Biography of Milena Mepris

Interview with Milena Mepris

Alongside Bloc Party’s Russell Lissack, Milena Mepris (MM) is singer & guitarist for Pin Me Down, an 80s/90s pop powered project (who for me at least, sound like a lady lead She Wants Revenge with their urgency and attitude) that’s been intermittently developing since late 2004. MM kindly took some time out to answer a fistful of questions for the Glasswerk faithful!
AS: Why the name? MM: When we started collaborating, Russell was on tour for a year straight with Bloc Party, so in order to find time to talk about the songs and their parts, we were emailing back and forth to each other across the Atlantic… We’d have to schedule phone conversations too! One day, Russell was playing a gig in France or Germany…I can’t remember where exactly and I called him. He couldn’t pick up because he was in the middle of sound check and so he sent me a text back saying “Pin me down at 7” or something like that. A light came on in my brain when I read it and I knew immediately that it was the perfect name for our band.
AS: Who would be your dream collaborator? MM: Ooh good question. I’d love to work with Jonas Bjerre and the guys from Mew. Russell and I are huge Mew fans. I’d also love to work with Damon Albarn or Patti Smith in any capacity. I dream of writing the perfect pop song with Cyndi Lauper or Cathy Dennis too. I’d also love to get in the studio with Stuart Price or Alan Moulder.
AS: Where do you go when it all gets too much? MM: I go to my backyard in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. We have several trees, grass, a bit of space and some of the most adorable stray kitties live in several of the adjoining yards. I am a city girl through and through, so I’ve never had a backyard or a bit of grass to call my own. It’s really nice to be outside in your pajamas, drinking coffee, not worrying about anything.
AS: Is bedtime more half nine with a half read paper or more half four with fully red eyes? MM: Unfortunately I’m more of a night owl. I like to get up around 11, which has its advantages and disadvantages… It’s not good when you have business with people in the UK or Europe as New York is hours behind. Russell tends to be an earlier-type person.
AS: What do you do in your recreational time? MM: Well lately, I’ve been obsessed with writing rap lyrics with inside jokes that are probably humorous only to me. Collecting costumes and Bro-ing down with my Southern guy friends who are teaching me how American football works, which is very out of character for me because I’m a pretty girly girl and football is quite physical and aggressive. But I’m weird and I find it all very mathematical, strategic, and fascinating.
AS: What’s the last gig/concert you went to? MM: The Mars Volta at least favorite venue ever in NY – Terminal B.
AS: What’s the best music video? MM: I don’t think I could just pick one. I didn’t grow up with MTV, so I feel a bit uninformed in that area. I discovered all my favourite 90s grunge videos way after the fact – but they still left a lasting impression on me. ‘Heart Shaped Box’ by Nirvana, ‘Today’ by Smashing Pumpkins, ‘Jeremy’ by Pearl Jam, ‘Cannonball’ by the Breeders (who have finished recording a new LP that’s out in April folks, so watch this space or contact me for more…), and also ‘Parklife’ by Blur. More recently ‘Hey Ya’ by Outkast – it’s a classic and Andre is amazing. Russell would probably say ‘Take On Me’ by A-Ha.
AS: Do you believe in love at first sight? MM: Yes, absolutely. Pin Me Down is a band of softies. We wear our hearts on our sleeves!
-Written by Ant Standring