San Luis Obispo, CA – Juniper Honey has released their latest single, “Stone Me,” an alternative rock track that sees the indie rock band throw their hat into the ring of heartbreak songs – sharing a dynamic, emotionally charged performance reminiscent of early to mid-2000s bands. “Stone Me” is available to stream and download on all major digital platforms.
“Stone Me” follows the immediate aftermath of a breakup, grappling with the oceans of the distance between two people through an all-consuming rhythm and passionate vocals. In the track, Juniper Honey harnesses the emotional emptiness that emerges after disappointment and turns it into an exploration of what it means to feel lonely: an ache both dull and twistedly comforting, a staggering mix of desperation, regret, and disbelief. “Stone Me” makes it clear that Juniper Honey knows a thing or two about heartbreak and its inevitability as part of human experiences – how it cannot be avoided, but often simply needs to be embraced, and felt to the brim. Abandoning himself to this acknowledgment, lead singer Jake Hesse opens up about regrets shared by himself and the other band members, turning the bleak nature of heartbreak into an impetuous fervor that has the track glowing with emotional intensity. The puzzling, brazen feelings of “Stone Me” are memorable – standing out against a plethora of heartache repertoires – making the song a vivid, gritty, electric melancholy anthem.
The track was written by Hesse “on a very rainy night sitting on [his] bed in [his] dorm room,” in a fitting moment of pathetic fallacy which saw emotions flooding through with the catastrophic intensity of a calamity, but with the knowledge that he would emerge on the other side. This resulted in lines like, “The weather’s changing slowly / So leave it all behind, babe,” in a plea to forget the disappointment and start fresh. “Stone Me” was produced by Stefan Mac, who is best known for his work with Wallows, Palaye Royale, and Young the Giant, and developed collaboratively with the whole band into a layered sonic and emotional experience.
Jake Hesse (lead vocals, guitar) and Donovan Hess (drums) started playing music together in multiple projects in 2020, performing at shows all over California before their lineup expanded in late 2022, adding Cason LeSueur (guitar) and Josh West (bass), forming what is now Juniper Honey. Drawing inspiration from classic rock and folk-rock from the 60s and 70s, Juniper Honey fuses the hazy whimsicality with bright, energetic elements of alternative rock bands. Eclectic in their themes as they are in their influences, the band touches on the confusions of coming-of-age, romance, and heartbreak, prioritizing vibrant and authentic storytelling at the center of their music projects. After having entirely home-recorded their self-titled debut album which was released earlier this year, Juniper Honey is looking to step into studio-produced music and bring their quintessentially indie breezy, expressive vocals, and animated storytelling to new stages and audiences.
Emerging indie rock outfit Juniper Honey is defining their sound with “Stone Me” and its commitment to feeling your feelings amidst dramatics and disappointment. Stream “Stone Me” now on all major music platforms, and be sure to check out more of Juniper Honey on their website JuniperHoneyMusic.com and Instagram @juniperhoneymusic.
