"My Western Home" 

Saw the distance clouds at dawn
Thought I’d move back slowly on
To a town where young time passed
Blowin gold in verdant grass
There I left my broken roots
Traded in for sun stained boots
And dreams of a place where I could retrace
The heartlines inside my hand

Home is in my memories of lakes crystal clear
Home is where the tree songs quiet all my fears
Home is where the fireflies mingle with the stars
Home is where I’m glad to call this family ours
Home is where we are

Lived my days in deafening haze
Trying to move past
All my life where from is where my shadows cast
Now I drive back down that road
To a town where time has slowed
And neon lights fill the open nights
And cars drive endlessly on an empty sea of plains
I wonder if this is home that flows inside my veins

Home is in my memories of lakes crystal clear
Home is where the tree songs quiet all my fears
Home is where the fireflies mingle with the stars
Home is where I’m glad to call this family ours
Home is where we are

My Western Home

"Red Canyon Country is the debut single from my project, Junerise. This is an autobiographical song about growing up, losing a religion, and not understanding or knowing where I fit in the world. I wanted this to be a BIG FEELINGS song that captured not only my emotional landscape but also the physical landscape where I grew up in Utah. The contrast of loving where you are existing but knowing that to build a life there you would have to sacrifice that which makes you the most authentic version of yourself and choosing to fight to be who you are." - June (They/Them)
--- --- --- 
"Red Canyon Country" 
By: Junerise 

Lyrics:

Skipping rocks off the reservoir 
Sun dies down on the valley floor
Tonight the twilight stars feel so near
You say to me you’re losing faith 
God’s not real and we’re not saints
A whole life gone when you’re 17

I can’t keep hanging on
Can’t keep hanging on
In Red Canyon Country
I can’t keep hanging on
Can’t keep hanging on
In Red Canyon Country

Mother says you’re not my son
You cannot be a godless one 
Screen door slams as you tear away
Beads of sweat mix with your tears
Feet hit the ground with all your fears 
Scream in the wind off of the high plateau 

I can’t keep hanging on
Can’t keep hanging on
In Red Canyon Country
I can’t keep hanging on
Can’t keep hanging on
In Red Canyon Country

--- --- ---

Written by: June Bennion
Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Sound Design/Synths: June Bennion
Drums, Bass, Additional Synths, Lead Guitar: Curtis Roush
Background Vocals: Anna Roenigk
Produced/Arranged by: Curtis Roush at Escondido Sound - 2018
Mixed: Tim Palmer

Thank you to, my family, both my family of origin and the one that chose me. <3
--- --- --- 

© Copyright 2024 - June Bennion - Sundown Sound Machine LLC

Red Canyon County (Single)

06/21/24

Red Canyon Country (Single)

Junerise is the folk-tinged dreampop project of Austin-based, Utah-transplant singer-songwriter June Bennion, known simply as June (They/Them).

Looking ever skyward, June channels influences from the grounding story-centric songwriting chops of James Taylor and Bruce Springsteen to the ethereal gradient-scapes of The Cocteau Twins and Brian Eno with a dash of The Cure's dance-forward sensibilities. Their songwriting comes from a well of lived experiences growing up as a closeted queer person in the god-fearing Mormon mountain states.

June tackles feelings of isolation, wonder, and perseverance against the odds set against a sunset sky, quickly fading out of view as each song flows from scene to scene as each story is told. Junerise is a long incubated project which at times is downright danceable while also reveling in the beautiful transience of each passing moment.

Junerise

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