Hi! So that our readers can know a bit more about you, please introduce Mica & The Midnight Blue
A: Dynamic and flowing like ocean waves, Mica & The Midnight Blue dance along the lines where Indie harmonies meet Folk emotion. Their Tropical Folk sonics create a rare quality of calm that is pure food for the soul. Occasionally contrasted with the raucous excitement of an Indie rock edge. Our four piece band is made up of me : Mica Bernard (Vocals + Guitar), Jacob Green (Lead Guitar) Adrian Foulkes (Bass) and Reiss Hemming (Drums).
You’ve just released your latest single ‘Human Beings’ and it’s amazing. For those who haven’t heard it yet, how would you describe the track?
A: Human Beings is an ecstatic track that questions the disparity between the accepted image of being British and the reality for so many British citizens. The emotional lyrics are coupled with a polychrome of bright musical expression throughout this punchy indie track; commenting on the societal shift from doing, to being seen to do. The lyrics reflect on our current system where most pressure is laid on the people who have the least. Being mixed race I’ve always longed to find music that understands my experiences and identity. I didn’t have this growing up but more and more I have seen artists brave enough to speak candidly about their experiences. I want to do the same.
Where did you record it?
A: We recorded the track at Masterlink Studios in Send, Surrey, it was so scenic there, the perfect place to write and create. We worked with a very talented producer James whose enthusiasm and skill was fantastic.
Your music interweaves so many different styles and sounds. If you could collaborate with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
A: I would love to collaborate with Marcus Mumford. He was my first songwriting idol, he writes so well in different genres but always keeps his musical identity. We could go back to my songwriter roots and write a real folky song or collaborate on something a bit more indie, but either way I think our voices would sound lush together 😉 Well, I have been harmonising with him for years now! (In my room)
What’s been your favorite musical experience to date?
A: We were somehow lucky enough to get tickets to a Bombay Bicycle Club’s Sofar Sounds show in Brighton last month, they are our idols and we were sat on the floor in the front row singing along. It was such a small show that they didn’t have any amplification and we ended up on their instagram, you can see me (Mica) and Adrian (Bass player) swaying along, like proper fan girls!
Where are you based? Can you tell us how the music scene there has inspired your sound at all?
A: We all met at university in Guildford, there was a large array of music in the scene around us from folk to funk, and soul to screamo. There was often live music to see and this eclectic mix really opened our eyes to different genres and has played a part in developing our individual tastes in music as well as our overall band sound. I think the fact that we are all from different towns and backgrounds meant that we started off with quite different influences anyway so inevitably we have all brought different flavours to the recipe, but the best part has been working on this together to settle in our own unique sound.
Can you describe your most memorable career performance? How do you recall it?
A: We played a Sofar Sounds show last month and that has been a goal of ours from the start. We played at Bristol City Farm in an amphitheater, playing outside to a full house of strangers and everyone attentively listening to our music was just magic! As we started to play it started to rain and it felt so dramatic! Luckily it was only light and stopped so we could carry on playing the show but it really did add to the magic of it, nature was doing the special effects that night!
Can we anticipate a forthcoming EP or album from you soon?
A: Yes, this is the first of 3 singles that will then be followed by an EP in April so keep your eyes peeled!
Finally, do you have any updates on upcoming gigs? What are your plans for 2024?
A: We’re about to embark on our first UK tour and that is huge for us! The Tour starts on the 21st-28th October and we are heading to Brighton, London, Bristol, Leeds & Newcastle. In 2024 we will be releasing our EP and we will be hosting a celebratory release show in April, follow us @micaandthemidnightblue to keep up to date!