Their sophomore album Afraid of Tomorrows showcases the band’s maturity and growth
In line with the brand’s ongoing commitment to elevating new music from emerging musicians around the world, the annual Gibson Artist Spotlight program will showcase an evolving roster of musicians who will be featured across Gibson’s global and international channels.
The Artist Spotlight program debuted in January 2024 with Austin Sexton and recently added Mona Lindgren, Alex Ritchie, Zach Person, and Devon Thompson to the ranks. It also welcomed Ayoni, The Picturebooks, Camilla PNK, DeWolff, Tigirlily Gold, Santa, The Linda Lindas, and now The Mysterines.
The Mysterines are an alternative rock band from Liverpool. Their debut album, “Reeling,” released by Fiction Records in March 2022, quickly soared to the top 10 charts.
Video: Delve into the mystery of The Mysterines with “The Last Dance” from Afraid of Tomorrows
Since then, the band has extensively toured the UK and EU, completing two North American tours. Recently, they were special guests on the Arctic Monkeys’ UK and Ireland stadium tour. They released their second album, Afraid of Tomorrows, in June 2024.
Afraid of Tomorrows, recorded and produced in LA by GRAMMY® Award-winning producer John Congleton (known for his work with St. Vincent and Angel Olsen), delves deeper and darker into The Mysterines’ psyche compared to their previous work. This album showcases the band’s maturity and growth, with members Lia Metcalfe (vocals and guitar), George Favager (bass), Callum Thompson (guitar), and Paul Crilly (drums).
We caught up with The Mysterines to find out more.
How would you describe your music?
Lia says, “Swamped and stagnant lullabies from an underworld carnival pond dream.”
Callum adds, “Imagine how a grizzly bear dancing in a late-night dive bar wearing a camouflage cape and a pair of green and red rollerskates might sound.”
What is your favorite piece of gear?
Lia says, “My favorite is the Epiphone homage to the Gibson acoustic J-180. I love the feel and the depth of the sound; it’s got a warm tone to it but without it being too pretty-sounding for me to play. I like instruments to reveal themselves to me by instinct.
“If I sit with it and instantly feel like it’s got songs trapped inside of it, then I’m usually compelled to buy it, no matter what it is. I also love how it was designed and based on The Everly Brothers’ guitar, as they’re one of my favorite bands from the 50s and 60s.”
Callum says, “I have a Gibson SG™ ‘61 Standard reissue with a Vibrola™, which is my favorite guitar and probably the best guitar I have ever played. I got it about five years ago when I graduated Uni and saved up all my last student loan, birthday, and Christmas money to buy it.
“Since then, it’s been toured all around the world as my mainstay guitar with The Mysterines and was used on both records a lot. I always try new stuff out and play different bits, but can never find anything that comes close to this guitar. It’s a bit battered now from all the touring and flights, so (it) looks amazing. It’s a piece of art.”
What has been the highlight of your musical career so far?
Lia says, “I think one of the highlights has been releasing our new record, Afraid of Tomorrows. We’re all proud of it and have been really enjoying playing it live.”
Callum says, “We have done a lot of cool stuff over the years, but I think George doing a somersault in a Phoenix, Arizona gas station at 3 am is my favorite.”
What would be your dream artist or producer collaboration, and why?
The band says, “I think producer-wise, our dream collaboration would’ve been Steve Albini, who unfortunately passed very recently. We’re huge fans of pretty much most records he’s produced, and his production style and even his way of life are a huge inspiration for us. Writing-wise, a dream collaboration would be either Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, James Murphy, Karen O, or Goldfrapp.”
What does being part of the Gibson Artist Spotlight program mean to you?
The band states, “Being a part of the Gibson Spotlight program has been a huge honor for us. They are very personable with the band and care about the music and the sound, which allows us to creatively collaborate. It gives us the potential to explore our evolving sound. I think anything that gives you an opportunity to do that is an asset to your creative development, so we’re super grateful not only to be using their equipment but to have their genuine support.”
What’s next on the horizon for you?
The band says, “We’re just enjoying touring our second record and looking forward to our headline shows in October. We’re in the midst of festival season currently, and then straight into touring in the US, UK, and Europe from September onwards, so we have a pretty busy schedule, but it’s keeping us out of trouble . . . for now. See all you crazy cats on the flip-flop. Later!”
Find out more about the Gibson Artist Spotlight program and visit the profile for The Mysterines.
