After recently following up their highly-praised 2022 EP 'Avoid The Panic' with their stunning comeback singles 'Jump To Fly' and 'Chasing Love' in recent months, Oxford-based outfit The Mezz are back once again to deliver their brand new offering 'Bridges'.
Channelling more of that bright and euphoric indie-rock aesthetic they have earned a reputation for, 'Bridges' makes for a spectacular return from the four-piece. With its rich and shimmering textures, soaring atmosphere, and stellar vocals throughout, they continue their ascent as one of the more impactful names on the rise right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with singer Ben to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
My first instrument I fell in love with was a guitar. I remember being 9 years old and begging my dad for a guitar for Christmas. He said yes but only if I promised to do 10 lessons. On Christmas Day I opened up an electric guitar starter kit, I believe it was a Rockburn or something like that, shaped like a strat. I didn’t think much of the lessons but I blasted it out my little 10 watt amp every night for hours on end. It was the coolest thing I had ever seen.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
When I was growing up my dad use to take me to football in his work van and he would always have a CD of his era on. My earliest memories of music was listen to bands like oasis, stereophonics, happy mondays etc in the van with him. There was two CD’s in particular really stood out to me. It was Nirvana's “greatest hits” and Green Day's “American idiot” can recall just being lost in it.
What was the first album you remember owning?
My earliest memory of an album was The Darkness ‘permission to land’ but I believe the first album I bought with my own money was the Star Wars A New Hope OST believe it or not!
In my youth I would go to the city on the weekends with my parents to do the weekly shop. If I was good I got to go into HMV and buy an album. There was a Green Day Song playing over the speakers and the guy who worked there said it was their new album. It was “21st Century Breakdown”. That album changed my life. Instantly I wanted to be a musician. I must’ve played that album everyday until it broke.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
This is always a tough question to answer. Truth be told, I think the answer changes every week!
If I had to choose one, I would probably say a classic like “Seven Nation Army”. The thing with that tune is it’s so mesmerising. To Write a riff that is so recognisable it becomes arguably bigger than your band is such a wild idea! Imagine saying you wrote that! I think that’s a dream for many song writers including myself.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Writing for me has to be a very natural process. I have this thing where if I get writer's block I never try to force the idea.
Personally the best songs I have written for the band have been ones that have been thought up and finished in five minutes. It just feels right when it’s right if that makes sense?
I always do the music first. I’ve struggled with dyslexia my whole life so it’s very hard for me to get my point across in writing but when I hear the vibe of the instrumental, it sort of opens a door for me where I know exactly what the song should be about. I don’t know why exactly, I have just always written that way.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Currently I’m really into the band “Wunderhorse”. Their debut album last year was a huge breath of fresh air for me. I feel like the music market can be very over-saturated right now so to hear something so pure and raw that also done so well was a really cool thing to see! Highly recommended. Other than that I tend to listen to a lot of older stuff from my childhood like Green Day, Oasis, Nirvana. Every now and then I seem to have a month where I just go back and get filled with nostalgia. It’s the best thing about music, it never goes bad.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
If it was up to me I would probably be a bit selfish and go for Green Day. Purely for the younger me. They’re the reason I got a guitar. It probably wouldn’t match up with our band the best but it would be an incredible thing to experience.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Honestly I would say the fans. I have seen so many amazing interactions from people who have built friendships and communities through our music, it’s probably the most amazing feeling in the world. To think of a song that I wrote in my bedroom because I thought it sounded cool can make people feel so much is mind blowing.
I have had messages from people saying how a certain song of ours has saved their life. That is a feeling I don’t think I could ever put into words but it’s amazing to know something you did made a difference for someone.
And what is the most frustrating part?
This is a tough question. The thing is, in music it takes all of your time. If you want to make something worthwhile you have to sacrifice a lot of “normal life” to achieve it. Personally, I don’t see this as a bad thing. I grew up with nothing. I’m not going to pretend it was traumatic or anything. I had a good upbringing, close family, a roof over my head and hot meals everyday but the truth is we were poor. Music was always my escape into another life and I have always done it, so when it comes to the “sacrifice” it’s a small price to pay to do what you love.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
In all honesty, it sounds really cheesy but just to be myself! Once you’re happy with who you are and you know what you want to do the rest will come naturally. For me that is the most important thing in any career let alone music.
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The Mezz's new single 'Bridges' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.