J. Juva

Ambient electronic artist J. Juva - aka Joel Neale - prepares to release his innovative debut EP, Protozoa, on 24th July 2020.

Combining off-kilter drums with woozy synths and radiant melodies, Joel creates a sound that feels both eclectic and enigmatic. Reminiscent of the likes of Four Tet and Flying Lotus, Joel interweaves analogue instruments with dreamy electronics, producing something undeniably transcendent in the process. Talking about the EP, Joel explains, “this music is inspired mainly by the book I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong. It's an amazing insight into the incredibly significant impact the microscopic world of bacteria have on us and everything else in the world. The music was made whilst reading the book, taking inspiration from the stories he tells, the behaviours he describes and the multitudes of living things we can’t see.”

Despite this being Joel’s debut solo release, he is no stranger to the music industry. Joel is also the guitarist of the critically acclaimed indie-rock quintet Saltwater Sun, where they have received praise from the likes of Wonderland, DIY and BBC Radio 1 to name a few. At the beginning of 2018, Joel pledged to produce and post a beat a week for the entire year, and as a result, J. Juva was born. With Protozoa, Joel now hopes to introduce listeners further to his celestial blend of lo-fi electronica.

Protozoa is out on 24th July 2020.