Sydney duo Kat Harley and Laura Bailey combine synths, guitars and bass to create an electronic-kraut-pop sound called Mezko.
2015 was a huge year for Mezko. Breaking out of their Sydney underground barrier, the pair performed at venues around the nation and had airplay on multiple radio stations as well as touring with fellow indie darlings Slum Sociable.
Mezko's sound is very synth based and gives off a futuristic feel. What influenced this sound?
Our favourite music inspires our sound, along with experimenting with new and old instruments, usually working with synths, drum machines and guitars.
You guys also have, judging by some of your social media photos, a serious collection of analogue gear. Do you like to collect older equipment?
As much as we can. Our collection has only really just begun and we will continue to collect, however transporting old equipment is difficult. We use a late '70s Korg MS20 live and have some others we keep at home, like this weird Yamaha SY-20 that was only sold in Japan in the '80s. We tend to sample the older synths and trigger them live. We live in a good time.
The Mezko story. How did you guys start?
We were brought together through a mutual friend a few months after Laura had moved to Sydney. Our first date was hilarious; it started hanging out with a group of old Italian locals in the pub next to Kat’s studio on Parramatta Road. We hit it off super fast and are now BFFs.
Has there been a surreal moment where you've experienced hearing your music outside of the studio/ shows?
Whenever anywhere foreign somehow picks us up we get pretty excited.
Your video for 'Journey's End' has been described as 'intergalactic', how did you create the concept?
'Journey’s End' was always meant to be a disco track set in space. We tried to make the clip look the way it sounds… It was a lot of fun to make. We filmed it on a green screen in Kat’s parent's garage and tried to recreate the kind of cheesy effects we love from '70s sci-fi.
Half of Mezko was in New York recently... was that pleasure or business?
It was for pleasure. Although so often and perhaps in this case, it's maybe the same thing.
International tour for Mezko; is that in the grand plans? Where would you want to travel to?
Still working out which way to go first. We'd be happy to play anywhere that would want us to.
Mezko live. What can we expect?
If you haven't seen us play before, it's just the two of us, with our synth stack in between us and our guitars. We're quite electronic and also on the pop side, however inspired by our first love of heavier sounds. It all melts together to be what it has become.
What is your favourite thing about performing? On the flipside, worst aspect of performing?
When everything resonates and everyone in the room is in it at the same time. The worst is when that doesn't happen and something gets in the way. Anything from technology failing to jerk moments, it's the same thing. But when it clicks, it's worth the risk.
Written by Tayla Galvin
Mezko play The Foundry (Brisbane) 19 May, The Bearded Lady (Brisbane) 21 May and The Union (Sydney) 4 June.
