New Music: Cori Nora – Junio

The music of London-based Cori Nora is neither jazz nor indie, pop nor soul. Rather, it exists at a point between all those; crafting a sound that is personal and warm. Tracks like the blissful and thoughtful Junio reflect on universal themes such as love and personal growth, but also the physical and other barriers that can separate us.

Junio features on the Flowers and Fences LP. She says about the album, “When I started writing these songs, I underwent a deep transformation. I was sorting life out on the go. So, all I wanted was to create an honest record. One that feels true to me and reflects my view on the world. The things in it that are precious to me as well as the things that need to change.”

The album’s name may seem pastoral in keeping with its sound, but it was inspired by something darker. “Once you get out of the Eurotunnel and enter France you traverse a no man’s territory at high speed surrounded by huge brutalist fences, ill-intendedly constructed to prevent people reaching the UK fleeing war, climate change and economic crisis.”

“It was in late March and there were bright yellow flower bushes in full bloom on both sides along the fences. It was such a strong and profound image, it stuck in my head, I wrote it down in my notebook, ‘just flowers and fences’.”

“It made me think a lot. The contrast that’s in it, the growing and the beauty versus the restricting and the violent. It felt very personal yet broad. Your personal growth. Your personal fences. The growth and restrictions within society, culture, countries.”

Flowers And Fences can be found on Bandcamp and is available in vinyl and digital editions. The album is also streaming on all major digital platforms including Apple Music and Spotify.

Cori Nora is embarking on a series of live dates in support of Flowers And Fences, with dates in Germany and Switzerland already announced. For venue details and ticket availability, head to Facebook and Instagram.