#but go off please enjoy music in whatever way brings you the most joy /gen

[bowenoke]

So I only just listened to The fall and I did just skim the lyrics and Yep. That's politics. That's very much politics. Thankyou for talking about the UK politics everyone has just been posting "oh yeah this song has c!wilbur vibes"

ITS SO MUCH POLITICS

I get why it's not people's first reading, though! This one is a little less obvious than like... "swore she'd never kiss a tory," especially to an audience who don't know about UK politics or aren't thinking about wealth inequality.

Plus, there's really thick themes of mental illness, so if you don't pick up on Across the Pennines (they divide two economically distinct areas of England), the Thin Blue Line, and the "painting all the counties blue" (aforementioned conservatives) it could be a song about having enough and feeling bad that your mental health is still shit. Sure, an Audi R8 with custom plates is a little extravagant, and what's that bit about grocers mean?

Once you know that stuff though... dude. Oh my god. I love this song so much. Holy shit. Talking about mental illness and apathy in the face of systemic inequality and how those two things sort of intermingle and make each other worse and worse- Lovejoy killed it with this one.

Seeing people turn this into a c!Wilbur song fills me with the exact same funny feeling as people making Jubilee Line a dsmp song, but with the addition of it being Very Recent. Like, I'm sure Lovejoy/Wilbur is just happy people are enjoying the music, it's just kinda weird to watch. But I'm not judging, it's a bop no matter how you listen.

[shemakesmusic-uk]

Getting To Know...

MIRI.

MIRI is an artist, musician, songwriter, and community activist. She is recognised for her distinctive soulful vocal tone and classic British songwriting.

While MIRI’s music weaves stories, it’s her day-to-day life that she uses for inspiration. She is a regular collaborator and always seeking new ways to get her music heard. Earlier this year, MIRI recorded a version of 'Everybody Hurts' which appears on R.E.M. covers compilation, A Carnival of Sorts, raising £5000 for Help Musicians UK. MIRI’s music also appears in a new documentary, I Am Gen Z.

Behind the scenes MIRI is on the BEAT Board for The Featured Artist Coalition, and is a Social Media Ambassador for The F-List and an LGBTQ+ Ambassador for Women In CTRL.

MIRI has just released her new single 'Trends' and we had a chat with her all about the single, her creative process and more. Read the Q&A below.

Hi MIRI! How are you? What does a typical day look like for you at the moment?

"Hey! I’m good thank you. It really does vary. Sometimes opportunities come out of the blue and can switch up my whole day. The most consistent part is that I’ll start off by going to the gym which sets me up for whatever lies ahead. Being a musician has led me to work on various music and mental health programs and youth projects. For one music and mental health scheme I run 1-2-1 vocal & songwriting sessions. I’ll then practice my set for an upcoming gig and end the day catching up on a boxset. Most recently I’ve been watching the latest season of Succession."

You've just released your new single 'Trends'. What is the story behind the song and what do you hope listeners take away from it?

"I co wrote 'Trends' when I was listening to a lot of Vampire Weekend. I wanted a song to get people hyped at a festival. Previously when I’ve performed it with a band the audience would sing along to the chorus and dance away. 'Trends' is about observing political corruption yet recognising our power and strength in imagination and creativity. I hope listeners can feel inspired to say how they feel. Society has taught us to repress and restrict our emotions. Expression is empowering and healthy."

Please take us through your songwriting/creative process. Which part do you enjoy the most and which do you find the most challenging?

"If I’m writing on my own I’ll jam a little bit on the keys. I won’t think too much about what I’m singing, I’ll let it flow and then tidy up everything later. I enjoy being able to channel how I’m feeling through writing and singing. That feels special. The challenging part is actually getting myself motivated to sit down and write. I use to write a lot. Now I’ve found other creative outlets to express myself. I love music and writing and have been working as a musician for a long long time. I do at times struggle with my own mental state and can feel a bit deflated. In those moments I cannot see the point in me writing a song even though I know it’s so important for me to do and ultimately brings me joy."

As mentioned, you're a Social Media Ambassador for The F-List and an LGBTQ+ Ambassador for Women In CTRL. Please tell us a bit about that and what it means to you.

"Both these roles came about during the lockdowns. I know from personal experience how testing and challenging it can be as a woman in music. The F-List was founded by Vick Bain and is a uk directory for female and GNC artists. There’s such a lack of gender balance in festival lineups in the uk. The F-List is showing promoters that we do exist and are available to be booked! I’ve heard some people say they don’t know any women who play instruments which is ridiculous!

"Women in CTRL is set up by music manager Nadia Khan and campaigns for equality. I was involved in co organising and co chairing an online LGBTQ panel discussion. I was then invited to be an LGBTQ+ Ambassador for them."

Finally, what has been the biggest highlight of your career so far? And what are you looking forward to in the future?

"I feel as though I’ve had lots of mini highlights. Performing at Vibes & Pressure run by the artist Natty is one. I’d been told how artists like Ben Howard and Ed Sheeran had performed at the night in their earlier years so at the time it definitely felt like an important moment. A real milestone. Supporting Laura Veirs at Bush Hall was a real highlight too. The audience were so quiet and attentive I froze inside for my 30 minute set! I came off stage with the most natural high.

"I’d like to secure some more sync deals for my music. I signed a music publishing deal a year ago so I’m looking forward to seeing where that path leads."

Photo credit: Michaela Jay