Electro-pop duo MS MR like to let their minds get a little lost.
Drifting minds are magnets for inspiration and Lizzy Plapinger (lead singer and owner of one of the aforementioned minds) knows this. “We’re sort of all over the map, you know, always dreaming about the most spectacular things we could do. But we don’t want to just lean on production to make our shows bigger, it’s more important for us to be the best versions of ourselves we can.
“That’s been a much more difficult challenge than just adding more lights or explosions. It’s harder to face yourself. And it means Max [Hershenow] and I have to be tough on each other and pour our whole selves into everything.”
If you listen carefully, you can hear this in their music. Lizzy’s voice injects power into her dreamy lyrics, sending them rolling, skipping and popping into your ears with electric energy. Yet, there’s a sense that MS MR could do more; like there’s some force stalking beneath the synth, waiting for the right moment to break through. This force creates excitement under every track, a feeling of something building that grabs people and makes them keep listening.
MS MR’s first singles were released in 2012 and they rocketed to fame from there. “Everything that’s happened with the band has been somewhat unexpected. We’re ambitious and we’re positive people, but when something wonderful happens, we still pinch ourselves.”
The lovely thing about Lizzy is, while she does dream big, most of those wonderful things she’s talking about are small. “I’m born and raised in London and I used to listen to XFM every day on my way to school. I pretty much found all my favourite bands when Zane Lowe was spinning. He played the best alternative music.
“When MS MR first started, we got one of our first radio plays on XFM from Zane Lowe. To hear him talk about our music and play it live was the most surreal experience of my life, really mind-blowing. That’s actually one of my favourite moments of the whole band’s career, just because of how much his show meant to me growing up.”
Just like Lizzy, MS MR fans seem to have mastered the ability to have their minds blown appropriately. “Our fans are so wonderful. No one’s ever freaked out or lost their mind in an inappropriate way. When we meet fans, they just feel like friends and that’s such a nice thing; to feel like, if we put a certain energy out into the world, we get that back from our audiences.”
This electromagnetic energy they’re emitting is evident in the band’s vibrant film clips. “We adore making videos. I wish we could do it for every song on the record. I wish we could make videos that we had to write new music to. We’ve actually just finished a new one that’ll be out soon. It might be our favourite music video we’ve done to date, which is really saying something.”
While she couldn't reveal the song at the time of the interview, Lizzy did promise we would know by the time MS MR arrive in Australia for Groovin’ The Moo. And she was true to her word, with the recent video release for 'Wrong Victory'.
As the first place where MS MR gained recognition and success, Lizzy says Australia will always hold a special place in their hearts. “Now we’re getting to come back for the fifth or sixth time, which is pretty amazing. Had you told me that when we first started the band, I don’t think I would’ve believed you.”
As she does with everything, Lizzy’s been letting her mind wander, picturing what it will be like. “There’s a bunch of Australian bands I’ve never seen before and always really liked, so I’m quite excited to see them and hopefully make some new friends. Touring for Laneway Festival was like a travelling summer camp so, in my head, I’m imagining it’ll be just like that.”
MS MR GTM Tour Diary
Sat 23 Apr - Groovin the Moo @ Maitland Showground (NSW)Sun 24 Apr - Groovin the Moo @ University of Canberra (ACT)
Mon 25 Apr - Groovin the Moo @ Oakbank Racecourse (SA)
Sat 30 Apr - Groovin the Moo @ Bendigo’s Prince Of Wales Showground (VIC)
Sun 1 May - Groovin the Moo @ Murray Sports Complex – Townsville Cricket Grounds (QLD)
Sat 7 May - Groovin the Moo @ Hay Park (WA)
MS MR Tour Dates
Thu 28 Apr - Metro Theatre (Sydney)Fri 29 Apr - Prince Bandroom (Melbourne)
Tue 3 May - The Triffid (Brisbane)
Thu 5 May - Rosemount Hotel (Perth)
