The four members of Mew, Jonas Bjerre, Bo Madsen, Johan Wohlert, and Silas Graae met at school and bonded whilst making a film about the destruction of nature. For a band that sounds as they do, this seems like the perfect place to start. Through their music they seem to have control over everything and have created true beauty that they can destroy at any time - from 156, a song that sounds so nice until you realise just how sinister the lyrics are, to She Came Home For Christmas, which, as it builds, sounds like the world is ending.

Having released two albums (A Triumph For Man and Half The World Is Watching Me) in their native Denmark on their own Evil Office label, the band were picked up by Epic and they set about recording new versions of a number of the songs from those two previous releases, the result of which was the recently released Frengers album.

Bands like Mew do not come along very often. Few bands have the patience to construct songs as carefully as this and it may well be the background in film that aids this. In fact, film still plays a large part in the life of Mew as live shows are performed in front of short films produced for each song.

Shortly after the release of Frengers, in May 2003, Jonas, the band’s vocalist, gave us an insight into the world of Mew.

How, when and why did you all get together as Mew?

When Silas joined us in 1996 we decided to stay together as Mew.

How would you describe Mew to someone completely oblivious?

We are hard to describe I think. Depends on the person I guess. Sometimes it’s easiest if you just say alternative rock…

Who or what influences your music?

All kinds of things. Music we grew up with like Pixies, Swirlies, Stina Nordenstam, Red House Painters, etc. Films by people like Mikael Haneke, Jonathan Esc, Casavettes, David Lynch, etc. Animation by people like the Brothers Quay and Jan Svankmayer. Art like Francis Bacon, Wilhelm Hammershoi and many others…

What music are you listening to at the moment?

I’m trying to get into some new records I bought but finding it hard… I listen mostly to John Adams, the American composer at the moment. Got an Elliot Smith album I quite like. And am rediscovering my old Prefab Sprout albums.

How do you go about writing songs?

We do it very collectively, all together in rehearsal space and at home. Sometimes one person will come up with something and we’ll meet up and experiment with it. Sometimes it all appears in the practice space.

Why did you decide to record new versions of old songs for Frengers?

We thought it was sad if no one outside of Denmark would have the chance to hear those songs and also we had not written that many new songs at the time. It takes us a long time to finish writing a song. We chose the songs that we felt would feel most like a complete body of work.

Will A Triumph For Man and Half The World Is Watching Me ever be released in the UK?

Not likely. In fact it is unlikely they will even go back in print back in Denmark. This has to do with logistics and legal stuff. If Epic ever decides to put it out that would be the only way. But right now they are concentrating on the Frengers album and I think that is completely understandable.

Stina Nordenstam and Becky Jarrett (who provide vocals on Her Voice Is Beyond Her Years and Symmetry respectively) are both singers with quite fragile sounding voices. Is that a deliberate choice?

Actually Becky has a really powerful voice when she feels like it! She has performed in musicals like “Annie” which really requires a good pair of lungs. I met her by random chance and she wanted to be a singer. I made her send me a demo and everyone in the band liked her voice a lot. So she came over to Denmark and recorded with us. I believe she could have a great career in music if she can find the time from her studies.

Stina has always been my favourite female singer and it was a dream come true when she came into the studio to work with us.

But to answer your question fully, yes we quite like fragile voices. They are just more interesting.

One thing that marks you out from other bands is your use of a video backdrop when playing live. When did you start using that and why?

I didn’t feel fully at ease on stage. I have to completely lose myself in the moment so as not to get freaked out by it, the visuals helped me show something of myself and of the rest of Mew without having to be more lead-singer-like about it. Also it gives people a more interesting experience and a different one. We feel the images emphasize the emotional texture in the songs. I worked on the films for about half a year back when I still had a day job and it took a lot out of me but I’m really happy I did it.

Later on we have continued to develop and expand it and made some new films as well. It’s something I enjoy tremendously working with when I have the time.

What one question do you wish people would ask in interviews but never do?

I honestly don’t know. I quite like doing interviews if it’s not too many in one day. It’s a luxury to simply talk about yourself like that. Very enjoyable most the time. Maybe I’d like them to ask me if I want some coffee.

What would your answer be?

Yes please.

Official website: www.mewsite.com
Evil Office: www.evil-office.net