Q&A: bob junior and the Joy of Musical Collaboration
TAKING A STEP FORWARD INTO THE LIMELIGHT — bob junior releases dazzling new singles, “baby, I do,” IKWYDLS,” and “All In Vain.” Esteban Munoz — also known as bob junior, or boy pablo’s big brother — is coming into his own with his latest releases. With this, he showcases his diverse talent when it comes to his wide-range of collaborations, as well as his songwriting and skillful producing.
Before starting out as a drummer, co-writer, and co-producer with his brother’s project, boy junior was already in the Norwegian underground punk scene creating music. When it came to his brother, he decided to help boy pablo record his debut single as a birthday present, which received well-deserved traction. Talk about brother of the year!
Not only did bob junior go on to work alongside his brother’s project, being an integral puzzle piece to the ensemble, but he also worked with a long list of other artists. Cuco and Astrid S are among some of such creatives, only further establishing bob junior as a multi-talented individual who brings a new perspective to his craft.
Now, with his latest releases — each of them including a feature — he emphasizes the importance of partnership and how collaborating with like-minded individuals can produce certified bops. “Baby, I do” features beloved indie psy-pop artist Paul Cherry, while “IKWYDLS” includes the legendary Dent May, a pioneer in the indie singer-songwriter scene. “All In Vain” also boasts LA indie-pop band Inner Wave. Including a variety of genres and artists from different parts of their career, bob junior exhibits how gratifying it is to collaborate, simply based on the idea that you want to create something fun and experience that joy in the studio.
Continue reading below to find out more about bob junior, his solo career starting with his collaborations, and his time in the Norwegian Underground scene, and be sure to check out his latest release “No One Does It Better Than You”.
LUNA: Your recent collaborations with Dent May and Inner Wave showcases a diverse musical range. How did these collabs come about, and how do you approach collaboration in your creative process?
BOB JUNIOR: Yeah, the songs are pretty different — at least in my opinion! I met [Inner Wave] when we toured together across Europe (they did support for boy pablo), so when the idea of this whole bob junior thing came around, they were the first band I asked to join. I just texted them and told them about my project and asked if they were into the idea, and they replied “yes” straight away.
I met Dent when I rented his studio in LA. We got to know each other and found out pretty quick that we have a shared love for ’90s pop-punk and rock music, so we set a date to have a session ourselves, and that’s how “IKWYDLS” came to life.
LUNA: Transitioning from being a vital part of boy pablo to your solo venture as bob junior has probably been a fun journey. How have you seen your style evolve between these projects?
BOB JUNIOR: I think the biggest difference between these two projects is that with bob junior, I don’t do a specific genre — it’s all up for grabs. Some days I enjoy making dreamy indie-pop while the next day I can dig into Reggaeton, emo rock, psychedelic ’70s, or whatever. The only rule I have is that it must be fun to create, ’cause if it’s not fun, then what’s the point? Working with my little brother in boy pablo has also always been the same for me — fun!
LUNA: Your upcoming series of songs emphasizes collaboration and the joy of creation. Can you share more about the themes or inspirations behind these tracks and what listeners can expect from this series?
BOB JUNIOR: I take a lot of inspiration from music that my dad played at our house growing up, “la nueva ola.” A lot of ’60s–’70s Latin music. I also take inspiration from going hiking and being out in nature. I really depend on being able to be outside and reset my brain. There’s a lot of different music coming up, with a lot of different artists who make art that I love.
LUNA: As the drummer, co-producer, and co-writer for boy pablo, you've been integral to the project's success. How does your experience working with other platinum-selling artists, such as Cuco and Astrid S, influence your solo work?
BOB JUNIOR: I think there’s a lot of good timing that comes along with becoming a platinum-selling artist, so for me there’s no difference in working with artists that are big in the industry and artists that aren’t. It’s all art. It’s all equally valuable to me. I appreciate honesty and realness when I create, and I’ve been lucky enough to work with tons of bands and artists who want to express that and share that with me.
LUNA: Coming from the Norwegian punk and underground scenes, how has your musical journey shaped your artistic sensibilities and approach to creating music today?
BOB JUNIOR: The Norwegian punk scene is cool. There’s lots of cheering on one another and just wanting to have a good time. Wishing each other the most success possible and not competing about being the best or whatever. I think the only thing bands compete about is who has the fastest D-beat song, which is a pretty nerdy thing to compete or even talk about (laughs). Being a part of an underground scene has helped me value the art of creating with the need to express what’s going inside of me and not [care] about anything else than that.
LUNA: How does your solo work allow you to express aspects of your musicality that may differ from your collaborative projects?
BOB JUNIOR: I don’t consider my music to be solo work, but working alone in the studio for me is probably when I’m the most experimental — I write a lot of stuff that probably never will come out unless I pull a Mac DeMarco out of the hat. I love to collaborate and create with other heads.
LUNA: Are there specific artists or genres that have influenced your recent solo work?
BOB JUNIOR: The list for this is soooo long. I mean, it’s everything in between old Latin music to Norwegian black metal. Everything I listen to, pay attention to, or watch contributes to the final product of a song in one way or another.
LUNA: Collaborating with artists from around the world, how do different cultural and musical backgrounds shape the creative process, and what challenges or joys does this diversity bring to your work?
BOB JUNIOR: The most challenging for me has been writing lyrics with native English-speaking people, because I learned English watching Glamour with my mom or watching sitcoms with my brothers and sister, so I don’t always have the best suggestions in the room (laughs). But I mean, this is a project of forces combined, you know, so there’s always a “the best idea wins,” and [a] “Let’s help each other to create the best thing we’re able to make together.”
LUNA: What intentions do you have for 2024?
BOB JUNIOR: I’m going to be based in LA for at least the first part of the year, and that always means that there are amazing artists from all over the world [who] are available to hang out and make music with — a lot more than in a small city in Norway (even though Bergen is one of the best music cities in the world). I’m going to be releasing a bunch more songs and [writing] more music with old and new friends. Also, there’s a new Mario game that I intend to conquer.
