Missio, comprised of Matthew Brue and David Butler, is the Austin, TX electronic/rock duo taking over the airwaves with hits like “Middle Fingers” and “Bottom Of the Deep Blue Sea.” After seeing them live at Austin City Limits last weekend, the Set List caught up with Brue via email to chat about the band’s newest releases and the personal voice of the artist that comes through in their music.
Image courtesy of the artist
It’s difficult to fit Missio into just one genre, but their unique, atmospheric sound clearly shines through in their work. The band’s diverse influences allow for a cohesive sound unlike any other. Though the duo can agree on influences from artists such as Boyz II Men, Radiohead, and Death Cab for Cutie, the two have their own distinct musical backgrounds that combine to create your next favorite song.
The band’s latest release, Skeletons: Part 1 EP, showcases their talent. The stripped-down versions of their songs, such as “I Don’t Even Care About You,” were originally written on a piano in a dark period of their lives. This newly-released version allows the music to take on a new form and impact the listener differently, according to Brue. The band wanted to “give a different perspective to our fans as they listen to the songs in the way that they were originally written.”
Sharing his personal voice is a huge part of being an artist for Brue. This comes through in not only the moving sounds of the stripped down versions but also in the lyrics of many of Missio’s songs. When introducing their song “Everybody Gets High,” Brue shares the origin of the lyrics – his struggle with addiction, alcoholism, depression, and anxiety – in hopes that listeners will come to find their own voice and overcome their battles. The band’s ideas also come through in the powerful and emotional video for their song “Can I Exist.” After director Jeff Ray wrote the moving narrative for the video, the band knew that video was a risk worth taking and scraped together enough money to create the masterpiece.
“We both knew for the sake of art and to push our voices as artists forward, that we had to make it.” –Matthew Brue
Catch Missio at the Rock & Roll Hotel on October 31 alongside Nothing But Thieves and Airways. Tickets are unfortunately sold out, so if you snagged some when they went on sale, get ready for an amazing show! Keep up with Missio on Twitter and check out their website here.