Q&A: MISSY

AUCKLAND-BASED ARTIST & PRODUCER MISSY TAPS INTO SOMETHING OTHERWORLDLY WITH HER DEBUT ALBUM “MAJOR ARCANA”, EXPLORING THE SELF, THE FACETS OF THE SELF, AND OTHER PEOPLE. DELIVERING DARK HYPERPOP LIKE YOU’VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE, MIXED IN WITH HER POWERFULLY DIVINE VOCALS, SHE CHATS TO US ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM, HER BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS RANGING FROM BRAHMS TO KANYE WEST AND MORE.

WE’D LOVE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY SO FAR FROM WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED SINGING AND MAKING MUSIC!

I grew up singing in a local church choir directed by my mother, and playing cello. I shifted into admiring pop music when I hit puberty, at first to fit in, but then because I discovered that I'd been lied to about its capacity to express depth & musicality.

I fell into production pretty gradually - I was always far more interested in the songwriting creative processes. When working with producers, I felt like I was being misunderstood. I wanted to improve communication with them, so I began creating more & more elaborate demos in Logic. I knew it was time to actively pursue production when someone I was working with began insulting me. I could tell by his insults (that my production was “bad and I shouldn’t bother” etc) that he was threatened, and I was probably starting to get pretty good! 

WOW, WE’RE IN LOVE IN LOVE WITH YOUR POWERFUL DEBUT ALBUM “MAJOR ARCANA”! CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF THIS PROJECT, WHY YOU DECIDED TO NAME IT “MAJOR ARCANA” AND THE THEMES YOU DELVE INTO?

Many of us want the ability to better read the world around us. We feel like if we understand the now, we have a chance to predict the future. “Major Arcana” draws inspiration from Tarot cards, with some songs relating to different cards in a deck, while as a whole it represents the human need to explore the self. To some, Tarot is a whimsical and silly “gimmick,” to others a crutch used in place of active, adult decision making, but to some it has the potential to tap into something powerful & unknown. I feel that “Major Arcana” wants to tap into all of those perspectives at once, and wants to be all of those things at once, hence the title.

The album is reflective, but also bottled confusion. Many songs are what I'd call “brain vomit” (an expression of every thought and feeling in a given moment at once, that is then sifted through and analysed, categorized). Other tracks are hugely reflective and contemplative, making predictions, assumptions and statements. It explores the self, the facets of the self, and other people. Your perspective on “Major Arcana” should shift when “Minor Arcana” comes out (the album’s 2nd half or shadow self).

MISSY is an amalgamation of several specific people from my life stitched together, which makes her perspective on the world both wide and narrow, dark and light. Careful, if you have enough of an impact you might become a part of her! Sometimes she accumulates. 

INCREDIBLE! WHAT WAS THE WRITING & PRODUCTION PROCESS LIKE FOR THE ALBUM?

I was stoked to collaborate on some of the tracks with several wonderful producers - Harry Charles, Justyn Pilbrow, Edward Liu & Will Henderson (while completing several songs on my own).

Writing always happens in a flash for me, usually flowing very naturally. I’ve noticed if I have to go back and rewrite a section that’s not working, usually my “flow” gets broken and I'll be lucky to get it back. Now that I'm a confident producer in my own right, it’s very exciting to be getting back into co-production, or collaboration with music producers. If you value the work you do/the impact you can have on another person’s project, then why wouldn’t you want that for your own?

Yes, there are always considerations of “style” and finding the right fit. The people I approached and the method that was used to create music with them was adjusted to keep the experience positive, fun and inspiring, while still staying true and authentic for both myself as MISSY and them. I had to consider each time what the best way to work with them would be for them, considering their strengths or inclinations & how that would work best with my project.

“PARANOIA” IS ONE OF OUR FAVE TRACKS! CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE MEANING OF THIS TRACK AND THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT? 

I always prefer to hear other people's interpretation of my songs, “death of the author” etc. But if I were to explain a little I’d say that … I like entendre. I like double meaning. I like misinterpretation and re-interpretation. “Paranoia” is about what the song is entitled, but I can also feel it finding its way up other paths. Confusion, loneliness, lack of connection in an age of social media, ego-centrism fuelled by an increasingly cruel and individualistic Western society. <3 Take your pick. But still I love, love, love the chorus lyric; “It’s a threesome with my Paranoia. You, me, & the cold creeping up my spine.” Fun, a little silly ... but there’s also a chill there, maybe you relate? 

WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENTS WORKING ON THE ALBUM? 

Realising it was done! There was such a massive sense of fulfilment that came from completing this - turning to friends for mixing advice along the way. Feeling and finding true friends to turn to. “Hell In My Head” was a fun highlight, as it’s a screenshot of the chaos in my mind mid-lockdown. Dan Martin - who mastered the album - was quick to let me know my kicks were too loud, and got me to turn them down, but he also served as reassurance that the song was alright and ready to be let go of.

I kept the original demo vocals, because attempts to re-track them in a cleaner environment only served to lose any vibe that had been captured during the writing phase. It’s nice to let go of ideas like “it has got to sound perfect” because sometimes cleaner mixes, and fancier microphones kill everything you wanted the songs to mean to you. 

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS IN MUSIC?

Brahms, Mozart, Kanye West, Britney Spears, T.A.T.U, Prokofiev and Timbaland.

SUCH AN ECLECTIC MIX OF THE GREATS! WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE NZ ARTISTS RIGHT NOW AND ARE THERE ANY SONGS IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU LOVE OR CONNECT WITH?

Chelsea Jade & So Below. I really like Chelsea’s “Superfan” song.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND? DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVOURITE PLACES TO TRAVEL TO OR LOCAL SPOTS TO VISIT? 

I like Queenstown. There’s something nostalgic about sitting in a tree by the lake with a bottle of wine on New Year’s Eve.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

I am beginning to feel very accepted in the music industry. Being asked to speak at AMPs (Aotearoa Music Producer series) this year was a major highlight for me. I’m now a board member on the MPG, on an advisory committee for SAE ... am feeling very validated as a professional producer. 

HUGE CONGRATS, SOME AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS! WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST LESSONS YOU’VE LEARNT AS AN ARTIST?

Shutting up a bit, hearing people out.

LASTLY, IF YOU COULD SAY ONE THING TO EVERY PERSON IN THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

If the people you are ideologically opposed to just so happen to be “stupid”, “evil”, and “the worst”, then aren’t you lucky to be so clever & have such a superior perspective on the world? Hmm no in all reality, you probably know nothing about them, their positions, and fundamentally misunderstand your own arguments as a consequence. In a time of division, what could be better than understanding, patience and conversation.

THANKS SO MUCH MISSY! MAKE SURE TO KEEP UP WITH HER ON INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, SPOTIFY OR APPLE MUSIC.