Master of Mischief is a brand new electronic music project ran by an unknown masked individual hailing from somewhere in the UK. The project launched with debut ‘Recréez Vous’ on Friday 13th September (off forthcoming EP ‘Tales Of The Twisted Prince’ out 31st Oct). Check out the exclusive Interview below:
1. Your roots can often shape your journey. Can you share a story or moment from your early life that had a significant impact on your path into music?
MASTER OF MISCHIEF: I had quite unusual taste in music for a young kid. From the age of about 7 or 8 I got into really old school artists like Elvis and The Beatles, probably via my parents. But I found a passion for music really quickly, and found that it captured my imagination and attention. I always remember just being surrounded by music and connecting with music. Neither of my parents were musicians but I wanted to take that step and learn to actually play music. So I started learning guitar when I was around 12, then onto drums, bass and keyboards.
2. Did your musical journey begin with formal training, or was it more of a personal exploration? How has that shaped your unique approach to your craft?
MASTER OF MISCHIEF: When I started learning guitar I had lessons for about two years. Same with drums. Then once I got to a certain level I gave up on lessons and just carried on playing and learning by myself. A part of me wishes I’d carried on with lessons for longer but I was young, impatient and a bit arrogant, thought I knew it all. However, going on my own journey into exploring music does have its benefits. It’s always much more satisfying, fun and cool when you figure out something for yourself rather than being told or taught it. Takes longer though. These days, I happily accept there is plenty I still don’t know, and I will listen to tips and tricks from others while also exploring off my own back and trying to discover new things. I understand the basics of music theory and have developed a really good ear over the years so a lot of things are just instinctual at this point but having a more unconventional and less structured approach does help me to create things that are outside the box and unusual.
3. Who were some of the most influential figures in your early musical life, and how did they inspire your sound? Also, what’s the story behind choosing the name ‘MASTER OF MISCHIEF’?
MASTER OF MISCHIEF: I’ve listened to so many bands and artists over the years and I don’t think my music really sounds like any of them. So I’m not sure that they’ve directly inspired my sound. It’s probably more in an indirect way. Exposure to and consumption of music just helps in general. It helps you connect, develop a good ear, and to know what you want out of your own sound. I’m a big emo kid at heart so a lot of those early-mid 2000s bands are constantly in my playlists and they definitely bleed into my aesthetic, imagery and also some of the music – the more screamy/alternative parts. However, the electronic and EDM bits…no idea where that comes from. I just like the sounds.
In terms of the name, I’ve always loved alliteration so I wanted a name that had two or more of the same letter. I also wanted something that encapsulated my cheeky, edgy, emoboy spirit…something that hints that behind my “dark, mysterious” persona I also don’t take myself that seriously and I’m wanting to just have some fun.
4. What do you believe sets your music apart? How would you describe your sound to someone discovering you for the first time, and what emotions or experiences do you hope to evoke in your listeners?
MASTER OF MISCHIEF: I came up with the tagline “electronic music for emo edgelords” to describe my music. Because it has those electronic elements but it also has that darkness. And the lyrics are a bit stereotypically “edgy”, if you like. But those are just the types of themes I love, and the types of things I feel and think about. I’ve always been an outsider and someone who connects with the outcasts. I collect mental illnesses like Pokemon and I talk about the weird things that happen in my brain. The music itself is just an amalgamation of loads of different things. I try not to think about genres or styles or fitting into a box. I just puke up sounds that I like and have fun with it. I’m already planning my next project after ‘Tales of the Twisted Prince’ and it’s going to be slightly different but building on what I’ve done so far.
All I can really hope for is that people enjoy it, really, and hopefully connect with it on some level. I’d like people to feel seen, understood, inspired, empowered. Like they can do anything. Because that’s how music makes me feel sometimes.
5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as EDM?
MASTER OF MISCHIEF: Over the years I’ve been in a bunch of bands, and of course we emulated others. When I was a kid I was in a local band round my neighbourhood and we just played covers of like, Green Day, Blink 182 and White Stripes, you know the type. Then we wrote a couple of originals but they were terrible, obviously. I’ve been in a pure covers band too later on in life. I’ve had a bunch of playing experience in different bands of different styles and genres but I got to the point where I just wanted to do something on my own, purely a solo effort. It actually makes things a lot easier not having to confer with someone else, although it’s a lot more work obviously.
