What is your name?
My artist name is MIRI (all in caps)
What is your genre of music?
Alternative Pop
Give us a little bio about you.
Over the years I’ve performed my music around the uk and Europe including in male prisons, I’ve supported artists including Natty, Laura Veirs and Frank Turner, and have received radio airplay on BBC6 Music, Radio X and community/independent radio stations and places around the world including a Starbucks in Arkansas. I have predominantly recorded and self released music funded by crowdfunders. I’m an Ambassador for The F-List, a uk music directory for female and gender diverse artists and launched my ‘Find Your Voice’ merch over lockdown on World Mental Health Day. Last year I was one of 64 voices on the LOUD Women single ‘Reclaim These Streets’ raising money for Womens Aid.
What made you go into music?
I fell into it after receiving interest from a music A&R in my teens. I couldn’t have predicted how my life has turned out.
Who are your influences?
Many musical genres including Motown, Soul, Reggae, Punk, Folk, Pop, Hip Hop…
Are you signed?
I’m signed to a music publisher called May Music LTD
You released your new single ‘Morality’, tell us more about the single.
‘Morality’ is a song commission for POWA Scotland who fund women in the arts. I was asked to write about my experiences as a woman so I wrote about emotional & mental abuse.
What is the meaning behind the single?
It’s about acknowledging the emotional and mental abuse I experienced, recognising how that held me back yet also taught me to accept my power and strength. There’s an element within the song that relates to my experiences as a woman in music and life. I’ve reflected recently upon the negative behaviours some of the men I’ve worked with over the years have displayed and how as a woman to behave in such a way wouldn’t be tolerated or accepted. Double standards.
What was the writing and recording process like?
Having a purpose to write made that part of the process quite easy going. It was the first time I recorded my vocals from home for a release which felt empowering. There’s room for improvement as I can hear certain vocal parts that I could have recorded tighter level wise but you have to do it in order to learn and get better and I’m proud over what I’ve done.
Describe the track in two words.
Emotionally Raw
Who did you work with on the single?
I worked with Producer Jen Athan. We went back and fourth with ideas and sounds in order to get to the finished version. I loved the violin parts Jen played in and the atmospheric sounds.
Will we see a Music video for single ‘Morality’, what can we expect from the creative process?
POWA have created a lyric video for the song which will be released via their YouTube channel.
Tell us more about POWA and how readers can help it grow more.
POWA stands for Protection of Women in the Arts. Joining their Patreon for £1 a month is a great way to start. Following POWA and the POWA artists on socials can help in a big way too.
Will we see an EP or Album and if so, can you give us a teaser of what to expect?
At the moment I don’t have the funding or finances to record a new EP or album (as much as I would love to). I’m a full time musician and the pandemic was hard. My focus this year has been to build my work load back up so I can pay my bills comfortably each month. Energy bills are meant to go up again in October and it’s a stress. My dream would be to spend a few months in the studio honing my recording sound. Always good to dream because you never know what’s around the corner.
Do you have any live shows or a tour coming up and if so let us know where we can catch you at?
I’m performing at Brighton Pride 6th August and LOUD Women in Hastings 14th July. They’ll be a few more live shows coming up so keep an eye on my socials. I’d love to do some gigs in Scotland.
What else can we expect in 2022?
Vibes
Will we see any collaborations and if so, can you tell us more about them?
I can’t give away too much at the moment as it’s top secret but there’s a collaboration on the cards with a Grime artist and producer I know.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
In my ideal vision my music would be placed in plenty of sync licensing deals, I’d have performed on the Jools Holland show and would be doing some acting…why not eh?! I’d be touring with my music and have a small and supportive team around me helping me to elevate.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
What is meant for you cannot miss you
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
I can think of 3…my keyboard if I’m doing a solo set, my SM58 mic, and I cannot forget how to play my songs!
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
All my socials are miriofficialuk and my website is www.miriofficial.com which is like the mothership for all my links.
