Features : Punk Rock Band Mystery Actions Packs a Punch in Latest EP

American punk rock n’ roll band, Mystery Actions, is ready to rock with their recent EP, “Up to Us.” Founded in Chicago, Illinois, the all-female band is comprised of four members: Nikki Mouse, vocalist; Lucy Dekay, guitarist; Mary Rose Beef, drummer; and Mikhael Hell, bassist. Representing a diverse array ethnic backgrounds and orientations, Mystery Actions gives voice to not only the local community but to fans around the world.

Subversive and humorous—both on and off stage—the band gives audiences a lively performance through their energetic sets. Throughout their career, Mystery Actions has released many EPs and singles and toured throughout the U.S. alongside punk rock legends including Buzzcocks, The Adicts, The Dead Boys, and GBH; they were also featured in the 2019 Punk Rock Bowling Festival in Las Vegas.

“Up to Us,” their newest release, is a 5-song EP including the band-favorite singles, “War Beat” and “Up to Us.” “War Beat” paints the picture of an Orwellian future, commensurate with the real world authority and media compromised everyday living of today; the song is important to the band because it represents “the writing on the wall,” the beginning of a decline we all should have seen coming. “Up to Us” is an upbeat single that reminds us that we are the generation to make a difference—there’s blood on each other’s hands for how we’ve been treating one another. It’s up to us to be open to differences, be more compassionate, and stop allowing the destruction of life’s joy.

Nikki, the vocalist of the Mystery Actions, describes their music as “more of a feeling.” “I hate the genres and titles people give each other. We wanted to keep it open,” she says of the band’s direction and sound. On a typical day, she finds inspiration thought the things that surround her, whether it’s a conversation she has overheard or a recent book she has read. “I just think, ‘Woah. That carries a lot of weight—I need to write a song about it.’” She describes the songwriting process as “I hear a melody in my head and write it on paper. Or it’ll brood in the subconscious for years. Then maybe Lucy will hit a riff that pops it out. Sometimes I store information in my mind to use for lyrics later.”

If the band could have any superpower, it wouldn’t be reading minds—it would be going into listener’s minds—as they listen to their songs—and explaining the context behind the music. “When you write something, you don’t get to talk to people about it and your mindset when you wrote it,” Nikki explains. “It’s taken out of context.” At the end of the day, Mystery Actions wants to be seen for what they represent, not nitpicked for what they look like. “For the most part, we have a ferocious band. Don’t pick it apart for who’s in it. We want to be seen for our music, not who’s involved in it.”

They are proud of how far they’ve come, especially as a unified band for an entire decade. “As we grow up, we all go in different directions and have different interests and beliefs, but for 10 years we’ve made it work. It’s not easy—there’s lots of estrogen in the air sometimes—but if it’s worth it, you put in the work.”

What’s up next for Mystery Actions? Following their recent release, the band is taking time to explore and grow. “We’re taking a step back, a pause, a breather… until inspiration hits us in the face again and we come back with a vengeance.”

Make sure to stay connected to Mystery Actions on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

Websites:
BandCamp
Spotify
YouTube
 

Socials:
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