If you’re a fan of indie rock or folk, then you need to check out mehro. This singer-songwriter has an unreal voice that will leave you captivated from the first note. And the good news is, he’s recently unleashed the already acclaimed new album Dark Corners and Alchemy. But this album is more than just another indie folk offering. It’s a beautiful project that melds indie rock with folk, and explores the duality of the human experience. mehro unabashedly confronts his insecurities and despair while equally embracing his hope and healing.
The record is split into two: the “Dark Corners” side revels in emotional pain while the “Alchemy” side takes that pain and alchemises it into positivy. mehro’s music is intimate, and a constant reminder that so many parts of life are multifaceted. Whether that be relationships, traumas, or passions. But it’s also a reminder that we can take that pain and use it to create something beautiful.
If you’re looking for a taste of what this album has to offer, check out “howling” and “pretty kids”. These songs showcase mehro’s ability to be both valiant and feather-like. mehro’s entire musical journey when he watched the Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line as a teenager. Inspired by the film, he picked up a guitar that night and began learning “Folsom Prison Blues.” Eventually, he started writing his own music, and the rest is history.
As mehro’s latest release allows him to take flight, we caught up with him as he took to new heights. From the first seeds of his musicality, and daring to be vulnerable, to getting to the nitty gritty of
Dark Corners and Alchemy — we covered it all.
Watch the visuals for “princes of melancholia”
Head below for our interview…
Where are we speaking to you from?
I’m coming to you from Los Angeles, California.
What was the last thing you thought about last night before you went to sleep?
My ex called me today yesterday, and it was the first time we’d spoken in a long time, and I was just thinking about our conversation. I asked them if they were ready to be friends, and they said that they were not.
What are some artists on your current rotation?
Let’s see, I make this playlist called Stay Here, so I curate songs for people to listen to. I’ve been listening to Alice Phoebe Lu. She’s put out a new song. She’s a wonderful artist. Death Cab for Cutie is on here. There’s a duo called Cloud City that I love. Boy Genius. I’ve been listening to Caesar. Last night I was listening to Jeff Buckley, a live performance of “Lover You Should’ve Come Over”. But I listen to all sorts of things, all sorts of all sorts of stuff.
Could you talk us through your start in music?
Well, February 2020 was the night that I dropped the “perfume” music video. I dropped the music video before the song came out on platforms. When this song came out, it was one of the most relieving feelings in the world, because I’ve been working towards this for a long time. I decided I want to become a musician and an artist. And 100% put my everything to it. What led me to releasing music was realising that it was the perfect culmination of every aspect of life that I wanted to live. It was making art, it was making videos. It was expressing myself, and having a place to express myself. It’s the most fulfilling art form for me as of right now, in this time in my life. I came to that conclusion I didn’t even know I wanted to be a musician necessarily. I didn’t necessarily believe I was worthy of being a musician until I watched this movie called Walk the Line. That movie changed my life. That night changed my life. I started playing guitar that night because there was a guitar in my home, and I never looked back since.
Are there any other untapped artistic mediums that you would like to explore more when the time is right?
Depending on the future of entertainment, since it’s changing all the time, I love the idea of writing and directing my own movie. I also love the idea of acting in somebody else’s movie. That speaks to me. The great part about what I get to do is that it checks so many boxes for me. There’s so many things I get to do because I either direct or co-direct almost every single music video that we have out.
When you’re making a song, do you already have a clear idea of what the video will look like, or is it a symbiotic relationship?
The song, for the most part, is on its own. Then the video tries to sort of, encompass what the record is, so usually very separate. Except, very recently I wrote a song, and a video idea came for the song as I was writing it. That was a first.
How do you think this project evolves your sound?
It evolves my sound because it’s expansive. It’s clearly looking for something. It’s not meant to stay in a safe zone, or continue with what’s ‘working.’ It’s different and it’s explorative.
Some of the tracks, like Mama, have a cacophony of sound. What inspired you to use sound in that way?
Cacophony? I like that. Well, it’s the transition between the Dark Corner side and the Alchemy side. When we added those sort of screeching ambience sounds into the background, it makes these strange sounds. It sort of was a cocoon moment of breaking out and you start to see light for the first time. When you first at the beginning of that song, it’s almost as if you’re somewhere else. So that was a nice transition.
Your upcoming album started off as separate projects, so what was the catalyst that made you decide to bring them together?
The secret is that I always knew I wanted to bring them together. But I really wanted to share with the people that care enough to listen the different sides of me sonically, and what I can express. That I’m not just gonna be an artist that puts out the same song over and over again. No person is one dimensional.
A lot of artists find it daunting, actually, to show a different side of themselves musically, because what you’ve been showing and releasing in the past has gotten you to a certain amount of acclaim.
You’re exactly correct. It’s quite the adventure. And it is a risk, and it’s scary when you’re putting out something that’s different, revealing a new side of you. When we put out “like you’re god” last year, I was showing a new side of me. Exposing something about myself that I know is true within me. I have that instinct within me, as most of us do. But revealing that to the world, especially with the visuals that we made for it was a scary thing. And people were so open, they were so willing to go there with me and say, yes, this is okay. When a release scares you, it’s a good thing.
What would you like people to take away from this project?
I want people to take away exactly what they need. Each of us needs something different. In every moment of our lives, we go through unique challenges throughout not just the course of a day or a week or a year. I want this. I want people to take away whatever they need to take away to live a better life, to be more inspired, to enjoy their lives a little bit more, to treat people with kindness more, to see they’re worth more, whatever they most need.
If you could give any advice to young artists who are just starting out, what would it be?
I would say, write the things that scare you to say out loud. Let your art heal yourself or heal others and put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to let people know that you make music, and continue on, and fall in love with the process. Fall in love with the everyday and not the supposed milestones ,or the or the silly numbers. Know that you’re enough just the way that you are.
We’ve just been talking about how we shouldn’t focus on milestones, but how do you see your artistry progressing in the future? Is there a particular accomplishment or goal that you want to reach?
The accomplishments are more within, because the landscape is changing all the time. You know, a big dream of mine is to host and perform on SNL because I grew up watching that show, and I love that show, but I also know that being on SNL isn’t the same as what it once was. So that’s not gonna be the big breakout moment. That’s just gonna be something that I love, that will make me happy to do, to be a part of it. I really just cherish being able to take care of myself, and my family, and be able to release music that I love.
Head below to listen to Dark Corners and Alchemy…