In this feature we aim to shed light on the music industry's newest shining stars through a discussion with some of the business' biggest musical heavy weights. 

This time we caught up with indie royalty and musical chameleons Mystery Jets. 

Over their impressive 15-year career, Mystery Jets have managed to evolve and emerge triumphant through a vastly changing musical landscape.

Initially starting as a family project with Blaine on drums, his father Henry Harrison on bass and Blaine's friend William Rees on guitar, the then Misery Jets resided on Twickenham's Eel Pie Island, making swampy psychedelia under the influence of a long-term infatuation with Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett.

After a lucky spelling mistake, the band took on their new name Mystery Jets and went on to release their iconic 2006 debut Making Dens. With their second album Twenty One hitting at the height of indie madness, their stand-out singles 'Two Doors Down' and 'Young Love (feat. Laura Marling)' captured the hearts of the nation bringing on a succession of tours, festival slots and constant radio play.

With a number of line-up changes occurring over the years to follow, Mystery Jets released 2010's Serotonin, 2012's Radlands and 2016's Curve of the Earth, which collectively shifted towards their darker, more experimental sound, gradually introducing more synthesizers and sophisticated electronic elements into the mix. 

Now pillars of the alt-pop scene we picked their brains about some of the most exciting new talent around.

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JADE BIRD



Jade Bird is a fantastic singer and song writer who conveys an angst and sense of experience that belies her young years. Her live performances show her for the fire cracker that she is, and between the heartbreak, anger and joy within her music an engaging and hilarious character always appears to further engage you.



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WESTERMAN



Westerman’s ‘Confirmation’ is a gently uplifting track that reminds me a little of Joni Mitchell and a little of Peter Gabriel. On production duties is West London’s Bullion and this track’s lo-fi eighties sound and Arthur Russell intimacy makes for a refreshing listen.



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NO ROME



I love [No Rome’s ‘Narcissist’ (feat. The 1975)], a gentle banger made by Filipino singer No Rome and Matty Healy from the 1975. All relationship quandaries and substance abuse, wrapped in a tongue-in-cheek Drake style beat, what’s not to love. An album from No Rome will be following soon no doubt.



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Explore Mystery Jets’ recent Live To Vinyl session here.

-Holly Mullineaux