This is our first minx-y interview with a British music gal, and I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am to introduce you to Jessica Spencer, the creator and lead singer of Hall of Mirrors. I’m not only so immensely inspired/amazed yet slightly haunted by her songs and lyrics, but also incredibly proud of her as she is my amazing friend and has not only got herself gigs, but a publishing and record deal too – wohhoo – with bigger things to come. So, in an exclusive interview with SM, here is the very Sassy and ever-so Minx-y, Ms Jessica Spencer.

How would you describe The Hall Of Mirrors? 
60s Revival Dreamy Pop – A hazy world of beauty, love, pity and desire with kaleidoscopes of emotion, swimming through tragic romantic stories.  What’s In Your Looking Glass?  

Who/what inspires you and why? 
I’m inspired by all the weird and wonderful characters I meet each day!  The similar love stories that affect us all fascinate me and lyrically inspire me.  The 1960s and 70s was huge for creativity and experimentation and this has influenced the sounds that I create and the clothes that I wear.  Freedom, Love and Exploration is what my music promotes!   Some of the bands that we are influenced by would be Jefferson Airplane, Love, The Velvet Underground and the more recent band – The Brian Jonestown Massacre

What do you love about being a girl in the world?  
Being a girl in the world is great fun, we get to be colourful, positive and powerful in all we do, the music world is hugely male orientated, and to be a woman it is hard to break out of the “nice voice, great face” mold.  I like shocking people when I’m introduced to certain producers / a&rs because they assume I’m just a singer but when I sit at the piano and show them I write all my own songs and know what I want and how I’m going to get it, they then realise, they can’t mess with me!

 Where are your five must-go destinations for inspiration in music, life, etc? 
Hampshire – Having lived here most of my life it’s impossible to ignore how beautiful this place is, the roses, the rolling country side and the funny accents! London – One place that has everything and anything the sheer size and scale of the architecture and strive of power is astronomical, Amsterdam – this place is so inspiring from the people to the hostels, Ibiza… well do I need to say more? And last but not least… Berlin!  This city is one huge oxymoron, victorian coach and horses with stone bridges over rivers vs. the high rise buildings and flats.  Music is everywhere, and is loved by all in this city.    

 What has been your proudest moment so far?  
Recording with Adi Winman in Godalming with the band, we recorded our first song as a band to a quality we can all be proud of.  To have this back to listen too was a wonderful achievement for me.  I’ve had to put up with my home studio recordings since I started so to have it recorded properly was amazing, and more will come! 

Which five tracks make Jessica’s day? 
Ooo this is hard;
Sailor – Brian Jonestown Massacre
My Love – Asteroid No.4
Strawberry Fields Forever – The Beatles
Oh! You Pretty Things – David Bowie
White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane

What are your five must-have, can’t live without fashion and beauty items?
My coats and hats, MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil, Golden Gate Bracelet, When I’ve run out of contact lenses… My Rockabilly Frames, MAC Mineralize Satinfinish Foundation!

What makes you jump-in-the-air happy?
Mum’s Spag Bol!

What’s your life Motto?
“…Life’s for loving…”

What are your favourite songs from the Hall of Mirrors collective, and what is next?
1. Love Obscure
2. A Gift From Cupid
3. Round and Round
4. An Unwelcoming Morning

We are recording at the moment and will be releasing our EP digitally and on vinyl soon!  Along with this we will be performing all over the South and each show is a spectacle of it’s own!  An upcoming gig is on the 19th March at The Boileroom in Guildford.

 
The Jessica Spencer Sassy List…
Shop: Pop
Book: Red Sky In The Morning – Elizabeth Laird
Website/blog: Breaking More Waves
Hang-out: Dream Machine – The Half Moon – Herne Hill
City: London
Must-have beauty item: MAC Foundation
TV prog: Shameless
Food: Mum’s Spaghetti or Nannie’s Roast dinner!

What does the term Sassy Minx mean to you, Jessica?
All the ladies that like to be a little saucy, and can use their sassiness to get what they want or where they want to go in life!  Confidence in feeling great and knowing yourself.  We are all Sassy Minxes

Website – www.thehallofmirrors.co.uk
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hall-Of-Mirrors/80790004594?v=info
Myspace – www.myspace.com/thehallofmirrorsmusic
YouTube – www.youtube.com/thehallofmirrors