7 October 2024
Every Monday I will be bringing you an interview with an independent band, duo or music artist. This week, I caught up with Bolton artist Mistrust to find out more…
Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
I’m from Bolton, and got into music over 40 years ago. My younger brother was a brilliant, self-taught guitarist. He was always in demand to play with local bands. I wanted to be like him but didn’t want to play guitar. I saw people like Gary Numan and Ultravox on Top of the Pops playing synths and thought “I want to be like them. I can be like them!!” It took me nearly 40 years to get anywhere near doing what they were doing!
It’s just me. Tim Blackburn as “Mistrust”. I once saw a movie where someone got their name by picking a name at random from a book. I did that for my music name. The book was “Good English: How to Speak it and how to write it”
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
The first time I heard someone playing a synth on Top of the Pops was a band called Chicory Tip. I couldn’t believe they could make a song sound so “out there”. I was very young at the time but I was hooked on weird noises! As I mentioned earlier, I saw Gary Numan on TOTP, and earlier on the Lee Cooper jeans ad, singing “Don’t be a Dummy”. He was making cools sounds and had a edge. I wanted to be like him. All the bands and artists that came after him like Ultravox, OMD, Human League influenced me too. I tried to write songs like theirs. Fast forward to now, and they’re still a big influence but I’m more inspired by the songs I wrote 40 years ago.
How would you describe your sound?
I make catchy 3-minute electronic pop songs. “Synthpop to put a smile in your heart” (Neil March – aka Trust the Doc, said that).
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
My new single is called “LIFE” (yes, it’s capitalised!). It’s a new version of the song that was the opening track of my 2023 album “Sunlight”.
The song is about homelessness and is to raise awareness about the increasing number of people who are having to leave their own homes and have nowhere else to live. Whether they can no longer afford their mortgages, or have been living in rented accommodation and been told to leave by their landlords. The local authority housing teams can’t help them, and they can’t afford to rent privately, so they’re having to stay long-term with relatives or friends. I’m playing at an event called “Primal Live” in Liverpool on Sunday 6th October, 2024, which is raising funds for The Whitechapel Centre homeless charity in Liverpool.
What’s your local music scene like?
Solo guitarist/singer-songwriters, playing Oasis covers; tribute bands, human karaoke machines (cover singers!).
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
Doing some proper gigs, ie., support slots on people’s tours. Finishing off my new album.
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
Bill Nelson. He’s just amazing.
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
I did an outdoor busking event in Bolton last year. I was singing Enola Gay by OMD, when a bloke in a hi-vis jacket walked up to me from about 100 yards away, and shouted “ATOMIC” into my mic, and then walked off It’s on YouTube here.
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
I’m having a brilliant time!
Upcoming live dates and performances
Sunday 6th October – Primal Live, Liverpool
Tuesday 5th November – ElectroFest II, Darwen
Saturday 16th November – HMV Manchester + Moolakii Audio Club, Birkenhead
Tuesday 19th November – Button Live Lounge, Macclesfield
Thursday 28th November – Electric Tentacle, Stoke-on-Trent
You can find his gigs page here
You can find out more about Mistrust on his website or via Apple Music, Bandcamp, Instagram, SoundCloud, Threads, X (Twitter) or YouTube.
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