Conceptual pop musician Miso Extra has dreamed up her own universe
100%: The Japanese-English artist tells us all about eating gorgonzola pasta and her first kiss. Don’t worry – she didn’t do those two in order.
Music
Words: Tiffany Lai
Miso Extra is in deep hibernation mode. Looking relaxed with her knees up, sitting on an armchair at home, the pop musician is taking some time to unwind after spending the latter part of 2024 touring with Rejjie Snow. Slowly but surely, she’s been introducing audiences to The Misoverse, a world that encompasses her unique, Japanese-English electro-pop sound as well as the dream land of her very own persona.
Growing up in Buckinghamshire, Miso was one of very few Asian people in the area and, bar the odd appearance from Lucy Liu, early ’00s film and TV left her little to work with in terms of seeing herself on-screen. “I was a constant day dreamer,” she says. “I was always trying to come up with alternate realities for myself and I think that’s why it shows up in my work now as an artist. Art is a way of escapism.”
After experimenting with bedroom production at university, the artist began to flesh out the world of Miso Extra over lockdown, rapping in Japanese and releasing the late-night bop 1013 in 2021 – this one paid homage to MF Doom’s Accordion, albeit with a Japanese twist. Inspired by Doom’s use of an alter ego, she saw the birth of Miso Extra as a space to hold all the different sides of herself. “Being mixed race you get used to this narrative of switching between personas and personalities,” she says.
Thus, Miso Extra was born. The lore of this persona goes a little like this: raised in a world adjacent to ours, full of peace and musicality, an alien finds herself plopped onto planet earth one day, forced to try and make sense of it all. “Like Doraemon!” the singer laughs, referring to the blue manga cat that travels back in time from the 22nd century. You know?
Most recently, Miso has collaborated with Metronomy on Good Kisses, an upbeat bilingual track about feeling frustrated in a relationship: “Your good kisses started going missing /Am I tripping?” she asks in the chorus. “I wanted to make Metronomy’s version of an R&B song,” Miso says. “I wanted those late ’90s vibes [paired with] those Metronomy drum sounds that people are so familiar with. ”
As she gears up for the release of her next project, all centred around the madness of falling in love, Miso describes Miso Extra (the persona – keep up) as stepping into a brand new era. “She’s feeling a bit sassy and she’s gone from a place of being quite naive to gaining confidence and thinking, let’s just do it!’”
10%
You’re cooking to impress someone. What do you make?
This caramelised onion and gorgonzola pasta that’s a Padella dupe. It tastes like cheese and onion crisps, but with finesse.
20%
What’s your star sign?
I’m an Aries but Virgo rising. I think I come across as very Virgo, but the more you get to know me, the more Aries I become.
30%
Who’s your dream collaborator?
I’d love to work with Rosie Lowe.
40%
What’s your perfect outfit?
A slouchy dad jean with a cute tailored jacket.
50%
You’re going on a road trip. Who are you taking with you and where are you going?
My dog, my mum and my mum’s dog to an onsen.
60%
Go-to karaoke song?
Probably something by Hiatus Kayote.
70%
Describe your first kiss in three words.
Wet, unpleasant and a surprise.
80%
Party trick?
I can make owl sounds with my hands clasped together.
90%
What’s your phone background?
A drawing of a picnic by Suna Fujita for Loewe.
100%
What does the music industry need more of?
More grassroots venues. I miss 200 cap, sweaty rooms packed with people. We need to save them.
