From Irish Roots to Kinder Eggs: An Interview with Nell Mescal

At Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Nell Mescal sat down with us to talk about growing into her own voice both on stage and off. Honest, open, and slightly chaotic in the best way, she shares how friendship fuels her art, why social media both connects and consumes her, and how she’s learning to draw the line between Nell the artist and Nell the person.

When we met Nell in Hamburg, her EP was still a secret waiting to be shared. Now, "The Closest We'll Get" is out in the world. Six tracks that feel like pages from a diary, full of heartbreak, hope, and quiet confidence.

HERE'S THE FULL INTERVIEW:

Frederike: Thank you for meeting us. To start, what three words describe Nell Mescal? You can separate personal and musical ones.

Nell Mescal: At the moment, personally, I’m quite obsessive. I obsess over everything, especially TV shows and people. Musically, I think I’m in a growth phase. I’m moving away from topics I used to write about and feeling more confident with new ones. Another word is “excited.” I feel excited about everything happening and to come.

So obsessive, growth and excited.

Frederike: You said you’re quite obsessed with TV shows?

Nell: Yes. I literally cried on the entire flight here because I finished The Walking Dead for the seventh time. My guitarist said I have a special relationship with TV, and it’s true. After finishing it for like the seventh time, I started watching the spin-off series. It’s what I’ve been obsessed with lately.

Frederike: Would you say it’s your favorite TV show?

Nell: It’s not even my favorite, but definitely in the top ten.

Frederike: What would you say is your number one?

Nell: That’s tough. Between Grey’s Anatomy, Stranger Things, Succession, and The Sopranos. I get so obsessed that I re-watch them again and again. Also Gilmore Girls, especially this time of year.

Frederike: You grew up in Ireland, which we can tell from your accent. What influence did the Irish surroundings and landscape have on your songwriting?

Nell: I never really knew how to answer that. I just feel it's inherently part of me. How I write and sing is inherently Irish. Even when composing string parts, it feels Irish to me. It’s not something I consciously aim for, but I hope it comes through in my accent, presentation, or even how pale I am.

Frederike: Do you have a favorite Irish word?

Nell: I like saying "mo chroí," which means “my heart.” Imagine calling the love of your life "mo chroí", like my heart. It’s very beautiful.

Frederike: How do you start writing a song now? Do you collect notes by hand?

Nell: I do both, handwriting and notes on my phone. Sometimes the song starts with playing chords in the room, other times I hum something that fits the mood for the lyrics. It's a bit of everything.

Frederike: Your lyrics feel very personal, almost like diary entries. Is songwriting therapeutic for you?

Nell: Definitely. Sometimes I go weeks without meaningful writing, then suddenly find the right words. It feels good to put my feelings into a song. It’s crazy that people listen to it and make it part of their lives. It can feel quite important and really therapeutic.

Frederike: Do you have anyone who inspires you?

Nell: So many people. I always say my friends. I was out with my best friend Lucy, who’s a singer-songwriter. We were lying on the grass, and I was venting about something. She gave me all this advice, and I thought, This is exactly what I needed. She said, "this is what I needed too." It was lovely. That conversation really inspired me, and I went home and wrote a song. So, good conversations with friends inspire me the most.

Frederike: What’s your number-one crash-out song?

Nell: Oh my God. I try not to listen to it because it’s such a crash-out song, but "Real House" by Adrianne Lenker destroys me every time. I was having a great day recently, walking around, and it came on shuffle. Instant tears. I was in a train station, and everything went blurry. So that one. Or maybe the Spotify version of "Stayaway" by MUNA—it’s a bit more fun. "Real House" is just devastating.

Frederike: You’ve supported multiple artists on tour and played festivals. Was there a key moment when you realized your music really connects with people?

Nell: When I wrote "Thin". I knew my songs resonated with some people, but performing "Thin" took me aback. It’s just me and a guitar, and during shows, people would have visible emotional reactions. It was shocking but also really cathartic. I wasn’t prepared for how emotional it would be to play. That song was definitely a moment for me.

Frederike: Has anyone ever had a wild reaction during a show?

Nell: The wildest thing I see is people crying. I remember performing "Graduating" — one of my first songs — and seeing someone in the audience cry. I felt the same way about the song, so it was surreal. Lots of tears, mostly.

Frederike: Social media has played a big role in your career. How do you balance the personal and professional sides of it?

