A Dead Kitten Session With MisterWives

There's a certain wide-eyed, scrumptiously optimistic charm to the five members of Bronx-based indie-poppers, MisterWives. They've got that go-and-get-it attitude you want to see in a tribe of youngins chasing down their musical dream to wherever it might lead them. A few weeks back, we convinced 'em that part of the pursuit should trek through our own humble abode, setting up a variety of pleasing instrumentation for a video capture we have lovingly coined a "Dead Kitten" session. It's a term we've been throwing around for a while around here, but now we're going official with it. This is a Dead Kitten Session. Kind of weird, but you kind of like it, right? Anyway, don't worryit's not nearly as gruesome a thing as it sounds (the "dead kitten" being the fuzzy windscreen that graces the end of our stereo mic). It's actually a rather relaxed, stripped-down performance and production in our very own living room, beaming to your's through the power of this video platform of ours. With three songs from their Reflections EP and a little conversation along the way, this sesh has only made the infatuation we described with the band yesterday that much more intense. Still, we're happy to share our love with these guys with youwe swear we're not the jealous typeshonest.

There you go, there you stay Keeping low, never wanna play
Wandering far, disappearing Feet stuck in place, not moving
You've been up and down, down You've been low, low, low
Troubled sea so deep, troubled none, no sleep
You've been flying so high avoiding the road
Pretending to not feel alone.
Pretending to not feel alone.
Where to fly? Who knows
Winds rapidly, they blow
From branch to branch you go
When you see the sun, dear friend, let it glow
Don't shun it all, don't let it fall
From your hands how you used to crawl
You're walking tall, no need to hide
Behind the clouds in the sky
You've been up and down, down You've been low, low, low
Troubled sea so deep, troubled none, no sleep
You've been flying so high avoiding the road
Pretending to not feel alone Pretending to not feel alone
Vagabond is you, ran the mile no shoes
If the sun goes down too soon, embrace the starry eyed moon
Vagabond is you, swam the sea at the darkest blue
You made it, made it through You made it, made it through ohh
You've been up and down, down You've been low, low, low
Troubled sea so deep, troubled none no sleep
You've been flying so high avoiding the road
Pretending to not feel alone Pretending to not feel alone
- Vagabond is a song I wrote when I first moved out of hole, of my house when I was like 16 and it was a scary time, 'cuz you're very much by yourself and it feels really lonely, but that song was kind of about finding comfort in being by yourself and realizing that there's always light at the end of the tunnel.
We have a song the EP called Reflections but it wasn't really for that.
I think the EP is a good reflection or representation of what the band has been this past year and it was a nice way to, you know, stamp time and remember, like, this is what we did and we did it independently, so it just reflected the band as a whole.
And even the artwork was, there's a gramophone and all the animals coming out of it are spirit animals, so that, too was, yeah.
I'm the elephant and he's the dinosaur.
Ed's the octopus and Mark and Jessie are represented them as a hummingbird.
For some reason, when I asked them what their favorite animal was, they didn't... Mark was like, I don't know. And Jessie said a squirrel and I can't draw a squirrel, so I... But it's just a, just a reflection.
Very simple, but very pure at the same time.
Do ya do ya, do ya do?
Do ya do ya believe in the truth?
Truth be told that truth found its way
to the twisted tongue that spoke dismay
You tried to dodge your own bullet but it shot you anyway
You crossed over every line and hid behind the lines you made
Do ya do ya, do ya do?
Do ya do ya believe in the truth?
Truth be told that truth found its way
to the twisted tongue that spoke dismay
I know that I may be young but at least my youth is wise
You painted a picture to me that depicted only lies
Do ya do ya, do ya do?
Do ya do ya believe in the truth?
Truth be told that truth found its way
to the twisted tongue that spoke dismay
Cause your sweet is sour you're a weed not a flower
just a pretty faced coward is you
Your hearts just an organ that pumps nothing more than blood
to your vainful veins
You struck each chord now it's time
for your real song to be sung
You just managed to mask what's now clear as glass
and that's just you're an ass
Ooh.
You weaseled in and out of words and denied when truth was heard
May your yes be yes and your no's be no's
Not an in between land of I don't knows
Do ya do ya, do ya do?
Do ya do ya believe in the truth?
Truth be told that truth found its way
to the twisted tongue that spoke dismay
Cause your sweet is sour you're a weed not a flower
just a pretty faced coward is you
Your hearts just an organ that pumps nothing more than blood
to your vainful veins
You struck each chord now it's time
for your real song to be sung
You just managed to mask what's now clear as glass
and that's just you're an ass
Ooh.
And this I say one last time you define your own crime
You best hang up your disguise on the laundry line
Stabbed me in the front, stab me in the back
and this right here's my heart attack
So if I don't go, I pray you know just how much you blow
Do ya do ya, do ya do?
Do ya do ya believe in the truth?
Truth be told that truth found its way
to the twisted tongue that spoke dismay
Cause your sweet is sour you're a weed not a flower
just a pretty faced coward is you
Your hearts just an organ that pumps nothing more than blood
to your vainful veins
You struck each chord now it's time
for your real song to be sung
You just managed to mask what's now clear as glass
and that's just you're an ass
Twisted Tongue is kind of the revenge song about just realizing, having an ephiphany.
Yeah, I was angry.
I was a very angry teenager.
Um, yeah.
It's just about realizing everything that this person told you was a... Bullshit. Can I say bullshit? Is that okay? This is religious though.
I don't wanna... Um, Reflections is a song about loving someone who doesn't necessarily love you back the same and realizing that you need to get over them and put them on the shelf and discipline yourself to let the sparks die out.
The song's very old, so I can laugh about it now, but it was more crying when I wrote it.
This songs called Reflections.
You didn't close the door Left a crack open
I couldn't ignore the faint possibility Of having hope in this insanity
That we still could be But we're stuck floating in between
Put me on the shelf; discipline myself
To let the sparks die out
Shattering anything That has reflections of you. You.
Our eyes were closed With hearts open wide
Dismissed every rule to abide by Our bodies undressed the layers of shy
Revealing the truth that was buried inside
Filled up feelings That now are bursting at the seams
Put me on the shelf; discipline myself
To let the sparks die out
Shattering anything That has reflections of you. You.
Unsure of what are my dreams, it seems You have stolen my slumber
And awakened another Life within me
that is better than any other
Reaching endless heights in never ending nights
That can't be seen; put to bed this dream
Oh-oh-oh-oh-ohh
Put me on the shelf; discipline myself
To let the sparks die out
Shattering anything That has reflections of you. You.

MisterWives - Mandy Lee (Vocals), Etienne Bowler (Drums), Will Hehir (Bass) began making music together in late 2012. Lee, the powerhouse vocalist who studied opera and songwriting at New York Citys only specialized high school for music and performing arts, was born and raised in Queens and met Hehir through a mutual friend and Bowler, a Bronx native, while working close to one another. The three immediately fell into stride musically and MisterWives was born. When it came time to play live, Bowler brought in old friends Marc Campbell (Guitar) and Jesse Blum (Keys/Trumpet/Accordion). They played their first show together in February of 2013 and were signed immediately to Photo Finish/Island Records after the show. In October, the band hit the road with Half Moon Run on their first national tour. The tour ended with a two triumphant sets at this years CMJ before heading out for a six week stint with American Authors & The Royal Concept. They released their debut EP Reflections this January and were featured as the first iTunes Single of the Week of 2014.