SPOTLIGHT: Tea for Two With Mia Lorelei
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ STORY AND PHOTOS BY ISABELLE FAMA ☆
When I arrive at Tea & Sympathy, Mia Lorelei is already there, legs crossed on a bench in the late April sun. The West Village is coming back to life, so white and pink flower petals are strewn under her feet.
I’m content with our order of rose tea and scones, until she tells me that the tea shop calls their cupcakes “fairycakes.” A shared look makes it clear that we’ll be having one of those as well, please. We’re here to discuss her latest single, “Second Best.” As we begin chatting the waiter sets down our teapot, aptly labeled “Tea for Two.”
I’LL TAKE YOU ON AS SOMETHING TO PROVE
Mia’s a lover, not a fighter, at the end of the day. There’s a sweetness that surrounds her and her polka dot blouse, her bright green journal filled with sketches, musings, and tarot readings. Her silver hair clips, the crocheted rose pinned above her heart. When “Second Best” began taking shape last fall, she followed her usual process of melody-forward creation with stream-of-consciousness lyrics overlaid.
The words of the chorus were originally meant to act as placeholders, but they cemented themselves as a representation of Mia’s nature: rather be losing than on the sidelines. She says, “It’s a romantic way of thinking of things. I’d rather have you in my life, even if it hurts me, than not have you in my life at all.”
Though the end result is always love, it’s never without a fight. At the time of our conversation, Mia’s favorite line from the track is you’re stubborn / think I’m all words / I’ll take you on as something to prove. “I wouldn’t consider myself a competitive person,” she says, “but if someone challenges my ability to do something, I’m like ‘Okay, watch.’” She’s not taking just any challenge on, she’s taking you on. The personification of her determination makes all the difference. “I guess that’s maybe my taurus nature. Apparently, we’re stubborn.”
Sonically, “Second Best” blends grunge, alt-pop elements with glitchy synths and distorted background vocals. Mia had fun with these guitar melodies – and you can tell.
Adding sugar to our cups, we discuss musical influences. Who’s on Mia’s current playlist (“It’s called ‘destroyer,’ with lots of Rs”)? Lou Reed, Amyl and The Sniffers, Dutch Interior, Dido, Lucinda Williams, Wilco, and Cocteau Twins (“forever and always”). Also, “it’s the season of Arthur Russell right now.”
World-building is always part of Mia’s songwriting process. Seventh grade photoshoots with her best friend Katy gave way to captivating visuals that accompany each of her releases. “Second Best” is no exception, with hand-illustrated trophies and stars and colors that seem to have a life of their own. A little bit of inside baseball: Mia tells me that the hot pink overlay seen throughout is actually a close-up video of a peeled orange.
DO IT SCARED
As if the “Second Best” release wasn’t cause enough for a May 2 celebration, it’s also Mia’s birthday. While getting into the fairycake, we discuss what’s “in” for 21.
She wants to wear her new loafers more, and to bring her record player back from her home in California. She currently has three records in her NYC collection: Cameron Winter’s Heavy Metal, Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain (which is home to one of her favorite songs of all-time, “Can You Get To That”), and Indigo Jack & The New World Border by Huron John - “gifted to me by Huron John himself. It was his last night of tour and he was like, ‘Do y’all want a vinyl? You can just take the display.’” Thank you, Huron John.
She’s taking inspiration from everything around her – including strange interactions and anecdotes that some may deem insignificant. “My ears have been perked, and my eyes have been peeled, and I’ve been rewarded.”
She’s coming into her own and carrying her sense of self on her shoulders. Her mantra? “Do it scared.”
Ever a creator, Mia has more on the horizon. Creative writings, oil pastel drawings, and – if we’re lucky – more music. She’s giving herself grace as she welcomes changes into her life. “You have to destroy yourself to heal, in case you haven’t heard.”
It’ll also be a plus to play shows wherever she wants, without getting kicked out of the 21+ venues at the end of her set. Speaking of, don’t miss her release show, May 2 at Pianos with The Namby Pamby and Coco Smith.
“Second Best” is out now.
