Reflections In The Mirror with Giselle Medd

Content Warning: This article contains references to Eating Disorders and may be upsetting to some readers, please proceed with caution.

2016 was a majickal year for music. Not least because Scottish singer/songwriter Nina Nesbitt was releasing new material and toured on three separate occasions which connected me with some brilliant artists both online and in person. Among these artists was Giselle Medd, a singer/songwriter from Mexico with a penchant for darker topics in her composing. Her most recent single 'Skinny' sees Medd at her best yet.

With earlier tracks including 'My Serial Killers', 'Nightmare Doll' and 'Axe Murders', Giselle Medd's favourite time of year is Halloween, though she has a great respect for the wider season of Autumn in general. I would get to meet her in 2018 when she jumped on stage with Nina Nesbitt at the O'Meara in London, in support of U.K. based charity Nordoff Robbins. Lewis Capaldi would also appear on stage with Nesbitt, himself just on the edge of stardom prior to the release of his debut album. Support was from Emily Burns, a great artist who deserves her own article here one day. Aside from this moment on stage, I have yet to see Giselle Medd perform live, especially considering her own material is an eclectic mix of both Spanish and English language numbers, with acoustic guitar and now more electronic material.

'Lovely Lines', released in August and produced by Saúl E. Plazola is an interesting hybrid of tip-toeing piano, sparse synth and programmed drums, wound like a pocket watch. Sung in English, this features one of Giselle Medd's more troubling lyrics; 'But then you used your knife and cut a lovely line. I was so surprised as I watched my blood splash out, soft skin, thick lips, I can't even say how much I like your legs. I picked right, my desire, I was murdered that night.' The production on Giselle's vocal has exactly the right amount of reverb, at times even sounding like it comes from the basement alluded to. Luckily for the viewer, the video is not so gruesome, cutting between outdoor shots and more claustrophobic interiors. Can confirm Giselle Medd makes it out alive.

By contrast, 'Skinny' is on the more personal subject of eating disorders. Unfortunately, a topic many people can relate to, with many more disagreeing on whether social media in particular helps or hinders those affected by it. Here, Giselle Medd's melody is her best yet, the chorus in particular; 'Bitch, you did, you are not fat. Bitch, you did it, you are pretty enough,' is delivered in an uplifting way despite the damning meaning of the statement. Melvin Hein's production is complimentary to Medd's songwriting with piano, acoustic guitar, marimba and simple drum programming. Giselle Medd previously featured on Hein's track 'Sick Brains', contributing vocals in 2017. Read on for more information about the tracks featured here, as well as Giselle's writing process and her experience of performing both in Mexico and the U.K.!

1. Your new single 'Skinny' explores the topic of eating disorders, what inspired these lyrics?

I always wanted to write a song about this topic because I used to be so insecure about my body and how I looked, I even used to starve myself just to “look good” in an outfit sometimes, I was always afraid of putting that feeling into a song because I didn’t want to give the wrong idea.

I finally wrote the song after a person who I love extremely much went through an eating disorder.

I was so shocked and worried about it, it put me in a very vulnerable state and gave me feelings I’ve never had before.

That person and I, didn’t like our reflections in the mirror and I think a lot of girls still don’t, we have this idea of being really skinny to look good when it’s not. It should make us feel well, healthy and happy, not taking care of our own bodies with unhealthy diets or whatever it takes to be “skinny” can end up with serious problems.

Skinny talks about it in a way, that a girl or anyone who's going through something like that. Feeling insecure in their bodies, listens and can relate and feel like they identify with the song. That's exactly what I wanted to achieve.

2. How did you originally write 'Skinny'? Did it begin on acoustic guitar? 

Yes, as are all my songs I always start with either a melody on my guitar or an idea for the lyrics, all with my acoustic guitar.

3. For this single, you worked with Melvin Hein again, what was the division of labour between you both? Did he work on the instruments while you did the vocals? 

Yes, exactly like that, I sent him the song just in meat and bones (as I like to call it), just an acoustic recording of it and I showed him some examples, like influences of how I’d like it to sound. Then he did the whole production, he sent me samples during the process to see if I was liking it or what I would like to have changed. I recorded the vocals in a studio in the UK.

4. The video for 'Lovely Lines' features you in a lot of outdoor scenes, where was this video shot?

Yeah that was just a couple of streets away from my house in Culiacan, Sinaloa Mexico, that place where the video was filmed is where I like to go for a run sometimes. 

5. You've often shot your own music videos for your previous songs, can your fans expect a video for 'Skinny'?

Yes, it will definitely be a music video.

6. Though your latest singles have been written in English, you've also released music in Spanish too, do you have a preference of language when writing your songs? 

I like to write in both languages but I’m focusing on my music in english for now.

7. You've previously come to the UK and played some gigs here, how did it compare with playing live shows in Mexico?

Oh my!, it’s completely different, I got more attention from the audience in the UK. People in the UK just listen to what you have to say and I love that. In Mexico it’s also cool and full of energy but not for the type of music I do. I mean, it could be in a bigger city but not in my hometown at all. Definitely not for music in English. There are some people who organize events with music like mine but they are not big. It’s a very small amount of people, where the audience are usually other artists.

8. You've made a habit of releasing some of your singles on Halloween before, what's your favourite part of the Halloween experience?

Everything, I love autumn soooo much and Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I love how cozy it is at that time of year and all the spooky stuff. I can’t explain it, it’s just everything that comes with it.

9. Some of your songs are inspired by your interest in serial killers, when did you first become fascinated with this gruesome topic?

As I always say, I don't love serial killers. I'm just very intrigued about their minds and what led them to commit their crimes. It all started when I watched a documentary about John Wayne Gacy when I was 15 years old in my grandma’s house.

10. With your latest singles being set apart from your 'Memorias' album, can fans expect 'Lovely Lines' and 'Skinny' to be a part of a new EP/album?

There will definitely be more to come but that’s all I can say for now, it’s a surprise!

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Follow Giselle Medd on facebook @gisellemeddofficial and instagram @gisellemedd.