Having originally formed in London with a collective vision for rich and atmospheric alt-pop, Myo have spent the last few years perfecting their sound as they return with their latest single 'Years'.
With a sound that looks to follow in the footsteps of Little Dragon and James Blake, 'Years' brings out more of that bright and genre-bending aesthetic they are quickly getting a reputation for. Filled with soaring vocals, diverse instrumentation, and a blissful musical soundscape, this new release makes for the perfect breezy summer jam right now.
So with their new offering doing the rounds, we sat down with the band's guitarist and producer Jim Daoud to find out more about his origins and what has inspired him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Seeing Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock performance as a teenager on TV was the catalyst for me to learn guitar and later play music full time. Seeing that level of freedom in musical expression was a complete revelation to me.
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
In Myo, our influences are really varied, the production sits in the post-dubstep/electronica world. We’ve spent hours listening and de-constructing the musical devices and sounds created by artists like James Blake, Dorian Concept and Little Dragon. We also draw heavily on experimental/alternative bands such as Radiohead (who are brilliant songwriters) for inspiration.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
As a teenager I grew up listening to hip-hop and was obsessed with the West Coast G-Funk sound. My poor dad must have spent his evenings listening to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg through the ceiling for a couple of years.
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
I can’t remember a specific song, I always wanted to be a musician as a kid, but it was an abstract concept since I really had no idea what a career as a musician required or entailed. Hearing Jimi Hendrix as a teenager (the Woodstock performance) was what made me first pick up my instrument and later become a guitarist though.
When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?
It changes but at the moment 'A Love Supreme' by Coltrane is the starting point for most of my days.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
I think Myo only has one song which is about specific people in our lives. I find it easier to write and find inspiration from broader experiences. We all share commonalities and I find communicating and developing narratives from these are more relevant in my writing. Of course, there are other artists that deal with specifically personal situations brilliantly but my process is to find the shared experiences within these personal moments.
What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
There’s been a lot of memorable moments in my career, I’m not sure how interesting any of them are, but I still vividly remember the feeling of quitting my minimum wage job and knowing I wouldn’t have to go back when I started working full time in music. It was like the feeling you get as a child when you defeat the difficult end of boss level on a computer game.
Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?
I tend to read a lot when I’m not working on music, mostly non-fiction.
If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?
As a kid I always wanted to be a race car driver, so probably a mechanic.
And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start a career in music?
Practice everyday, be nice to people.
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Myo's new single 'Years' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.