your phone method, but how did it look before that? As there’s always something deeper.
J: Always Pharrell and Frank ocean. They’re such innovators that took the whole population’s eye towards their work.
PM: Do you want to be an innovator in the same way as them?
J: Yeah, I want people to think outside the box, I don’t wanna be one sound, I wanna be everything.
PM: Would you rather be famous now or die and be remembered as the most influential?
J: I’d rather die and be legend.
PM: Growing up as outsider, experiencing what comes with it, do you hope to reach the kids that are going through the same situation now? Speaking to that one odd kid in the crowd more than anything?
J: Exactly, they don’t have to sit in the corner and draw in books and be in the library alone. There’s people like you, maybe not beside you, but somewhere in this place we call home. You’re never alone.
PM: Then do you just try to be a friend through your music?
J: Yeah, my music is like one of those mad-libs, you should just insert yourself and fit what I’m saying.
PM: Emotionally then, what are you trying to say and get accomplished in your music?
J: My whole point of view up to this point has been that love is everything and it’s all you need. But soon it’s just going to be life. You have to love life and love yourself, its way deeper than just a partner.
PM: Do you see that evolution coming through practise, or possibly experience that you’ll just come by?
J: always through experiences, even though most of my music isn’t based off my experiences. I more go off of thoughts in my head, daydreams, movies and television, or a love I’ve always pictured in my head.
PM: what’s your favorite movie then? And do you gain inspiration from mediums other than music?
J: My number one movie of all time is Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, It’s the best movie I’ve ever seen, just Michael Cera as a whole, like Juno is fucking sick. Anything indie and relaxed honestly.
PM: What about as a person, how do you see yourself developing? You talk about not caring as much and expanding who you are, but how do you do that?
J: For me, I thought it was isolation and keeping away from others, but it makes things worse. But if you reflect and think of only you in a healthy way you’ll find the love you need to be successful.
PM: Are there any new projects coming from you anytime soon, and how do they differentiate from past work?
J: I have an album called velvet coming out, its gonna be 12 songs, been working on it for like 6 months. Its different though, I want people to know i’m more dancey sounding and also more comfortable with myself.
PM: Do you still like your old music like BTW and whatnot, or do you just hate and disregard it?
J: I like that text talk stuff still, It’s all random ideas pieced together and just whatever comes into my head at the time and I love that I made it. I just want it to be more taken seriously while still keeping my fun nature. I want people to realize this is what I want to do and I’m working hard to make it happen.
PM: If you could, would you work in a larger studio, or is there something special about your phone and you alone?
J: It’s weird, I tried making a song on my friends macbook and it was just wasn’t working. There’s just something personal and intimate with it that can’t be taken away, and just honestly user friendly.
PM: How do you feel about the Steve Lacy comparisons due to working on your phone and some would argue your sound and style?
J: I mean It’s not my favorite and I’m definitely trying to move away from it, no matter how much I like his music on my own.
PM: But why is it wrong if he’s doing well and you’re following in the same successful footsteps?
J: Because it goes back to my childhood, I hate being ignored and being part of the wave, I want to lead it and be my own character.
PM: It seems overall you just love down to earth people, music, film, and you love being down to earth in your own way.
J: Yeah I may have my head in the clouds a lot but I’m always physically grounded on earth.
Labels have hit me up and I’ve had offers, but I’m putting that on hold right now. I’ve made it this far with who’s around me and I don’t think that needs to go change.
Pm: Is there anyone/anything you want to shoutout or promote?
J: Shoutout Drew Phillips, Christian, Lo-fi Levi, Mike aka young emu, Victor, Jackie aka family reunion, Max, Joey, kelvin, Jordan, I love my fans, thank you, stay smooth.
Follow Juto on Instagram and Soundcloud