story/ Beth Eyre
photos / Jack Alexander
With mlbacard¡, there’s an unmistakable, timeless quality to every song that she’s penned to date. There’s a brutal honesty to her lyrics that may just well stop you in your tracks and make you think “Oh, I felt that too” along with some really sophisticated beats that have a glove-like fit for most moments.We caught up with the budding newcomer ahead of her debut EP launch of “I LOVE TO DO MY OWN STUNTS.”
Hello ML, thank you for speaking to Ladygunn about your upcoming, debut EP “I LOVE TO DO MY OWN STUNTS.”
To those listening finding you on Ladygunn for the first time today, how would you sell yourself like a movie or book synopsis?
mlbacard¡ is a complex character, who takes the analysis of her own mental health very seriously while contrasting with upbeat rhythmicity that proves to lighten up the dark connotations of her songs.
There isn’t only drama, but don’t we all love a bit of drama?
Important facts to know about her include being a bit of a clutz, a very good cook and her last meal being a kebab… that should’ve maybe not followed the ‘good cook’ part.
Other than in the kitchen, she lures her audience with her eclectic musical genre that doesn’t cease to develop.
She talks openly about her struggles, as a means of release. Hoping that this can help others who are struggling with similar issues (while cooking comfort food as a means to additionally appease the sorrows).
Side note: if Kurt Cobain and Christina Aguilera had a baby, that’d be her.
Come embark on the journey with mlbacard¡, you’re in for a ride.
It’s giving unlicensed therapy with a dabble of sparkles and a big fat load of irony.
Were there any artist influences that you took influence from?
Yes for sure, I feel like it would be a handicap not to use the extended timeline of art that has the power to surround us constantly.
For this body of work, I’ve been greatly influenced by the likes of Arlo Parks, Hooverphonic, Air, Biig Piig, Amy Winehouse, Portishead, and Still Woozy – all these artists have had a way of creating a musical identity that deeply intrigues me.
Looking through the tracklist, you have a track called KETCHUP that initially caught our attention before hitting play. Can we safely assume you’re a condiment queen or is this a code name for something more deeper?
Condiment queen, I’ll gladly accept the title. Although the title of the song was originally part of a lyric that never ended up making it into the song.
I find it interesting to juxtapose something as simple as a classic condiment in relation to something far darker.
If you were a weird kid like me, having had access to iMovie – ketchup was often used as fake blood.
Even though that might portray gory imagery, there’s nothing pretty about the cycles of depression, and yet
I feel like having called the song KETCHUP has managed to lighten things up, in a childish way.
A happy reminder, that nothing is the end of the world, that we are a speck in the universe, and that you will surpass these feelings that utterly consume you.
There is light at the end of the tunnel, and coming out of it, makes you understand that your actions were somewhat childish, just like using ketchup as fake blood.
You’ll be okay.
I’m a product of being okay.
With all of your releases to date so far we can see a really strong theme relating to your relationship with your own mental health. How has the process been and has it been challenging to be so honest with yourself in front of everyone who will be playing your music?
I think being able to speak about mental health openly is a fundamental step to being happy. It’s been challenging to write about this specific topic, but incredibly cathartic.
I think it’s crucial for people to know that they aren’t alone.
Every single person on this planet has experienced emotions of unhappiness, depression, loneliness, or helplessness.
We are all in it together, and even though: yes, it is sometimes easier to not make the effort to talk about things, but life isn’t easy, don’t let it bubble inside.
Scream, dance, run, laugh, get out there, and get out of your head.
Your latest song “DO MY OWN STUNTS” is really intriguing. Can you talk us through it’s story? Do you find tongue-in-cheek titles like this and KETCHUP help soften the bigger topics you’re writing about?
The story of “DO MY OWN STUNTS” stems from a moment in time when you let your intrusive thoughts get the best of you and subsequently self-sabotage.
It talks about convincing yourself that you’re not worthy of love and questioning why people love you in the first place.
You’re scared to not be able to reciprocate that love, at the intensity that it’s given to you because you struggle to love yourself in the first place.
I think finding tongue-in-cheek titles helps lighten up these topics. It is a means of trying to show that it’s all in your head, and that’s okay – it’ll all be better in the end.
I also think that these titles reflect the music itself, the contrast between the beat and the lyrics is something that’s very I like to explore.
I think that writing sad songs by creating a happier universe for the music itself has become somewhat of a specialty of mine.
Your debut EP drops this fall and we’re very impressed with what we’ve heard. There’s a real tenderness in your vocals and lyrics that have us hooked. There are thousands of artists out there trying to find their corner in the universe. What would you like listeners to take from this EP about you and your music?
I’m very flattered.
I think people crave authenticity and simplicity. Pure emotion that I’ve felt and that I’m sure other people have too is what I think people connect with as the global human experience.
I would like people to take from my music that I’m simple, complicated, learning, making mistakes, and evolving like everybody else.
I think the understanding that we are all experiencing similar things, in different bodies is critical.
Looking ahead to the future, what else can listeners expect from you in the future?
Listeners can expect an evolution in sound, and lyrics driven by the experiences I accumulate on the way.
I’m excited to explore genres and try new things, always.
I listen to so much music and get inspired by so many things, that it’s hard not to want to be experimental in a way that can still vastly be understood by an audience.
Before we let you go, we noticed one of the tracks on your EP is titled “girl5 rul3,” which over at Ladygunn we firmly agree with as a statement. In your opinion, which women have been bossing it in 2023?
We gotta give love to our women!
The women that I think have been killing it in 2023 are Doja Cat, Sofia Isella, Tommy Genesis, Ons Jabeur, and my mom!
