“It’s everything I still wish I could say now" - Lunar June’s latest single, ‘always been u’
Everyone’s favourite alt-pop artist has returned for her first track of 2025. Released on March 13th, always been u features her iconic blend of indie, pop and electro, drawing in listeners with angsty honesty, glistening beats and mesmerising vocals.
The latest musical project of singer, songwriter, producer and visual artist Olivia Judd, always been u is a nostalgia-tinged slice of indie-pop heaven that feels like it’s come directly from your favourite 90s rom-com.
Sonically in the vein of Pale Waves and Beabadoobee but with strong influences from the likes of Charli XCX and Lorde, Lunar June is an artist you’ll want to have on your radar this year - and her latest single is sure to be the highlight of your next favourite playlist.
Lunar June explained: “I wrote this track when I was stuck in limbo in a relationship. We’d broken up but were trying to make it work, which lasted about a year. I wrote this song during that time, reflecting on mistakes made and wondering if we could ever get back to a good place. The main sentiment of the song is knowing that things had gotten so messy, difficult, and painful, but feeling in your core that this is your person, and desperately wanting to make it work.”
The song opens as she sings, “Hey, can we start again / it’s been a year since I left but you’re still stuck in my head”, admitting “I’ve been walking around with a hole in my chest / Because darling it’s always been you.” Matching the lamenting lyrics with a bedroom pop-esque beat - courtesy of both Lunar June herself and producer, Luke Marsden - the track is a stellar example of a love confession made addictively well.
Photo by @moscapri
After the headbang-worthy drums of the chorus quieten, the song ends with a voice note: “Hey, um I know it’s been a while since we spoke but / Just wanted to say that I’m thinking about you and / Yeah, I really miss you and I hope that you’re good / Yeah, speak to you soon.”
Sometimes music doesn’t need a melody to say what it means to, and we especially love the raw and unfiltered vibe of the track’s outro. Like a phone call that’s been left to go to voicemail, Lunar June’s said her piece with always been u.
She added, “There’s a lot of emotion poured into this song - sadness, longing, frustration. I think this is really summed up in the voice note that runs over the outro of the track. This entire song feels like everything I wanted to say to them in that year-long period of trying to get back together, and everything I still wish I could say now. I’d envisaged thrashy guitars and a lot of angst, but I love the softness that’s also interwoven into the track.”
Photo by @moscapri
Explaining her hopes for its reception, Lunar June confessed, “I want listeners to feel the raw emotion and angst of the song. I think a lot of people can relate to the breakdown of a relationship with someone that you love so much, but the pain of realising that love isn’t always enough. The song feels very vulnerable and I hope people connect to that.”
It’s definitely one of our favourite heartfelt tracks at VoiceNoted, and whether you’re a die-hard fan or someone completely new to her music, make sure to follow along with Lunar June’s journey on Instagram.
To learn more about the stories behind her music, you can read our Artist Interview with Lunar June on her previous single, are we really over?
And, as always, enjoy the rest of her discography on Spotify:
