Hello Y’all,

So here goes. Way back in late-May (that’s but three short months ago), we posted the Japan 2003 Tour Journal. Those of you who read the journal might recall that at the beginning of the piece I tried to provide some insight into what we’d been up to since our return from Japan back in mid-January. As well, I tried to cast a projection of what Juno might be up to for the duration of the spring and summer. I suggested we’d probably spend the foreseeable future trying to write songs, maybe play a clutch of regional shows, and sadly but decidedly, most likely not tour any time soon. People, I apologize if you feel like we’ve been silent too long but at the time that’s what the Juno picture looked like. There really was very little else to say, other than perhaps, “Hey, please enjoy reading the Japan Journal. Let us know if you liked it.”

Up to this point I’ve not responded to the rumors of Juno’s demise. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, school. I’ve spent the summer doing an Independent Writing Workshop at the University of Washington. Accordingly, I haven’t had much time to work on the website or respond to inquiries on the status of our band. Secondly, I haven’t responded because to be honest, dispelling and/or substantiating a weekly barrage of rumors has nothing to do with how, when, or why we make music. Please take no offense, as none is intended. Simply put, Juno is not traded on the stock market, nor does it hold public office, nor is it akin to a reality TV show. We’re people just like you and for many of us within this band, Juno has been perhaps the most important thing in our lives for several years. Both publicly and privately, our love and frustration with it is not always easy to articulate. To say the least, the past six months has been a difficult time.

From week to week we’ve been trying to sort out our various personal needs versus our collective creative efforts with this band. As anyone who’s ever worked in a collaborative group can tell you, the longer the group stays together the more difficult it often becomes for all involved to share a lock-step approach to creative pursuits. From the earliest days of Juno’s existence, the members of this band have always been distinctly different people with divergent work ethics and varying needs for writing music, recording and touring. After nearly eight years together, well, this would be true even more so.

Friends, this band is entirely a labor of love, (as is this website). To be certain, a band is often a fulfilling, beautiful thing to be a part of. But occasionally things break down. Sometimes things stall. Sometimes members don’t have a shared vision for what all is necessary to keep the band moving forward. Now and again, natural disaster strikes. Sometimes unnatural disaster weighs in. Sometimes people behave like assholes. Or not. Sometimes no one’s an asshole, but nonetheless, the thing inexplicably runs its course. As a result, sometimes it is best to see the situation for what it is and bow out.

This summer and fall we had the opportunity to write songs, do some recording, and maybe a couple of tours. But due in large part to differing motivations and conflicting schedules we again had to pass. Which brings me to this announcement: Much as I would’ve liked nothing more than to be writing another album and/or touring right now, we’ve all agreed to put Juno on indefinite hiatus. Call it breaking up, call it taking a long nap, call it whatever you like. But as Gabe joked to me on the phone last night, “We’re diseased and for the time being may need to be cryogenically frozen until we can be thawed out with a cure.” We simply don’t all want the same things right now. Consequently, I’m soon moving away for a while to work on a few other writing and music projects.

Like I said, this isn’t at all what I was hoping to write tonight. But ultimately change is good, and in Juno’s case perhaps long overdue. At some point in the near (or distant) future we may resume work on our next album. I don’t think any of us can really say right now. With help from Gaynell and Thad, we’ll most likely maintain the website for a long time to come, posting occasional Juno-related updates and news of various side projects as they may arise. *[If anyone has interesting ideas for how to possibly expand the site’s scope, please email Gabe and me.]

I’d like to end by saying this: I believe making art, sharing ideas and being present in the world is important. Great or small, symbolic or concrete- where matters of art, politics and community are concerned, trying to do something positive is always better than doing nothing. Your interactions on the site are proof of this. It is always fantastic to see people talking about anything on our message board. Your discussions, diatribes, words of support, criticisms, informative links, and dumb jokes alike have all given us tremendous infusions of optimism over the years, especially at times when things have otherwise been pretty goddamn bleak. I sincerely hope people continue using the message board as a way to share Juno’s music, discuss ideas, and build community.

Thank you for the many kindnesses you’ve shown us. The attention you’ve given our music has been hugely appreciated all these years. Thank you for coming to our many shows throughout the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Thank you for buying our recordings and downloading our songs. Thank you for listening to our music and passing it along to your friends. Thank you for sharing your food with us and for lending us your floor space, showers, and washers & dryers. Thank you for booking our shows and giving us directions to the next city. Thank you for all of this and so much more. Our lives are the better for it. Sincerely, thank you. Good night.

Best Regards,

Arlie Carstens/Juno