Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

 

I grew up in Croydon, raised in the Polish communities in Norwood Junction and Balham, singing and dancing in the Polsih folk dance groups, (kinda born on to the stage since I was a nipper).  Even though I was born in Bromley, I didn’t speak English until I went to school! Shook off my accent around 11 years old out of necessity form getting bullied, but my Eastern European roots still flowed in my blood. Wrote my first song at 7 years old, it was in English with a strong accent.  Composed songs and harmonies ever since.  Classically trained on the piano, self taught on guitar, didn’t finish college, left home at 17, avoided Uni like the plague, travelled around Europe in a VW camper for 5 years, busking my music, and working in Techno festivals.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

 

Originally I didn’t know what to call myself.  Wanted a stage name, to get away from my day to day life, came up with a few ideas, that didn’t really sit well and a friend asked, “try and think of a name that describes you…” to which I replied “well, I’m just ‘me’ aren’t i”?  ‘Me’ was taken in every domain name, so ‘Mee’ underlined that it was all about Mee and didn’t have domain’s taken, so I grabbed it.  But after a year of gigging with it, people’s response was varied.  Even though all my lyricism is about self love and promoting the importance of looking after the self hence, the #ilovemee movement at my gigs, but in the end people gravitated more toward describing me as ‘Mee And The Band,” because I have worked with so many different musicians throughout the years.”

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

 

I have given my music away from free, I personally like doing it, but my management and producer have advised not to, because some record labels like to have complete ownership and not have anything shared online.  But now with streaming being the way revenue is moving forward it’s obviously flipping everything on it’s head.  I still ahvemixed views and so do a lot of MMF and BASCA members.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Create a profile on BBC introducing.  Gigmit and BandCamp are good fishing sites.  But creating your own shows in your local area by hiring out village halls and getting cover bands to fill out the night, then selling ticket entry works well too.  Email every local radio you can with follow up phone calls to chase them and send links to soundcloud etc requesting play and interviews and live studio play.

 

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

 

Process?!  I carry pens and paper pads with me everywhere I go, I sing into my phone then every week download it to my laptop, write up lyrics into books, map out chords on piano, record into logic, this is all my composition take.  Life is bursting with inspiration, I always have a list of topics to write up but I also have a big archive to record.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

 

www.meemusic.co.uk  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud and Youtube.

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

 

I’d buy a house, I’m so sick of moving, it’s luck being a renting tenant gypsy, luck of the draw with shit landlords, shit houses, I’ve moved 19 times in the last 15 years and I have hated it.  Living out of boxes and bags, never feeling safe or settled, you just feel like a dispensable citizen.  (written songs about it) So I’d buy something modest to house my family near Croydon.  Then I’d make 3 powerful music videos, that I’ve wanted to make for ages and best of all I’d fund my album to be finished quick time and a kick arse tour, to Europe and Japan and America.  OMG it feels so real when I talk about it.  Japan is going to love Mee (and The Band)!

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

 

Image has helped loads, I think I stand out from the crowd, my photographer and make up artists are the very best and make my vision reality.  I dont’ really, things just happen and I get approached, i think it took a while to get the ball rolling, but the competition “Live and Unsigned” helped get me exposure, so did BBC introducing.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

 

Yup, I have redefined the sound to something I love with the help of The Band aka @RyanTheGecko and the first gig is coming up soon 5th May Dalston, Passing Clouds, check out the website.  Working on getting the EP finished and hand it over to people in the industry that are eager to hear it.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

 

I’d be dancing to it, listening to it and growing vegetables and setting up community permaculture projects.

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

 

I don’t know.  I am a genius miracle worker, but no kidding, I meditate a lot, I have a support group that helps me focus on the passion and dreams, I get up early and do what needs to be done.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

 

Really fun audience participation gigs, expect plenty of clouds on sticks, fun surprise live show with all sorts of magic.  Plus the most awesome kick arse music.  I am so proud of it and really looking forward to sharing it and the gig schedule getting packed out soon. x