Spotlight on... Lady Neptune

We said this already in our recent May new releases round-up, but it bears repeating: one of the best experiences we had in 2021 was seeing Moema Meade, aka Lady Neptune, at Jupiter Rising. It was an onslaught on the senses; an early evening gabber set in a big top tent wasn't something we realised we needed until it was happening.

Glowing in neon, with flashing eyelashes, a wry smile and chest-pounding beats, in that moment Meade made us forget that we'd basically all been locked in our houses for the past 18 months. As we danced, people ran around the tent shooting tequila out of water pistols, and it suddenly felt like everything might be okay, such is the power of Lady Neptune.

With all that in mind, it delights us to say that tomorrow (Friday 6 May), Lady Neptune releases her latest EP, NOZ, via Glasgow label Night School Records, and it's just as life-giving as that live set was last August. To celebrate its release, we caught up with Meade to shine a spotlight on her and her music as Lady Neptune.

Tell us a little bit about yourself? What were you doing before you got into making music and what was it that inspired you to start making music?
I've played music since my first toy keyboard at the age of five, then have been in bands for years after that in the DIY punk scene and as a session musician, except from a really brief period where I was in fashion styling, which I hated. Music has just always been in my life. It's how I recall all my memories.

You’ve been releasing music as Lady Neptune since 2018 – starting out with, fairly true to the originals, lo-fi Madonna covers, swiftly transitioning into the world of happy hardcore and gabber in 2020… What is it that has drawn you to this Hi NRG music?
I used to play sad songs on guitar by myself in my mum's art studio thinking there would be catharsis in that, but it just made everything feel worse. Dancing and fast music is what brought it to me and I just want to share that feeling. I don't care about taking anything too seriously anymore, my rule when I'm writing music is I have to laugh out loud making it, otherwise it's not worth the song. Gabber is a relentless hypnotising pulse that draws you in, and makes you move, and I love happy hardcore because it has ace pop hooks. Stupid music always wins for me.

When you’re not making face-melting music as Lady Neptune, what music do you yourself listen to?
I mean, it changes everyday, but I drive a lot and I genuinely mainly listen to hard techno, gabber and happy hardcore in my car. I love finding mixes by friends or strangers on SoundCloud. I'm also so excited by the latest queer happy hardcore resurgence in Glasgow, it's so fun and there's no pretentiousness, just bangers. As always the queer scene is frontrunning the best shit. But yeah, if I'm not listening to those things then just like nu-metal.

Lady Neptune – NOZ cover art by Marilena Vlachopoulou

You’re releasing your new EP NOZ on 6 May – tell us a bit more about the record. What was the inspiration behind it and what was the recording process like?
I produced and recorded it during the height of lockdown, I mean it wasn't a COVID project, that's just a coincidence, but I was having a really hard time making it, above everything else lockdown drove me seriously up the wall and I was desperate to dance or get some stimulation. I guess this EP is a reflection of that. That compulsive need to feel good with friends. There's a lot of zombie samples in it too which is telling... although I was binge watching The Walking Dead and Buffy at the time.

When things had lifted a bit I mixed it at Green Door Studio with Ronan Fay who really brought it to life, we had so much fun. Laughing everytime the kick came through or when he was trying to get the right level for a zombie being decapitated being used as a high hat.

I love that with Lady Neptune, there’s a full package experience to be had, that alongside the beats there’s a thrilling energy that comes with your live shows. Will there be any live shows in 2022? Tell us what people can expect if they come to a Lady Neptune live show?
Wow, thanks! I've been doing so many shows [lately], so after a break there will be more once the EP is out for sure. I just want to be generous to the people who come watch. My live shows aren't for me, it's for the audience and I just hope to bring them some joy. It usually depends on the audience and the vibe but I have a collection of hype people that come dance for me and honestly it's a free-for-all and I never know what's going to happen in a live set, you might get tequila thrown on you, or someone might set themselves on fire onstage, there's usually a lot of klaxons, silly string and confetti, possibly inflatable aliens. Come see, you might like it, I dunno.

---

NOZ is released on 6 May via Night School Records

ladyneptune.bandcamp.com