Get to know us - Q&A:

   1. When did you learn your first instrument?

Sophie: When I was 14, my parents bought me an electric guitar for my birthday and I watched YouTube videos and tutorials online to teach myself and fell in love with creating and playing music.
Amy: My first instrument was the piano when I was 7 and I used to hate my piano lessons haha, but it definitely helped to develop my musicality and made learning the drums a lot easier. I enjoy it a lot more now and often record keyboard for the band, which is fun.
Meg: I can't play any instruments so I stick to just singing, haha. I don't remember the first time I knew I wanted to do this for a living but I love it and wouldn't want to do anything else.
Emi: I grew up listening to my Dad's rock music including bands such as, Green Day, Nirvana, Red Hot Chilli Peppers which has definitely shaped my own music taste. Anyway, he took me to see Red Hot Chilli Peppers live and as soon as I heard the bass line to 'Can't Stop' I asked him if I could learn to play bass and here we are.

2. Why is the band called The Mocking Jays?

Meg: We are all huge fans of The Hunger Games, and the final book/film is named after the made up bird species, The Mockingjay.
Amy: It's a symbol of hope for the people of Panem and also reflects ideas of rebellion against the Capitol which relates to our own views about the industry.  We want to 'rebel' against the norm and inspire more women to get into music, especially punk rock.
Emi: Also, it just sounds pretty cool haha.  

3. How did you all meet?

Sophie: Me, Amy and Meg all went to school together and we found out we all loved playing music so decided to form a band with our original name, 'CULPRIT'. We met Emi a year later in a Subway.
Emi: Yeah, I was carrying my bass guitar on my back after rehearsing with another band and Emi and Amy came up to me and asked if I wanted to join their band, because they needed a bassist and I said yes.  

4. Do you ever feel nervous about performing live?

Amy: I always feel nervous right up until I sit down at the drums. The wait is the worst part. Once I start playing, excitement takes over and I just enjoy playing music with my best friends.
Meg: I feel the same way. I'm usually worried about everything that could go wrong such as the mics cutting out or forgetting the lyrics but I just remind myself that the audience bought tickets to see us play so we've just got to put on a good show. As long as we have fun, so will they.  


5. What is your songwriting process?

Emi: It honestly changes for each song. Sometimes Sophie comes to us with a groovy guitar riff and it inspires different melodies, or sometimes Meg has a few lyrics and we write the music afterwards.
Amy: I always prefer to come up with my drum patterns after most of the melodies have been written just so I can get a feel for the vibe we are going for.
Meg: Our song 'Everything is Easy' started with the chords and a chorus melody line and then we wrote the lyrics to match that which I think worked really well.