‘Write To Be’ EP | St Mungo’s homeless Charity | Mieko Shimizu, William D Drake, Barbara Morgenstern and Ola Szmidt
The ‘Write to Be’ EP was inspired by the moment when London based Japanese artist, Mieko Shimizu stumbled upon a tiny house in a doorway on the deserted streets of Soho during lockdown.
On its cardboard walls were written various tales; friends who died in the Hillsborough disaster, soldiers returning from war in Afghanistan, the love of a mother lost to cancer, life on London streets. The house was neatly furnished with a table, cupboard, drawers, some clothes on coat hangers and a bed.
Mieko recorded an interview with its maker, John Daniels, and created the track ‘John’s House’ incorporating the interview. She was moved by creativity’s power and asked three other artists from England, Germany and Poland to write songs about its ability to lift the spirit even in desperate circumstances and created ‘Write To Be’.
The EP features the Mieko Shimizu produced ‘Where Do you Go’ by William D Drake, formally of The Cardiacs, ‘Without’ from Monica label artist in Berlin; Barbara Morgenstern, ‘Inner’ by Accidental Records artist Ola Szmidt and John’s House by Mieko Shimizu. The ‘Write To Be’ EP will be released on Street Furniture Records on January 26th 2023.
“One day I was walking through a tiny alley in Soho during Lock down. I saw a homeless person who had built a room on the door step of a restaurant. The room was beautifully organised and really caught my eye. The walls were covered in his stories he’d written on cupboard from boxes. Clothes and bags were hung up on the walls. There were drawers with daily necessities lined up neatly next to each other. It was like a tidy version of Tracey Emin’s unmade bed. I felt it was something pure and bright in contrast to the incredibly difficult situation of being homeless during lock down. I interviewed him as I thought it would great to write a song for him. His name was John, so I called the song, John’s house.” – Mieko Shimizu
All the profits of the EPs sales will be donated to St Mungo’s Homeless Charity in London- Homeless Charity – St Mungo’s (mungos.org)
Mieko Shimizu Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / YouTube
Street Furniture Records Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
