Interview: Mist talks channeling his pain into songs and Steel Banglez

We caught up with before he takes to the stage at this year’s Reading Festival.

You’re no stranger to the Reading and Leeds’ stages – what’s your favourite memory from performing previously?

When I was performing ‘Ain’t the Same’, the crowd started singing along with me and I always remember them singing the part ‘fly away, fly away’.

You use some of your life pains as inspiration for your music, what advice would you give to those who have no idea how to channel their pain?

I think talking or writing down your pain is a good way to deal with it, through that I think you can discover other ways to channel it by finding what you stand for, who you are.

What’s the story behind your friendship with Steel Banglez?

Banglez hit me up, we kept trying to meet up and kept missing each other. When we finally got in the studio we just clicked. We can relate to each other in different ways, with him having being incarcerated too but also in a spiritual and musical way. I think that’s why when we make a tune, it’s deep, there’s more there than just beats and words.

The visuals for ‘Hot Property’ are sick, who came up with the idea and do you have any stories from filming?

After ‘Ain’t the Same’, everyone started to call my music rap, I decided then we were going to film in snow. I said to my manager, I want something other people haven’t done, so I told him I want snow and huskies, then we ended up in Iceland. The maddest memory for me was when we were driving to location we saw the northern lights. I know people go Iceland to specifically see them and we just saw them by chance, it was amazing.

If you could pick any song by any artist that sums up your journey so far what would it be and why?

This is actually a really hard question, I don’t know, I can’t think of one song that describes my journey.

What’s the weirdest thing anyone has ever thrown on stage at one of your performances?

*Disclaimer* we had to edit out this answer so just use your imagination.

If you were going to share a dressing room with anyone on the line up, who would you choose and why?

Ski Mask the Slump God – to find out his story because he’s had similar experiences to me.

What advice would you give to someone attending a festival for the first time?

Moshpit!

How do you like to get pumped up before you take to the stage? Do you have any pre-show rituals?

Coffee Patron, smoking and press ups.

If you had to pack a fancy dress outfit, what would you take?

I’d go as Hugh Hefner.

What’s one thing you always carry around with you at festivals and gigs?

A loud pack

If you had a food stall at Reading and Leeds what would you call it?

Mist’s Munchies

Leeds plays host to the Piccadilly Party late into the night in the campsite. Who on the line up would you like to party with?

Annie Mac – Because I was Lost and now I’m Found.

Mist plays Reading’s BBC Radio 1 Stage on Friday.