Alumni Spotlight: Mimi Pearson-Gee
Those lucky enough to attend a WHS Music Concert with Mimi Pearson-Gee (2009-2016) singing at the piano will not be surprised to read that on leaving Stowe in 2021, Mimi signed a record deal with leading music industry songwriters and producers, Torsten Stenzel and Adrian Zagoritis. We caught up with Mimi to find out more.
How did it all begin?
My dad is a Vicar and so I have grown up immersed in church music and learnt song structure from a young age. My parents always encouraged me and my siblings – Jemima and Theo – to play musical instruments, and I thrived off the opportunities provided to me at Winchester House by the Music Department with Mrs Chatfield, Mr Phillips, Mr Hamel, Mrs Thurman and Miss Lear. I particularly loved writing songs and specifically remember performing one I wrote for Mrs Chatfield’s Christmas Music Competition.
After leaving Winchester House, I went to Stowe School with a Roxburgh scholarship (much helped by my musical ambitions) and continued to songwrite and perform at the piano or with my guitar. After my GCSEs, without my knowledge, an old friend sent a demo of a song I wrote to Adrian and he liked what he heard and asked for more. I sent a further 30 songs and was signed to their label. After finishing my A-levels, I flew to Antigua in July 2021 to write and record with them; I love the songwriting and the production process, creating music around an unusual title or soundscape and developing the melody and the lyrics alongside. I am heavily influenced by many artists such as Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift, as well as film score composers like Hans Zimmer. I am also a fan of poetry which I try to weave into my work.
In Antigua we decided to make my artist name ‘Ladybyrd’ as it was the nickname my grandfather gave to my mum, and what she called me sometimes when I was much younger.
Tell us about your music?
I released my debut single ‘Too Close to Call’ in May 2022 with ‘Stolen Sunlight’ following in July, ‘Oblivious’ in September’ and my EP* ‘Sub Zero’ in November. ‘Sub Zero’ was the first song I co-wrote after leaving school and it sparked something in me creatively which led to many more songs. It is about the journey of finding courage to leave a relationship that has gone cold and explores the complex emotions of desire, regret, and realisation. It tells the story of losing yourself in someone who has only made you feel worse, and the mental battle that comes with that. I was partly inspired by C.S. Lewis’ ‘Narnia’ to write this; the friendship between Edmund and the White Witch which seems promising at first but leads to danger.
What is your favourite song?
‘Oblivious’ is my favourite song as it is darker and edgier than my previous work, but I will always love my debut single ‘Too Close to Call’ because of the lyrics. I have now finished a new EP, which is quite different to my previous work. It is much more cinematic with a rocky/pop edge, and I am in love with all of the songs. I can’t wait to start releasing them soon.
Where have you been gigging?
I have done gigs at The Clapham Grand, at St John’s College May Ball, the Sebright Arms and in February 2023 toured in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Durham, and London performing my EP and my latest singles. I also have played at a ‘BBC Music Introducing’ gig and most recently I supported Tom Speight at the Islington Assembly Hall which was an amazing experience.
Your media presence is impressive, please tell me more…
My instagram (ladybyrd.x), YouTube and TikTok accounts have been amazing at highlighting my music. The media has been so supportive of me with ‘Clash Magazine’ featuring ‘Too Close to Call’ as Track of the Day, with ‘Notion’ and ‘Wonderland’ magazines interviewing me. I was ‘BBC Music Introducing Beds, Herts & Bucks’ ‘One to Watch’ which was cool, and they’ve been so supportive and played all my songs on air. On Spotify I have received over 300,,000 streams so far across my work, which is really promising and I have been placed on a Spotify editorial playlist. I find creating content for social media a challenge sometimes, especially when I am balancing my time with other commitments to university and work but I’m definitely getting better at it and I love developing a community there.
What does the future hold?
I am in my second year at King’s College London studying History and International Relations and am loving it. I am also working in Parliament, but music remains my number one priority. I’ve just finished writing and recording lots of new songs, with the first one set to be released on 02.02.2024!