PLACE OF BIRTH: Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark

DATE OF BIRTH: 21 September 1976

PERSONAL MOTTO: Don’t think about death.

STYLE OF MUSIC: Curious and shimmering chimp balladeering

DESCRIBE YOURSELF: Yellow. Creative. Bluish. Escapist. Smiling.

(QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY JONAS)

Mew is Jonas Bjerre (vocals/guitar), Bo Madsen (guitar), Johan Wohlert (bass), and Silas Graae (drums). Brought together whilst making a film, they built a bond based on their shared interests in music and film. This foundation resonates in their sound and their intention to take the listener on a musical journey through surprising hooks and epic progressions. On stage the Mew experience is extended further by Jonas’ own incredible live visuals and short films. Each track is accompanied by inspired visuals, which add a third dimension to their songs. Described as “probably the best new prog band in the world” by Mojo, Mew’s latest single is a fragile and melodic sojourn laden with the escalating vocals and exploratory guitar riffs that distinguish them from their contemporaries.

Staying together as a band and being friends since we were 14 years old.

When our musical revolution happened there were bands like Pixies, Dinosaur Jr and My Bloody Valentine. Now I don’t think we have any heroes as such.

I am working on some new animation for our live shows and generally some exciting art stuff, not really in a music writing mode yet as we’ll be touring most of next year as well. I am working a lot with morphed and distorted faces as well as beautiful forests and photography.

To keep making our live shows better, to keep writing music and hopefully to be able to keep releasing albums and making wonderful music together.

I’d like to collaborate with the author Haruki Murakami and then have the song featured in a Hayao Miyazaki film.

Getting into Coco Rosie, Sufjan Stevens, the new Steve Reich recording and a bunch of amazing demos I heard of the upcoming Swirlies’ album.

I’d invite some Danish legends, Niels Bohr, H.C.Andersen, Søren Kirkegaard, Wilhelm Hammershøi (great painter). Then I’d invite some contemporary people who inspired me, like David Lynch, Haruki Murakami, Black Francis, Damon Tutunjian of the Swirlies. I’d have Superman attend as well because people need heroes. I’d probably make a nice peppered, seared tuna dish with wasabi and Asian vegetables. For desert we’d have crème brulee.

Being creative every day, working really hard and not forgetting who you are and what it is you want to achieve.

Love, I guess. Though love can also make you worry a lot. And getting to perform our music for people, seeing how they react to it.

The selfishness of Europe sliding towards right wing politics. And laziness.

I just bought the new Boards of Canada album. I always buy lots of albums when I’m in Japan because you get to have the bonus tracks also. I like how cold their sound is.

What is your favourite song?

The theme from ‘Little Neczha Fights Great Dragon Kings.’ It’s a Chinese animation from the 80s - the melody is clear and full of a deep sadness.

Film maker. I would just devote my time 100% on animation and art. I used to work in film post production and I enjoy that kind of work.

MEW WILL BE RELEASING THE SINGLE ‘WHY ARE YOU LOOKING GRAVE?’ THROUGH EVIL OFFICE/EPIC ON FEBRUARY 6TH AND HEADLINING GIG AT LONDON SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE ON FEBRUARY 9TH.