6. Music often transcends entertainment. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
MASTER OF MISCHIEF: I talk a lot about society and my general disdain for it, both in my music and online in general. I think my TikTok account still says something like “antisocial life coach” in the bio. I can be very much a misanthropic nihilist and while I’m not trying to push my views on anyone, I do talk about feeling restricted, controlled or pushed down by society or the viewpoints and opinions of others in society in my music. I want to encourage people to think for themselves and develop a strong sense of individuality and identity which isn’t defined by what others might think of them, to be unafraid and unashamed to be their true congruent selves. I think music can be a very powerful tool outside of just entertainment, and certain musicians and artists who are massively in the public eye can really influence the opinions of the people who follow and admire them. This has pros and cons, of course. It actually kind of goes against my own views on ‘thinking for yourself’, so I don’t think artists should use their platform to tell people how to think or feel about things. However, if it’s something the artist is passionate about, then of course they should talk about it in their music and have a right to. It’s their art, their music.
7. Do you feel the rewards of your musical career match the energy and passion you invest in it, or are there different kinds of fulfillment you’re still seeking?
MASTER OF MISCHIEF: Well, I’m still a very new artist in terms of this particular project. My first single dropped in September 2024, then the EP at the end of October. Right now I am just doing promotion for it and trying to get it out there to the right audience and work on building a fanbase. So it’s still really early days but I have to say, I’m really enjoying every element of the journey. I spend some time every day on either promotion or content creation and I know that side of
things isn’t for everyone but I love it. I was actually honestly surprised by how many streams I got so early on. I was expecting to have to work much harder. Not that I’m not working hard already, but I was expecting it to take longer. But things have been going pretty okay and I’m pleased with it. There’s still lots more I want to do of course. As I mentioned before, I’m already planning out the next project and EP. The first single for that will be out in February 2025 but I haven’t done any active promo for it online or anything yet, it’s still in the planning stages. After that it’s just about building momentum. All throughout 2025 I’ll be releasing singles, with each one of them coming with a full music video.
8. Can you walk us through your creative process? From the first spark of an idea to the finished track, what’s the most essential part of your process, and how do collaboration or external influences shape your work?
MASTER OF MISCHIEF: I have notes in my notes app full of random lyric ideas. Either just a couple lines, or a verse, or sometimes a full song. Sometimes just a title. But I’ll get ideas at any point throughout the day. The times it happens the most is when I’m driving and listening to music (or on public transport listening to music), and when I’m lying in bed at night trying to get to sleep. So I just jot those ideas down as and when they happen, then I can go back to them later. When I’m just jamming around and messing about on my guitar I will normally come up with a riff or two, or a chord progression. So I’ll set up my phone and record a video of it, so I can see my own hands and where they are on the fretboard. I have about 5 of those in my phone at the moment just waiting to come back to later. When it comes down to actually record a song, I’ll fire up my computer and Logic, then start messing around with my keyboard and trying out different sounds and synths and having fun with the electronic elements. I’ll build up that part first, and build the track bit by bit, then go back to the lyrics and see which ones work with it.
9. What’s been the most challenging hurdle in either your personal life or music career, and how has it shaped you as an artist?
MASTER OF MISCHIEF: I’m really not sure on this one. I always say that life in general is a series of hurdles. There’s always going to be ups and downs in life no matter what. But I don’t see them as negatives, or challenges. I’ve always been very much a “roll with the punches” kind of guy, and I’m a very positive person. I’ve had some pretty ‘bad’ things happen to me by anyone’s standards but they’re just interesting and exciting chapters in the long book of my life and you can learn and grow from them rather than let them define you or change you in a negative way. I guess I could say then…that the bad things that have happened to me have made me stronger. They’ve made me more determined and more fearless, and more confident.
10. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
MASTER OF MISCHIEF: I actually really enjoy criticism, haters and naysayers. I admittedly haven’t had that much of it yet for this project, but I’ve had two comments, and I replied to them both. It’s fun to reply to haters, especially with snarky or antagonizing remarks. I’m a pretty confident person so it doesn’t get to me. I don’t know those people. They’re just randomers online. Why should I care what they think? If it was my close friends or family then yes it would bother me, but otherwise no. My music isn’t going to be for everyone and that’s absolutely fine. There’s that old saying “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it”. If I didn’t like someone’s music or art or whatever online, I would simply move along. There’s no need to troll but if someone chooses to, they should know that a) I don’t care and b) I will troll you back, and c) it will wind up you more than it will wind up me.
11. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
MASTER OF MISCHIEF: Right now, creating new music is what excites me the most. It’s all about getting out my creativity and my thoughts and starting something. I just have so much fun with that. I’m also not really in a position to perform live at the moment. I haven’t thought about that yet, but at some point I will. Currently I’m just working on getting music out there and building an audience.
12. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
MASTER OF MISCHIEF: I have a really specific story or idea in mind when I write my lyrics and they’re personal to me. And if I shared the exact specifics of that, it would be boring and would actually alienate an audience because it narrows down the song meaning to that one tiny specific personal moment from my life. I like lyrics to have multiple interpretations, then people can apply their own meaning to it and find connection in it.
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