The Soundgeist recently had the pleasure of conversing with Brian and Shawn, the dynamic duo behind the vibrant Chicago-based band, MIIRRORS. Brian's musical journey, rooted in a family of musicians, led him to join forces with Shawn in 2015, forming the captivating sound of MIIRRORS. Their debut album, Motion and Picture, takes listeners on an immersive cinematic journey, effortlessly weaving together vibrant colors and heartfelt emotions. Influenced by the likes of AIR, Arcade Fire, and Jeff Buckley, MIIRRORS' music emanates a unique blend of boldness and introspection. Within the thriving Chicago music scene, the band finds solace in a supportive community, tirelessly honing their craft. With exciting plans on the horizon, including tour routes, a forthcoming performance documentary, and the creation of their second record, MIIRRORS continues to enchant audiences with their mesmerizing music and unwavering dedication.
What has been your journey as a musician? How did MIIRRORS form?
Brian: I grew up in a musical family. My parents both have beautiful voices and were part of a Southern Gospel quartet who traveled and sang regionally in churches when I was a child. I remember being in recording studios when I was 2 and 3 years old. Music was always around me. Through the years, I taught myself to play guitar and played in junior high and high school bands, the last of which was offered an indie record deal a few years after graduation, which led to national tours. When this band ended, I started a Chicago-based band called MATTHEW. I met Shawn on an airplane in 2000 when that band was active and we became friends and kept in touch in subsequent years. Fast forward to 2015 - I started traveling back to Chicago for visits and Shawn and I would get together and play for fun at his rehearsal space. We were instantly very prolific. I think we wrote 10-12 ideas in our first rehearsal, at least 2 of which are on Motion and Picture. We continued playing and writing and decided soon enough that we need to be recording this music.
How should someone describe MIIRRORS to a friend?
A: MIIRRORS is a quintet and our record Motion and Picture is a sort of cinematic journey through varying colors, feelings, and spaces. Like wandering through rooms in a childhood home, each song evokes unique memories and visceral emotions. Sometimes brash and sometimes solemn, hopefully always sincere.
What does your creative process look like?
Traditionally, Shawn and I will begin playing, really anything. Just making sounds., at all. Sometimes he will begin playing a pattern he’s been thinking on and I will react on guitar and eventually vocal. We’ll play for hours, recording everything, squeezing as much from a seed as is possible. Sometimes we will revisit the recordings and there’s this one little thing that happened in only one of the takes that would’ve been completely forgotten otherwise, and it will be the key to transforming an idea entirely. Now that we are playing and writing as a 5-piece, it’s a bit different. The same kind of exploration still happens, but there are many different sources now. Synthesizers, samplers, etc.
What have been some of your inspirations and influences? Favorite Artists?
Brian: AIR, Jeff Buckley, The Posies, Arcade Fire, Prince, George Michael, Radiohead.
Shawn: Currently obsessed with the film score work of Johnny Greenwood and Bernard Hermann. AIR’s work means a lot to us and we’re hoping they make another album. Broken Social Scene, My Brightest Diamond and St. Vincent, Jim O’Rourke- specifically his use of repetition. The prolificacy of Sparks is astounding.
How would you describe the Chicago music scene?
Shawn: I think Chicago is in a very healthy state at the moment. There really is a community here, but we’re not going to deny that tribalisms exist in certain areas. That’s just the natural part of art striving to thrive, I get it. The relationships between the artists and the venues, the artists and promoters, I don’t see that much in other cities. Especially since the pandemic, a win for anyone is a win for what’s possible again, citywide. Anthony Bourdain was right- bullshit has no place here, musicians here work their asses off.
With the debut of Motion and Picture, what is on the horizon?
Shawn: We’ll be announcing some tour routes shortly, we’re excited to get out there and share these songs to a different audience each night. The sweatier, the better. Soon we’ll release a short performance doc that we made during the pandemic since no one could play shows. We’ve already written enough material for a second record, some of which we’ve been playing live to get a feel for things. Writing as a quintet now, there’s an immediacy when we get together at my place- the well is deep.
Follow MIIRRORS on Instagram for more. You can listen to them wherever you listen to your music.