Bluey Green: Interview + New Self-Titled EP 'BLUEY GREEN'

MusicInterviews

28 Jul

KATIE BROWN - 28 JULY 2021

You know that age-old debate over style vs. substance? When you come across something that’s a perfect marriage of the two, it’s both rare and noteworthy (and pretty darned satisfying, not gonna lie here). Breezy and upbeat with meaningful undertones coming from a contemplative space, Mount Maunganui artist Bluey Green’s self-titled debut EP BLUEY GREEN is a pretty refreshing representation of that stylish-yet-substantial sweet spot. Warm and with a unique laid-back charm, it’s a genre-straddling blend of chill pop, surf rock and dance by Bluey Green’s Mitch Horton, and it evokes sensations of the taste of sea spray, the shimmering of the sun on the waves, and those existential twilight thoughts that like to elbow their way in after a day happily spent.

Produced by the inimitable MERK (aka Mark Perkins), it’s a delicious blend of layered guitars, synths, uncomplicated beats and more chill vibes than you can shake a stick at. Part of its charm lies in the earnestness of Mitch’s lyrics and vocal performance, both of which are sincere and unpretentious - they’re delivered with an effortless and ease that contribute to the natural sense of warmth the EP conveys. Complemented by a sense of depth achieved by the considered production, each track is different from the next: the journey from the relaxed feel of opening track ‘Morning Sunshine’ to the slower and more contemplative closing number ‘Trouble’ comes with just those twists and turns that you’d expect from an artist who is simply writing about life.

Earlier in the year, Mitch released his debut single ‘Morning Sunshine’ to acclaim, and the video accompanying the track garnered a nod of appreciation (and a resulting 100k+ views) from the one and only Sam Neill, whose film footage Mitch had used care of the New Zealand Film Archives. ‘Colours’ and ‘Roses’ followed hot on its heels, culminating in the self-titled EP, released on the 9th of July.

Mitch is currently working on his live set after pulling together a 5-piece band, and hopes to have some shows lined up in support of BLUEY GREEN in September. Not one to rest on his laurels, he also has a full album on the brew. Watch this space!

Follow Bluey Green on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Read our interview with Mitch of Bluey Green below.

KATIE: FIRST THINGS FIRST: WHAT’S BEHIND THE NAME ‘BLUEY GREEN’?

Mitch: Ha, yeah I really need to develop a better story for this, but I just wanted a name that wasn't mine or someone else and this kinda felt like it fitted well. Mitch James has Mitch’s pretty sorted at the moment, also I'm a lifelong surfer so it sort of fitted in with that a bit.

WHAT DROVE YOU TO CREATE AND RELEASE THIS EP?

As a songwriter it’s been on my bucket list my whole life to create and release some music on my own (I had a couple of small releases with bands back in my early 20’s). Having kids and trying to pay the bills meant this got pushed out a bit further than I would have thought, but it makes sense that I am creating music now. I think maybe I have a bit more to share now and a bit or a better perspective on life (maybe ;) )

WHO HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS IN YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY TO THIS POINT?

Good questions, hmmm definitely Phoenix from France, they are probably my all time favourite band and just seem so effortless and authentic with everything they release and always seem like they are having fun, I think those are key focuses for me as well. Locally MERK has been a recent inspiration and getting to work with on this EP was so rad. He is just really really good, amazing ideas and just such a genuine down to earth guy that is so passionate about music.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE ROCK OPERA (!) YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH IN EASTERN EUROPE: WHAT WAS YOUR ROLE AND WHAT WAS THAT LIKE AS AN EXPERIENCE?

Lol, yeah this was a bit random, I actually drove for them for a tour of the middle east and Europe, including driving a van load of gear across Syria to Lebanon. The next year their keyboardist/actor left the band of 15 people and I jumped in for a couple of big tours. It was a crazy experience but really really cool. They are not a hugely famous band or anything but we played some amazing festivals and shows.

YOU’VE JUST RECENTLY SPRUNG ONTO THE MUSIC SCENE IN AOTEAROA IN YOUR CURRENT CAPACITY WITH THE RELEASE OF YOUR FIRST SINGLE ‘MORNING SUNSHINE’ IN JANUARY THIS YEAR: WERE YOU INVOLVED WITH ANY OTHER ACTS BEFORE THIS?

