The idiom "too many cooks spoil the broth" exists for good reason, and in music, there's a fine line between executing a collective vision and a confusing sound that's been pushed in too many directions. In the case of New York-based seven-piece Juice, their diverse blend of R&B, pop, hip-hop and more recently rock, falls into the primer with masterful ease.
Speaking to the sound of their latest single, "Make Pretend," in an email statement, they share that, "From the start, the song took on the energy of the early 2000s alternative rock of our childhoods. You know, like 1994 Green Day meets 2004 Green Day." Predominantly working in an alternative R&B aesthetic, the rockier shades of their pallet take the driver's seat on this cut, with their typically dreamy guitars offset by gritty pop-punk riffs, and a vocal encompassing a lovesick angst that perfectly befits the lyrical narrative.
In the same statement, they elucidate on this narrative, noting that it's "an anxiety-riddled daydream about the process of lost love. The narrative inside the character’s head swings quickly between sporadic confidence and optimism and an inability to deal with life outside of his bedroom."
"Make Pretend" is out now independently, and keep an eye out for their next EP, set to release later this year.
