Neverlanded are a promising band. Influenced by Placebo and L7, they were formed initially as an online project in 2017. Since then they have gone from strength to strength, recording debut album Fluffy Unicorns United (F.U.u) with Margo Broom (Arrows of Love, Calva Louise). The songs cover homelessness, life and death, and mental health issues. The band are also supporters of Mermaids UK. Mermaids UK is a charity that aims to support children and young people live a happier life. They raise awareness in gender non-conformity in young people and the general public.
I spoke to Pete from the band about the album’s sound, their biggest influences, and how Mermaids UK inspires them.
The Indiependent: Your EP Fluffy Unicorns United (F.U.u) combines aggressive guitar with beautiful, heartfelt lyrics. What inspired you to write each song?
Life and listening to artists we like. Add a brain not functioning properly and you have F.U.U.
‘Brainsane’: “In the darkness, people can see stars.” We hope that everyone who hits rock bottom, no matter how many times they fall, are able to rise again. And that they know they’re loved, accepted and safe. All you have to do is be yourself.
‘MesS.O.S.’: When you get detached from yourself, time and terrain orientation are off. Memory starts fading, and you go to sleep thinking that not being able to wake up is not such a bad idea after all.
‘This Friend Of Mine’: When your reflection in the mirror becomes a stranger, and you don’t recognise yourself, you realise there’s more than one personality inside your head. It’s a song about befriending your demons.
‘Scream4icecream’: Sometimes meds work and sometimes they don’t. Whatever course you follow, you soon come to realise that all you need to do is accept the voices, get to know them, and then let them go.
A lot of people seem to suffer from mental health issues; in Neverlanded we use them as fuel for creation.
The Indiependent: Who are your biggest female influences and how have they inspired your music and your life?
If you want to get it done, do it like a mum. Our mothers and other women, friends and artists we love, we are them. They created us! And we shape our lives with their wisdom.
The Indiependent: The profits for Fluffy Unicorns United (F.U.u) go to Mermaids UK. What is it about this charity that empowers you?
Mermaids UK supports children, young people and their families to achieve a happier life in the face of great adversity. Only if one realises how important their support to them is, will get what Mermaids UK really do. They do amazing things, and when the going gets tough, they do even better. Despite the darkness, we can all turn into beautiful butterflies and fly. My mum taught me that.
The Indiependent: If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
Shirley Manson, Bjork, Alison Mosshart, PJ Harvey, Michael Stipe, Lady Gaga, M. I. A., Prodigy, Eminem, System of A Down, Refused… I could go on forever!
The Indiependent: Is it better to burn out than to fade away?
Some burn out for years while others fade away in a few days. And some others are invisible and as a result, they can’t burn out and they’re forced to fade away. It’s better to be happy. As long as individuals are free to be themselves and feel safe, there’s no burn out or fade away. There’s only happy.
Words by Ermis Madikopoulos