The Just Joans

<a href="spotify:artist:5r70rjzYLPoLulghaq6j4e" data-name="The Just Joans">The Just Joans</a> were formed in Glasgow in 2005 by songwriter David Pope. Naming the band after Daily Record agony aunt Joan Burnie, work began on a number of lo-fi tracks dealing with love, rejection and everyday angst that would emerge as debut album, Last Tango In Motherwell.

Shortly after, he would add younger sister Katie Pope as a vocalist, Chris Elkin as a guitarist and bassist Fraser Ford – with all four remaining in the band to this day. Their presence helped build a reputation on the indie-pop scene, and, in 2007, The Just Joans joined WeePOP! Records. During their eight years with the DIY label, they released a series of handmade EPs including <a href="spotify:album:0HOyYvYhAX56zOfbH3CEsd" data-name="Hey Boy... You're Oh So Sensitive">Hey Boy... You're Oh So Sensitive</a>.

The recent additions of Jason Sweeney on drums and multi-instrumentalist Arion Xenos have helped elevate the band to a new level. Completing the journey from shambling two-piece to accomplished sextet, the band continue to win fans with mischievous lyrics and tender melodies. Embracing Scottish culture at every turn, the band were best described by Is This Music as ‘the missing link between <a href="spotify:artist:6RWjTQqILL7a1tQ0VapyLK" data-name="The Magnetic Fields">The Magnetic Fields</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1A92IAcd7A6npCA33oGM5i" data-name="The Proclaimers">The Proclaimers</a>.’

Since moving to Fika Recordings, The Just Joans have released <a href="spotify:album:2SARhayB0nEQmLiwhDEpW6" data-name="You Might Be Smiling Now...">You Might Be Smiling Now...</a>, their first new LP in a decade. Much acclaimed in the music press, Uncut identified the record as the point at which ‘<a href="spotify:artist:2x7iCl510O317XjOcG7iOf" data-name="Stephin Merritt">Stephin Merritt</a> lies down with <a href="spotify:artist:4wWQkHhmUNlXvhbHRUSqZW" data-name="The Vaselines">The Vaselines</a>.’ The band’s new album, <a href="spotify:album:2evnWlEIkBhw1fhKPXmYWD" data-name="The Private Memoirs and Confessions of The Just Joans">The Private Memoirs and Confessions of The Just Joans</a>, was released in January 2020.