In an empty classroom, with the day’s lesson still on the board, five students were hanging out when one decided to start playing his guitar. Setting up the camera, the students decided to film an impromptu cover of ‘From The Start’ by Laufey. Despite an figuring out the cover as they went, the singers’ harmonies fit together beautifully, showing just how talented these musicians were. However, when one of them started figuring out a violin solo on the fly, he shocked even his fellow musicians.
As soon as the violinist started playing, the other musicians spun around to look at him in amazement. Music Man fans will understand why when they hear him figure out the solo on the spot, trading amused and uncertain looks with the others as they laughed and applauded, blown away by his talent despite their own clear musical skill. Viewers online were similarly astonished by the way he stole the show, one commenting, “THE VIOLINIST FIGURING OUT THE SOLO BY EAR IS SO PEAK.”
I was not only astonished by the level of talent among these young musicians but also by the laid-back atmosphere. With one singer fixing her uniform and hair, and some of the others unsure of the lyrics and messing around, making hearts with their hands towards the camera, I would have forgiven them for giving a less-than-impressive performance. Instead, the fact that they played their instruments and sang with such a laid-back attitude made everything all the more impressive.
Junas Senor, the guitarist from the video, has uploaded a number of other covers to his YouTube channel that Music Man fans are sure to enjoy, too. His most popular video, with 1.5M views, shows him playing ‘Pasilyo’ by Sunkissed Lola. Despite this cover being a solo performance, it still holds the same laid-back energy as his classroom jam session. Sitting outside with his friends chattering around him, he seems to have tapped into a charming way to combine music with his everyday life.
In a world in which much of the music we are exposed to is carefully curated and polished, Junas’ music embraces a style in which authenticity is front and center. His covers are not only bringing joy into the lives of those who hear him play in person, but also to all those who discover his simple but beautiful videos online. Junas’ videos don’t just capture the astonishing talent of himself and his friends, but they also capture connection, play, and the way that music can turn everyday moments into treasured memories.