Photo Credit: Steve Gullick
We caught up with Liverpool alternative rockers The Mysterines a couple of hours before they played a headline set at Y Not Festival, to discuss their recently released album Afraid Of Tomorrows, their upcoming UK headline tour and more.
Can you begin by telling us about the band, when you started etc.
George: Myself and Lia met many years ago before we were teenagers around twelve years old, we started a few bands.
Lia: Yeah, we started messing about with instruments at an early age.
Paul: Me and Callum have known each other since five years old and we started playing music around eleven years old.
Your latest album release Afraid Of Tomorrows has gone down well with the fans. Have you noticed more attention from the media and fans since the release?
G: It’s hard to know what effect it has had, we don’t really notice things like that. The festival crowds have been more responsive and getting more recognised. We are a more established band now and it has been good to watch the fanbase grow.
[The band’s friend from fellow Liverpool band Rats pops over to say hello!]
How different was the recording process, from debut album Reeling to Afraid Of Tomorrows?
G: We went to LA which was a new thing, and spent a bit of time out there where we had been touring, and after a shortlist of producers we ultimately went with John Congleton, loved what he has done for years.
P: We spent five or six weeks out there in the sun, the surroundings made a big difference.
We really like the video for The Last Dance. It looked like there was a lot of work went into it.
L: Not really, we did Maida Vale the same day we did the video. I lost my passport in The Netherlands and had to go to the British Embassy that morning before we went to Maida Vale, then we did the video in the afternoon. I can’t really remember filming it really, it all happened so fast that day!
G: We worked with a really good video production company and everything was set up for us arriving.
What tracks do you like playing the most and what ones get the best crowd response?
L: Sink Ya Teeth from Afraid Of Tomorrows.
P: I like playing Jesse You’re a Superstar, but we are so present on the stage that all the songs are amazing to play live.
There are quite a few bands from Liverpool on the way up. Are there any particular ones you follow?
G: We are friendly with Rats who tried to gatecrash the interview earlier! Pixies. Everyone has time for each other in Liverpool. There is a friendly environment and everyone helps each other when they can.
We are looking forward to the UK tour in October and November. This will be your biggest headline tour to date, what dates are you most excited about?
G: Olympia, London Shepherd’s Bush.
L: Bristol always seem to bring out the crowd, they seem to like our music down there.
What’s next for The Mysterines, are you working on any new music?
P: We have had a crazy few years, even though last year we didn’t tour as much we were writing an album. 2024 has been the biggest year for us so far. I think after the tour we will be a bit drained, so looking forward to a break next year.
Do you enjoy playing in my home city of Glasgow?
L: Its always been really good in Glasgow. Barrowland is amazing. We have also played Van Winkle, The Garage, The Poetry Club, Nice n Sleazys, Queen’s Park.
Which festival do you enjoy playing the most and why?
G: Best Kept Secret in the Netherlands was the best festival to date, playing before PJ Harvey and Slow Pulp.
Thank you for the interview. We’re looking forward to your headline set later and hope that you avoid any more flat tyres!
Interview by: Alan Brown
The Mysterines‘ new album is out now via Fiction Records, available to stream or purchase HERE.
See The Mysterines live at one of the following dates:
October 2024
Sat 5th – MANCHESTER, UK – Venue TBA
Fri 18th – DUBLIN, IE – Whelan’s
Sat 19th – BELFAST, UK – Ulster Sports Club
Sun 20th – GLASGOW, UK – St. Luke’s
Tue 22nd – NOTTINGHAM, UK – Rescue Rooms
Wed 23rd – BRISTOL, UK – Thekla
Thu 24th – LONDON, UK – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Sat 26th – LIVERPOOL, UK – Olympia
Mon 28th – ANTWERP, BE – Kavka
Wed 30th – HAMBURG, DE – Molotow Skybar
Thu 31st – BERLIN, DE – Badehaus
November 2024
Sat 2nd – WARSAW, PL – Niebo
Sun 3rd – PRAGUE, CZ – Futurum
Mon 4th – MUNICH, DE – Kranhalle
Tue 6th – MILAN, IT – Biko
Wed 7th – ZURICH, CH – Exil
Thu 8th – PARIS, FR – La Boule Noire
