🎷 Journey Beats: The Anatomy of the Groove with JUNK

When JUNK takes the stage, the performance is built on a radical kind of honesty: the freedom to fuse classical discipline with the raw energy of funk. Led by classical-contemporary pianist Amery Reuben, this funk-jazz collective delivers a sound that is as intellectually stimulating as it is irresistibly danceable, drawing intricate lines from Chick Corea to the aggressive rhythms of J-Rock.

Composed of professional musicians who double as teachers at Rubato Music School, JUNK embodies the core philosophy of the Journey Beats event series: celebrating community, authenticity, and the pure power of shared experience. Their upcoming show, which features Rubato mentorship bands Smoked Burgers and Krispy Kitties as openers, is a powerful showcase of how complex musicianship is both taught and performed, turning the Journey East showroom into a sanctuary for rhythm.

🎧 Principle 1: The Integrity of Creative Consumption

For JUNK, the process of creation begins not with writing, but with careful listening. The band approaches music with the same analytical rigour they apply to teaching, constantly deconstructing their influences to rebuild them in their own image.

As Amery Reuben notes, the musical principle is simple: "That saying—'you are what you eat,' really holds true to music." This means every performance is influenced by the genres they have internalized—from Afro-Cuban to progressive rock. When improvising, a drummer's groove might instantly trigger a familiar pattern: "Ah, this is familiar! I could play something that I've learnt in another Latin song, but in a way that sounds stylistically appropriate to the current groove."

This analytical approach is the foundation for their "unpredictable harmonies." The band cherry-picks and workshops each other's ideas, but the intentionality is paramount: "We have to decide the aesthetic and emotion before we select the appropriate and available musical devices—that’s where the beauty of everyone’s combined musical brains starts to work."

🔬 Principle 2: The Art of Breaking a Classic

Their reimagined covers of artists like Snarky Puppy are not homage; they are exercises in creative deconstruction. The greatest risk, Amery explains, lies in knowing precisely how far to push a song before its identity dissolves.

"The element of creative risk lies in pushing the boundaries of a song far enough before it becomes aesthetically unrecognisable."

This is the central lesson for both the band and their students: The joy of playing funk-jazz fusion is the ability to call on learned vocabulary and then "creatively bend what we know in order to be mentally and emotionally present in the song." Their analogy is fittingly practical: "How much can you change the ingredients and cooking process in Chinese Curry Chicken before it starts to resemble Thai Curry?"

This required discipline necessitates a strong technical base. Amery, a classically trained pianist, maintains that technique is vital for effective communication: "A professional musician needs to have sufficient facility in their fingers in order to communicate with listeners effectively."

It is this foundation that allows them to adapt to the demands of modern genres, particularly the essential groove. When asked which rhythm is paramount for unlocking groove in students, the answer is definitive: "In my opinion, definitely the funk! It teaches you how to play in between the downbeats, how to syncopate, and how to develop fast reflexes."

🤝 Principle 3: Authenticity and Shared Conversation

The true power of the Journey Beats event lies in the visible partnership between JUNK and the mentorship bands. JUNK’s role as the "teacher-band" is one of active support, not command.

"Our role isn’t to function as band leaders, as that’s what we train our students to do. Rather... our role is in supporting them musically."

Amery compares the experience to a group conversation: when a musician runs out of ideas, another member casually steps in "to revive that particular topic or create a new topic of conversation where everyone can participate."

The environment cultivated by JUNK is deliberately non-conformist, enabling musicians to be their "authentic selves." This genuine spirit is encouraged to become a source of emotional strength for students facing external pressures: "We encourage them to treat what they’re playing or composing in a way that is as cathartic as possible, and it’s in that process that they’re able to find their voice."

Ultimately, the message for the audience is clear: "Complex-sounding music doesn’t have to be hard to play when analysed and broken down effectively."

✨ Principle 4: The Unformal Stage

Playing amongst the vintage and modern furniture of the Journey East showroom removes the barrier of a traditional stage, turning the performance into an immersive conversation. JUNK is always committed to 100% intensity, but the setting allows for unparalleled audience engagement.

Amery highlights the fun of breaking convention: "We were able to get the audience to tell the band what to play, and when to play by holding out flash cards with music instructions... You simply can’t do that in a formal concert setting venues."

This commitment to direct engagement is the final element that transforms a technically complex set into a "good vibe" experience. It’s about balance: finding the sweet spot between technical perfection and aural engagement to avoid "self-aggrandising alienation."

JUNK’s return to Journey East is an invitation to witness this balance in action—a reminder that music is a collaborative, evolving conversation, and that, as an audience member, you're expected to join in.

"Our message to those who want to come is this - be prepared to be volunteered, and participate in the way we make music!"

🗓️ Journey Beats featuring JUNK

Don't miss JUNK and their special guests for a night of music acrobatics and good vibes.

• Featuring: JUNK, with special guests Krispy Kitties and Smoked Burgers

• Bar: Wildcard (Signature Cocktails and Wines)

• Where: Journey East Showroom

• When: 19th December 2025, doors open 6:00 pm

• Admission: $40 per pax (WhatsApp Amery at 9387-3011 for details)