I recently reviewed the latest EP by The Electric Soul Syndicate (a musical duo consisting of Mishell Ivon and Andrew Land), titled Blue On Blue. It really is a cracking piece of work and one that transcends the traditional EDM song structure, turning the genre on its head with a cinematic production style. I absolutely loved their work and decided it would be a good idea to sit down and have a chat with Mishell and Andrew to find out a little more about their songwriting process…

By Jane Howkins

You’ve just released a new EP titled Blue On Blue. What can you tell us about the record and how has the reception been so far?

Mishell: The response has been really encouraging. The Electric Soul Syndicate had been quiet for a few years, so seeing people reconnect with the project and embrace these songs has been a great feeling.

What’s funny is that Blue On Blue actually came together really quickly. Andrew and I wrote the whole EP over just a few weeks while I was at my place in Southern Italy. The surroundings naturally found their way into the music. The title became a thread that tied everything together, and before we knew it, the entire record had this unmistakable Southern Italian soul running through it. It wasn’t planned that way, but sometimes the best projects find their own identity.

Andrew: We’ve had some really great feedback, and as Mishell says, that’s so pleasing for an EP that came together so quickly and naturally. At the music on the EP came from ideas that I had knocking around for a while but wasn’t sure what to do with. When we played around with the first track and Mishell put her lyrics and vocals on it, it was like a lightbulb flicking on and whole new world opened up. All of a sudden, I could see a future for all these little ideas and titbits that I wasn’t sure how to turn into full tracks.

A couple of singles have been released from the EP already – Falling and Love Rebel. Why did you pick those songs as singles and what can you tell us about them?

Mishell: Falling was the first song Andrew and I finished, and it was also the first one we sent to Hit Mint. In a way, it became the introduction to this new chapter for The Electric Soul Syndicate. It felt like the right place to start because it captured the atmosphere and direction we were aiming for from day one.

Love Rebel was a natural follow-up because it showed a different side of the EP. It’s got a different energy, but it still belongs in the same world. I liked the idea of those two songs sitting side by side because together they hint at the range of what’s on Blue On Blue, without giving everything away.

You’re a duo made up of Grammy-nominated vocalist, songwriter and lyricist Mishell Ivon and multi-talented pianist and composer Andrew Land (who hails from our own county of Yorkshire!) How did you get together as a duo and start collaborating together for The Electric Soul Syndicate project?

Mishell: Like a lot of collaborations in the music industry, it started with our paths crossing through another project. Andrew entered a remix competition for one of my releases on The DiscoGraphy Lessons label, and his remix immediately stood out. There was something about the way he approached the music that felt fresh, but he still understood what I was trying to do.

That was the beginning of our creative relationship. We started writing together, and it quickly became obvious that we complemented each other really well. Andrew has this beautiful way of creating musical landscapes, and I naturally gravitate towards melodies and storytelling, so it felt like a very organic fit. Looking back, my instinct was right.

Andrew: Once I’d worked on the remix with Mishell’s vocals, I just knew that she was an artist I wanted to work with again – the range in her voice is incredible and her songwriting feels so natural and organic that it’s a dream for a musician/producer to work with. I literally never have notes for her vocals/lyrics – she nails them first time every time! That really contributed to the speed of pulling the EP together – it became clear really quickly that we both work at a quick pace once we’ve got our teeth into a track or a sound, so we really got a head of steam up on this EP and pulled it together in a matter of a few weeks.

Do you have any other musical side projects on the go at the moment?

Mishell: There’s always something brewing. Alongside The Electric Soul Syndicate, I’ve got a steady run of Mishell Ivon releases coming out before the end of the year, so there’s plenty of new music on the horizon. And without giving too much away, there’s also something really exciting in the works for 2027. I’m not ready to spill the details just yet, but it’s a project I’m incredibly excited about.

Andrew: I release music in a number of genres and under different names, predominantly as Andrew Land, Bailrigg and Library Fighter. I’ve a lot of new tracks waiting in the wings across multiple genres, including new Bailrigg and Library Fighter albums.

And we have more Electric Soul Syndicate music coming too, with another EP of tracks nearly ready to go.

Andrew is currently based in the Midlands – where is Mishell based? What is the local music scene like in your area and are there any local artists/venues you can recommend our readers check out?

Mishell: I’m German-American and based in Munich, Germany. It’s a great city with a really diverse music scene and some fantastic venues. That said, I’ve been so immersed in writing and studio work lately that I haven’t been getting out nearly as much as I’d like.

I think it’s officially time to put that on my to-do list. Sometimes when you’re busy making music, you forget to go and enjoy everyone else’s. 😄

Andrew: The Midlands has a vibrant electronic scene with plenty of dance music coming out of the area at the minute, which I’m pleased to contribute to. In terms of local venues to me, the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath has to be the best small venue around – I’ve seen some wonderful artists in there in a small room, which is so intimate, I love it. Seeing Stephen Malkmus of Pavement (a personal hero of mine) there just before Covid was a real highlight – I even held the door open for him!!! (swoon)

What/who would you say are your main musical influences?

Mishell: My influences are a pretty wide spectrum. I grew up inspired by artists like Michael Jackson, Sade, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Jamiroquai, Lisa Stansfield, Janet Jackson, and the SOS Band, but there are so many others that have shaped the way I think about music.

I’ve never really been someone who fits everything into one box. I tend to pull from whatever connects with me, whether it’s a melody, a groove, a feeling, or a certain kind of storytelling. For me, it’s always been about the emotion behind the music and finding a way to bring those influences into something that feels like my own.

Andrew: Growing up in Yorkshire I was very much an indie/Britpop kid and heavily focused on guitars. I’ve recently rediscovered a love of playing my guitars, mainly for my own pleasure at the minute, but maybe that’s something that will find its way into my own music more and more going forward. I hope so!

These days I’m very much more electronic-focused and am a big fan of the likes of Maribou State, Jamie xx, Barry Can’t Swim, Four Tet, Caribou, Kiasmos, Bicep. But with that said, you never lose the love of the likes of The Beatles, Dylan, the Stones, and I’m enjoying introducing my two young daughters to their music now, giving me an opportunity to rediscover what got me into music in the first place.

Are there any plans for a UK tour anytime soon? What can your fans expect from one of your gigs?

Mishell: There aren’t any UK tour plans in place just yet, but it’s definitely something we would be open to if the right opportunity comes along. You never know what doors might open.

If The Electric Soul Syndicate does hit the stage, I think people can expect something authentic and real. We’re not about hiding behind layers of production. It would most likely have a stripped-back feel, focused on the music, the connection and the emotion behind the songs.

Any last words for the fans?

Mishell: Thank you for listening and supporting what we’re creating. This is just the beginning, so keep your ears open because there is a lot more music coming.

Social media: Spotify, Instagram

Related Topics: Andrew Land, Mishell Ivon