INTERVIEW: Mesadorm — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Mesadorm

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THE fantastic Daisy Palmer and Blythe Pepino of Mesadorm...

have been telling me about their new track, When She’s in That Mood, and what it concerns. I ask what we can expect from the upcoming album, Epicadus, and what the scene is like where they are in Bristol – Palmer and Pepino recommends some rising artists to look out for.

I ask if there are tour dates approaching and the sort of music they (Palmer and Pepino) grew up around; who they’d support on the road if they could and how they unwind away from music – they each select a great track to finish the interview with.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Daisy Palmer: A good week so far - we’ve just been at our stylist’s house who has been finding us a new look for our acoustic tour. She made us a pie: highlight of the week. We are also starting to promote our new single and tour documentary directed by the legend that is Tom Jacob.

Blythe Pepino: My week has been spent mainly doing interviews on morning television representing the movement Birthstrike. My life is now split between working on Mesadorm and working as an activist within Extinction Rebellion.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

Daisy: We are a genre-bending Alternative band from Bristol probably to be found occupying the ethereal space between Kate Bush, Björk and Sylvan Esso. Blythe used to front Art-Pop trio Vaults and I’m Paloma Faith’s drummer. Jo (cello) has played with Frank Turner and The Unthanks and David (bass) and Aaron (production/guitars/synth) are ridiculously talented musicians in their own right.

Blythe: Mesadorm is a project based on the true expression of art, an old-fashioned regard for a great melody and the solid bonds of friendship.

When She’s in That Mood is your latest single. How did it come together?

Blythe: When I was living in Bridport, Dorset during early-2017, I fell head over heels in love with my now-boyfriend, Joshua. At the time, I was also having an intense relationship with a woman, a dancer and musician who I found incredibly inspiring. Lost in the heady atmosphere of love and the epic English coastline at Bridport, I mused on the idea of losing yourself in another and of the beauty and free-ness within that.

Daisy: It’s a beautiful thing.

It is from the forthcoming Epicadus L.P. What was it like recording the songs and being in Eype Church?

Blythe: Eype Church has a wonderful acoustic and its dramatic setting on the Dorset cliffs is totally awe-inspiring.

Daisy: The place just has an incredible magic about it. We have performed there many times as Blythe used to be local to the area and, when the idea of recording an acoustic album came about, we all agreed that it had to be at Eype. We worked up some alternate arrangements of the existing songs from Heterogaster within the space. We then recorded the songs live with expert engineer Tim Allen. It was truly a breath of fresh air.

Do you recall when Mesadorm got together and started playing?

Daisy: Blythe, Jo and I began playing some of Blythe’s songs as an acoustic trio around 2015. At that time, Aaron was also working on the electronic production for the songs which we slowly built into the live set, with help from David on bass.

Blythe: It was a gradual and organic process achieved in our down-time which enabled us to spend time focusing on how we wanted to sound. All five of us had played together in many different combinations over the years, so we trust each other’s taste implicitly.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Cresswell

What sort of music did you all grow up on?

Daisy: Mainly Steely Dan, David Bowie & Stevie Wonder.

Blythe: Everything! But Mum was always playing the BIG vocalists, so mainly Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin but also The Beach Boys, Labi Siffre and lots of Classical music.

How inspiring is the Bristol music scene right now?

Daisy: Bristol has always had an ace scene for left-field musicians and bands. But now there seems to be more industry infrastructure that wasn’t there when we starting playing together on the scene. IDLES and their team are an excellent example of just that: supportive musicians with an excellent manager (big up, Mark Bent!) all based in Bristol.

Blythe: The scene has come on massively and I’m so pleased there’s a hub for the industry outside of London now.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

Blythe: We’ve been having some magic times in the studio recently jamming for our next album which has made me very happy!

Daisy: ...And performing together at Maida Vale for BBC Introducing in January was insane! I’ve recorded in M.V. three many times but never with a project of my own - so it was life-affirming, truly.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Cresswell

Which one album means the most to each of you would you say (and why)?

Blythe: Bette Midler - Bed of Roses

Because she kicks ass!

Daisy: Duet - Doris Day and André Previn

It’s just so atmospheric and I’m a massive Doris Day fan.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Both: Björk - with a rider of cheesy chips.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Cresswell

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Daisy: Work really hard.

Blythe: Don’t do it for the money.

Do you have tour dates coming up? Where can we catch you play?

Blythe: We are touring Epicadus from 24th April - 26th May. Here are the dates:

24th April - The Forge, Bristol

25th April - The Barrelhouse, Totnes

26th April - The Rose Hill, Brighton

27th April - St Mary’s Music Hall, London

28th April - Cobalt Studios, Newcastle

29th April - Hug & Pint, Glasgow

30th April - Secret Location, Edinburgh

1st May - Burton Arms, Manchester

11th May - Rodborough Church, Stroud

25th May - Kino, St Leonards, Hastings

26th May - Poltimore Festival, Exeter

If we came to one of your live shows, what might we expect?

Blythe: Laughing whilst crying.

Daisy: Acoustic wonderment/‘Melt your face off Phatty Bom Batty’-bass.

IN THIS PHOTO: Laura Groves/PHOTO CREDIT: Suzie Howell

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Daisy: Laura Groves.

Blythe: BAS JAN.

IN THIS PHOTO: BAS JAN/PHOTO CREDIT: Kuba Ryniewicz

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

Blythe: I find meditation extremely useful in order to deal with my neurosis and anxiety. A healthy balance of work and time off is good and you need to make sure you are laughing enough.

Daisy: Laughing is the key to life.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Blythe: Grizzly Bear - Mourning Sound