Miso Extra: Building a World From Scratch

Miso Extra, the stage name of the Japanese-English pop artist, sits comfortably in her armchair, a picture of tranquility after a whirlwind year of touring with Rejjie Snow. "It's nice to just be here," she muses, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "To recharge and let the ideas simmer."

For Miso Extra, the stage name itself is a concept, a carefully constructed persona that allows her to inhabit a different reality. Growing up as one of few Asian faces in her Buckinghamshire community, she often felt like an outsider, a feeling that fueled her imagination. "I was constantly daydreaming," she recalls, "creating alternate realities for myself. It was a way of coping, a way of finding my own place in the world."

This desire to escape the confines of reality manifested in her music. Inspired by the likes of MF Doom, who adopted the alter ego of Viktor Vaughn, Miso Extra was born. "Being mixed-race, you're always navigating these different identities," she explains. "Miso Extra is a space where I can explore all of those facets, without limitations."

The lore of Miso Extra is rich and fantastical: an alien from a peaceful, musical dimension, she finds herself unexpectedly stranded on Earth, grappling with the complexities of human existence. "It's a bit like Doraemon," she laughs, referencing the iconic Japanese cartoon cat who travels through time. "This idea of encountering a completely different world and trying to make sense of it all."

This playful sense of otherworldliness permeates her music. Tracks like "1013," a homage to MF Doom's "Accordion," blend electronic soundscapes with introspective lyrics, reflecting the artist's unique perspective on the world. Her recent collaboration with Metronomy, "Good Kisses," further showcases her versatility, seamlessly blending her own distinctive style with the band's signature sound.

As Miso Extra prepares to embark on a new chapter, her music is evolving alongside her persona. "She's feeling a bit more confident now," she says with a mischievous glint in her eye. "A bit more assertive." This newfound confidence is palpable in her music, a reflection of her own personal growth and a testament to the power of artistic expression to shape and define identity.