Just a couple of pop punk bands when I was a lot younger, which were really fun but we never took them very seriously. I am definitely a rookie on the scene at the moment, which is really fun because everything is new to me and exciting :)

SPEAKING OF ‘MORNING SUNSHINE’, PRETTY COOL TO HAVE SAM NEILL GIVE IT A NOD OF APPRECIATION CARE OF THAT BLISSED-OUT VIDEO MADE USING NEW ZEALAND FILM ARCHIVE FOOTAGE OF HIS! HOW WAS THAT EXPERIENCE?

Oh so rad, I love Sam Neill and to have him really like something I created was really cool. The video was based on a video he made in 1976 and I think he really liked how I used it to create something new and fresh. I pretty much just tell people now that Sam Neill directed my first video.

(cont’d below)

YOUR SOUND IS VERY UPBEAT AND BREEZY, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT IT IS THAT THERE’S A DEEPER SENSE OF MEANING WHEN YOU LISTEN A LITTLE CLOSER. WHERE DOES THIS COME FROM? DO YOU THINK THE MOUNT MAUNGANUI LIFESTYLE INFLUENCES YOUR SOUND?

Thanks for listening! And yes I think that sort of sums up what I really want to do with my music, create upbeat fun music with an underlying meaning that explores more of the thoughts and feelings that come with simply being a human in 2021. I think your surrounding community and lifestyle will always influence your music.

HOW DOES YOUR SONGWRITING PROCESS WORK? ARE YOU QUITE COLLABORATIVE IN YOUR APPROACH WITH MERK, WHO HAS BEEN PRODUCING FOR YOU?

Generally I create most of my songs on an acoustic guitar by myself whilst surrounded by chaos (kids!). From there I see which ones I still like in a few weeks, the ones that feel good and then I usually roughly demo them in my little studio. MERK jumped in about now and helped me figure out the ones to record and produce and from there we generally build upon the ideas in my demos and create the polished final version. MERK has a tonne of good ideas and we seem to always be on the same page so it is such a fun process working with him.

“ROSES”, A SONG YOU WROTE FOR YOUR WIFE, WAS 15 YEARS IN THE MAKING: HOW (AND WHY!) DID THIS ONE STAY UP YOUR SLEEVE SO LONG?

It started off as a little emo/screamo chorus I used to sing/scream when I was young that never turned into a song and then last year it came back to me randomly when I was looking for some lyrics. I wrote it around the time I first met my wife, so 15 years and 3 kids later it was cool to turn into a song.

“COLOURS” IS A TRACK INSPIRED BY YOUR CHILDREN AND THE EMOTIONS THEY EVOKE. HOW DOES FAMILY LIFE INFLUENCE YOUR WRITING? DO YOU FIND THAT MAKING MUSIC NOW IS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRE-FAMILY?

Quite a lot but this is probably the only song I have written directly about them so far. I think when you have kids, everything you create is about/for them at some level. In order to actually get this EP written I really needed to lean in to them being around while I was writing songs etc and that was part of the reason I created the cover of the EP that I did.

(cont’d below)

WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO YOU IN YOUR MUSIC? WHAT DO YOU AIM FOR?

Authenticity of the artist. I think the best music in the world is when artists are 100% themselves and don’t try to be something they aren't.

YOU MENTION APPRECIATING RECORDS WITH VARIETY THAT “KEEP YOU GUESSING”, AND YOURS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THOSE: A COMMON THREAD AND SOUND RUNS THROUGH IT, BUT EACH SONG HAS A DIFFERENT FEEL AND AFTERTASTE. DO YOU APPROACH THIS INTENTIONALLY?

Hey thanks for that, it is intentional for sure to have songs at different energy levels and subject matter that hopefully fit together as a body of work. MERK’s new record is really cool how you are surprised by every track, Sufjan Stevens does this really well. It’s fun to feel like you are on a little journey.

NATURALLY, THE QUESTION MUST BE ASKED: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE RECORDS IN THIS RESPECT?

MERKS new record for sure, most Phoenix records, I felt like the new Beths album really kept you guessing and I got surprised a bit, in a really good way.

WHO ARE YOUR CURRENT FAVOURITE ACTS?

The Beths, so honest and brilliant and their songwriting is really amazing and inspiring. I love the new record from The Weather Station from Canada. I really like Georgia Lines latest releases, I think this will be a big year for her.

WHAT’S NEXT ON THE AGENDA FOR YOUR MUSIC?

I have a 5 piece band now and we are in the process of figuring out the live BLUEY GREEN show, which is sounding so cool. I am aiming to do a couple of shows in September which will be awesome because I love the performance side of music and can’t wait to do these songs live. I have also written pretty much a whole new album and am really excited to record and produce some of these songs soon. Thanks :)