Photo credit: Wendy Lynch Redfern
As with many seminal rock bands – U2, Incubus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers being three famous examples – the members of Mew are world-famous even though they started playing together as teenagers. Mew may not be a household name in the United States, but in their 20-plus years together, their self-described “indie-stadium” sound has brought up chart success and high-profile festival appearances throughout Europe and Asia.
In support of their latest full-length, “+/-,” Mew is booked for its first North American tour in six years this fall. Set for a New York show at Webster Hall on October 10th, frontman Jonas Bjerre—who I had the pleasure of meeting at OK Go’s world-premiere of their “This Too Shall Pass” music video and endlessly annoyed with questions about Denmark’s music scene – took the time to answer some questions about what’s ahead for the unique, inspiring quartet.
What do you wish more people knew about Mew?
Mew’s Jonas Bjerre: Oh, I don’t know. I think if you want to know about us, there’s a lot to learn already out there. We’ve made a lot of music over the years, even though the albums have been far in-between. That’s really the most important thing, I think, to know. The music.
How would you compare “+/-” to other titles from your catalog?
J: To me it feels more versatile, more diverse. I think, during our time as a band, we’ve investigated different things, different extremes, musically, and on this album we’ve pretty much allowed ourselves to just let the songs take the shape they’ve wanted to take. And trusted that no matter what direction we go in, it will still sound like us, because we are the ones playing the songs. So it’s been a bit more open, and less thought out.
Kimbra sang on three songs on “+/-,” how did you first meet her? Was it a connection made through your mutual friend Rich Costey?
J: Yes, it was indeed. Rich sent over some of her songs on the album they were working on together, and I really liked them. I think that whole album is amazing! It has the kind of imagination I think is missing from a lot of pop music these days, it doesn’t define itself within a specific box, she does what she is. So I ended up singing on a song of hers called “The Magic Hour,” and she returned the favor by lending her vocals to the Mew album.
I first learned about your band from Tim Christensen, who I believe played on “Frengers.” How do you find that most people learn about Mew? Touring? Word of mouth?
J: Tim actually played mellotron on a couple songs on our album “Half The World Is Watching Me,” which was a Scandinavia-only release, from before “Frengers.” I think touring and word of mouth are both a great part of it. We’ve always been a bit left of center, and I think seeing us live, you get a broader idea of what we are trying to do, and to people who have the right kind of sensibility for our music, they carry that with them, tell their friends.
Aside from Tim, who are some of the Danish artists that more people in the U.S. should be listening to?
J: There’s a new young band called Communions that I think have a really nice energy to them, a kind of sensitive energy, and outburst of something that feels very raw and very pure at the same time. I also really like Ice Cream Cathedral, Death Has No Dominion, Silo, and Pre-Be-Un.
In having formed Mew in 1994, when you were still a teenager. Does Mew feel like your high school band in any way?
J: Sometimes, but rarely. It’s great that we have this long history together, some of us have known each other since we were six years old, but I think the band in general is more excited about the future than the past.
In some parts of the world, you’re an arena band and festival headliner, and other parts you’re playing clubs and small theaters. Does that affect your live performances?
J: I expect so, in the way that seeing a band on a huge stage is a different experience from seeing them in an intimate club. For us, it’s a kind of luxury, because we get to experience both, and each has its benefits. It’s amazing to be on a big stage and feel the response of a big audience, and you can bring elements to the show that are different than what you can bring to a small club. But the club offers a sense of intimacy, feeling the heat of everyone in the room, and that is a reward in itself.
What’s ahead for Mew once your Fall 2015 North American tour is done?
J: Touring and more touring! And all the other weird and fun things you do when you’re a band, it’s part of the job description. One day you’re in the studio, the next you’re at a shoot filming with strange colored lights, once in a while I have this feeling of waking up in a strange world, like I’m seeing it again for the first time.
When you’re not on the road or in the studio with Mew, what do you like to do with yourself?
J: I love making animation as well as music. That’s a big passion of mine. We all are involved in other things outside the band, but mostly as little islands away from the mainland. It’s very inspirational and beneficial to the band, even if what you do on the side is paint and do other non-musical things, the energy you bring back means a lot.
Might we be seeing more recordings from Apparatjik sometime in the future?
J: It’s entirely possible. We always have some projects going, and each one is different from the last. We are performing in Karlsruhe in September, and we have some plans that will become more clear in a year’s time.
Finally, Jonas, any last words for the kids?
J: Don’t stare at your phones all the time. You need to look at the horizon once in a while, it’s good for your soul.
Check out one of their latest music videos, “Water Slides,” from the album, “+/-.”
-by Darren Paltrowitz
