Calgary punk duo (and FTS favourites) Miesha and The Spanks have just released a new EP, Visions. Featuring six songs and two interludes, the EP takes a swing at all of the tough subjects, exploring themes of self-esteem, gender norms, Indigeneity and stoicism. We caught up with Miesha to chat about the new music, her musical influences, the weirdest shows they’ve played, and her advice to young women in the industry.
From The Strait: Tell us about the new EP, Visions.
Miesha Louie: The concept for Visions started coming together as the songs were written. Smiling came first, then Cut My Bangs, and then when Vision 4 U was on the table I started to see the pattern. I’m writing about my life and how differently it’s unfolded than I expected, even though I am in the thick of doing what I’ve always wanted – to play music full time. The other parts around it are just a little different, because when I was envisioning what a life in music would look like, I never imagined there would be room for family. And it’s definitely not easy, but it’s happening!
From The Strait: Do you have a favourite track from the EP, or one that holds the most meaning for you?
Miesha Louie: Smiling was the first track we wrote for the EP and the first one we recorded. Even in its simplicity it’s incredibly meaningful to me because I wrote it when my mom was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer just over two years ago, and she just passed this summer. It’s about smiling through tough times, which she did a lot for me, and I do a lot for my kids. Just smiling while your world falls apart, pretending everything’s fine, and maybe hoping that by fronting that resilience it will come true.
From The Strait: Who were your musical influences growing up, and how do they differ from your current ones?
Miesha Louie: A lot of L7, Babes in Toyland, Hole, riot grrrl music made a big mark on me in my teens. Before I found that I liked punk but it was harder to find my place in it. Too many white dudes! There’s so much more diversity now in loud music. I have a tendency to look back to old influences when I need inspiration, but some newer stuff that I keep coming back to are Amyl and The Sniffers, OBGMs, and Ecca Vandal. I get pretty inspired watching artists just being so authentically themselves, like it’s a reminder not to get too lost in the sauce.
From The Strait: What advice would you give to young women wanting to start out in music, and what advice do you wish you had been given when you first started playing?
Miesha Louie: Don’t be afraid to be daring and try something that could completely embarrass you if it doesn’t go as planned. I wasted a lot of time being scared of what I was doing as I was doing it in my younger years. I still have to remind myself to get out of my head. That and of course – don’t quit. Not if you mean it. Not if you love it for real. Too many people quit when they’re just about to figure it out.
From The Strait: What was the coolest (and/or weirdest…we like weird at FTS) live show you’ve ever played?
Miesha Louie: We’ve played a strip club where the dancers gave out jello shots between bands. We played an arts market where we were paid with a crystal. The coolest location by far is inside a snow castle on a frozen lake in Yellowknife. It stays up for the whole month of March every year for the Snow King Festival. Everything is snow – the walls, the stage, the ceiling! There’s a huge hot tube that blows on you while you play to keep you warm. Just don’t call it an ice castle!
From The Strait: If you were a superhero, what would be your name and superpower?
Miesha Louie: I’ve always loved Domino from X-Force and how her power is basically luck. Like things just working out as needed for whatever the situation. I always loved that, so valuable. If I had the powers of luck I would be called… Rock-it Roulette? Sounds like a derby name.
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Check out Visions, the new EP from Miesha and The Spanks!
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And watch the new video for “Good Boys,” directed by Sebastian Buzzalino:
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