Miso Extra is the solo project and moniker behind the fast-rising, trailblazing artist. Born in Hong Kong to a British father and Japanese mother, she moved to Japan when she was a child and later relocated to the UK. Growing up, she learnt how to play the violin and loved to sing. Her musical influences include J Dilla, the late MF DOOM, Daft Punk and Kelis. Aside from music, anime has been a huge inspiration, with all these references woven into her work today.
About
Though she was musically inclined from a young age, music wasn’t a path that Miso envisioned for herself due to the lack of Asian representation in the industry. As someone who often bottles up her feelings, music has enabled her to articulate herself, providing her with a conduit through which she can express and make sense of her emotions.
In 2020, during the UK’s lockdown, Miso began to finesse her skills. As the world hit pause, Miso Extra – her musical persona – was born. The name is a pun derived from the racism that the artist experienced growing up in the UK. Having received taunts such as “me so horny”, and subverting the stereotype of Asian people being quiet, she reclaims the phrase, flipping it into “me so extra” – or Miso Extra. The alias is an anime-inspired character; a musical entity who lives in an alternate world, known as the Misoverse. Miso Extra is a peace-loving warrior who leans away from violence, but will engage in conflict if necessary. She chooses to see the good in people and values real talk, but isn’t so naive as to not see the truth from them. Miso Extra is hopeful; a character who values love and sees insecurities as learning curves for us to push through.
Following the release of her eagerly anticipated debut album Earcandy last year, Miso Extra recently teamed up with Irish hip-hop trailblazer Rejjie Snow on his latest single, ‘Hypnotic Pickpocket’. The collaboration was born from their connection on Rejjie’s most recent tour, where Miso supported him to rave reviews. On Earcandy, Miso Extra delivers a sophisticated, self-aware pop record that traces a journey through lovelorn vulnerability, personal growth, and self-empowerment. Blending genres like K-Pop, UK Garage, 80s sonics, and R&B, the record showcases her genre-defying style.
Recorded in the summer of 2024 at Damon Albarn’s Studio 13 with Ricky Damian, the album was co-produced by Miso herself and features the standout singles: ‘Slow Down’, produced with DJ Boring; ‘Good Kisses’ featuring Metronomy; ‘Ghostly’, made with A. K. Paul; and ‘Certified’ and ‘POP’, both produced by members of indie-pop collective MICHELLE.
