Songwriter, singer, and bassists, is there nothing Juna Serita can’t do.
Born in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan, but now living in Tokyo, her ascension has been prolific.
An immense talent with an electrifying stage presence, June’s latest album, Show Me Right Now (2025) isn’t just intricate (and talented) bass playing. No, this is an album showing a more rounded and mature musician confident in her talent as a singer/songwriter too.
We had a short Q and A with June where she discusses the challenges of following her own path.
Talk about your formative years and how you got into music-heard you picked up the bass at 17?
I would say 18 years old. That’s the time when I decided to become professional musician. I got some chops on bass really quick. So, people started calling me for many performances and naturally I got into music more and more.
Were you a musician first then a vocalist or the other way around?
I always loved singing when I was a kid. I started writing songs, then I wanted to play some instruments to sing with it. It didn’t need to be bass guitar at all, so I would say a vocalist first.
Did your family encourage a path into music or were they against it at first?
Not at all! They didn’t like it and they wanted me to have a stable job and get married and have kids. I think they are proud of my achievements now!
What challenges did you face as you went on this journey to be a ‘full-time’ musician.
I was high school student, but working three different part time jobs to buy gear, to earn the cost of “pay to play “gig. I worked before the school and also after the school. I practiced 1-2 hours quietly at the middle of the night, sleep three hours, and go to part time jobs in the early morning again, every day. I eventually kinda got depressed because I started feeling confused, “what am I doing this for?”. Then I realized, “if I become professional, this hard life will be all paid off in future!” So that’s the time I got extra serious.
You are so funky so discuss some of the inspirations behind your sound for example Tetsuo Sakurai ?
Tetsuo Sakurai is a huge influence on my bass play. I started taking his lessons through music university. Before that time, I was listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Maximum the Hormone. He recommended me to listen to Jaco, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Tower Of Power. Many people focus on his complicated techniques, but he is always musical and enthusiastic.
Hey, can we talk about your other band members who are they and what do they bring to your sound are they part of TOKYO GROOVE JYOSHI??
I call different members for recording, just depends on the songs. But for live shows, my first call is Keyboard Kodai or Hideaki Sugiura, Drums MiMi or Tsuzumi. They are great musicians, but also beautiful and fun people.
Let’s talk about your latest release Show Me Right Now.
I always wanted to show my singer-song-writer ability more than bass skills. But so many people complained when I sang and told me “just play bass”. So, I lost confidence and quit singing. But I started feeling that life is too short, and if I don’t try I will never be good. And I will never be “perfect”anyways. So this album theme is to show off myself without fear. Some of the songs are really hard to play and sing at the same time.I am so happy I took the challenge on.
Tell us an artist we should watch out for.
MiMi! She is known as a member of Tokyo Groove Jyoshi, but she is a wonderful singer song writer. I love her music sense and poetic lyrics and I respect her as an artist but also as a human.
What are the plans for 2025/26
I want to tour all over the world with my own name Juna Serita!
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