Jun.e, a young college student at the University of Washington, has set an incredible example of what it means to be an independent artist. He surrounded himself with like-minded individuals who share a common passion, and together, they’ve created something special.
Jun.e’s homemade sound feels like freedom — the kind that makes you want to drop the top of your car (if you can) or roll down your windows and cruise the freeway. His blend of R&B and West Coast bounce is ethereal and captivating, fully immersing listeners in his sonic world.
After dropping a handful of singles in 2022, Jun.e founded the group West of Eden. Once they began releasing collaborations in 2024 — including “Butterfly,” “Contact,” “again,” “my heart,” and “like that” — his music reached new heights and started gaining more traction than ever before.
2024 was a breakout year for West of Eden. The group gained an exponential number of fans and significant local recognition, eventually selling out a show at Barboza and securing a spot at the Capitol Hill Block Party. Most recently, they joined 88rising’s Future of Asian Music, both as a collective and as individual artists — including Jun.e.
I had the chance to meet Jun.e and the rest of the group personally after one of their Seattle events. When I spoke to him, he told me,
“I prefer being able to do music from my home setup over an industry-level studio,”
Which explains the homemade vibe that I – along with their hundreds of thousands of fans – truly love about their music. As of 2025, West of Eden has released four new singles and taken major steps to expand their reach, traveling up and down the West Coast to perform and grow their fanbase. I’m excited to see what the rest of 2025 holds for Jun.e and his group.