Nell: I try not to take social media too seriously, even though it’s a huge part of my job. I care about it a lot because of the community it’s built. I wouldn’t be here without that. Finding balance can be tricky, but I just try to live it day by day. If I don’t want to post, I don’t. If I do, I do.

Frederike: Is there a song that feels too raw to perform live?

Nell: "Thin" was tough at first, but it’s gotten easier. I still have songs I’ve never played for anyone, and I’m not sure how I’ll handle them live. They’re often about family or something happening in the moment. Sometimes a song hits harder out of nowhere, I’ll be fine performing it for months, and suddenly I’ll get emotional. It comes in waves.

Frederike: What’s the most fun song to perform?

Nell: Probably Killing Time. It starts with a ridiculous laugh, literally “ha ha ha” —and that always cracks me up. We’ve also been playing "See You Again", which just came out, and it’s got a really cool beat. Performing is my favorite thing, so I love them all for different reasons.

Frederike: Do you have any pre-show rituals?

Nell: We ask each venue to hide a Kinder Egg. It sounds insane, but that’s our ritual. If the venue actually does it, great; if not, we just end up running around looking for it anyway. Before going on, we each say something we’re grateful for, and we always end with “I’m grateful to be alive.” Then I do a little private chant in my head, and we go out and have the best time.

Frederike: Besides the Kinder Egg, anything else unusual on your rider?

Nell: No, that’s the main thing. Otherwise, it’s random stuff like ten Coke Zeros and one ginger shot. I’ve heard people request framed celebrity photos for their dressing rooms. If I did that, it would be Kieran Culkin.

Frederike: Dream stage to play?

Nell: The 3Arena in Dublin. That would be huge.

Frederike: And a festival?

Nell: Probably Glastonbury, everyone says it, but still. Also, All Things Go in the States. Their lineups are always incredible. That’s my dream for the next few years.

Frederike: If Coachella came calling?

Nell: I wouldn’t say no! Maybe I’d pretend to think about it, but I’d say yes.

Frederike: Where do you hope to be in five years?

Nell: I try not to focus on what people think of me, but I hope they can see authenticity in what I do. Each release feels more “me,” and I hope that continues. I want to be playing bigger shows, still loving it, still having fun. If I’m not more stressed out than I am now, that’s a success.

Frederike: When people hear the name Nell Mescal, what do you want them to think?

Nell: That I’m being as authentic as I can be. I find it hard not to be myself, so I hope people just see me and go, “That’s Nell,” not “That’s Nell trying to be someone else.”

Frederike: Your songwriting is very personal. Do you keep some things private?

Nell: I think so. Even though my songs are personal, I leave some things out. I’m still figuring out that boundary. Sometimes I wish I had a stage persona, like a wig and a new identity, Hannah Montana style, but I’m still learning. The nice thing about being early in my career is that I can grow into it without too much pressure.

Frederike: Are you afraid of anything?

Nell: So many things. I’m scared of almost everything, but I’ll still watch zombie shows before bed. Mostly, I’m scared of myself. My brain does crazy things sometimes.

Frederike: Are you a party girl?

Nell: My New Year’s resolution this year was to become one. When I moved away at 18, I took everything too seriously. So I decided to loosen up, party more, and I actually did. It was fun, but it’s not my true self. That resolution won’t return next year.

Frederike: Do you already have a resolution for next year?

Nell: Probably to read more and watch less TV. But honestly, I have a relationship with TV that I can’t break.

Frederike: Imagine you have the aux cable at a party and no one knows it’s you. What song are you putting on?

Nell: I want to say something classic like "Mr. Brightside", but truthfully, I’d put on a sad song. I love making everyone feel something. Recently, I made my friends listen to "Laramee" by Richie Mitch and the Coal Miners before a movie. I just sat there watching them listen, saying, “Did you hear that line?” That’s my guilty pleasure. Making everyone sad at a party.

Frederike: Is there anything fans can look forward to soon?

Nell: Yes! My new song "See You Again" is coming out soon, and my six-track EP drops on October 24th. These are my best songs yet. Recording it was the most fun I’ve ever had. I wish I could relive that week. I’ve never felt more myself.

Frederike: What can fans expect from a Nell Mescal live show?

Nell: We have two setups. Either an acoustic show, so just me and my guitarist, Charlie, beautiful harmonies, and lots of chatting. Then there’s the full-band setup for the November and December tour. There are five of us, with a violin and layered guitars. It feels the closest to the record we’ve ever been. The show swings between pop energy and emotional stillness, chaotic in the best way. My goal is for everyone, including us, to have fun and feel alive.

Frederike: Every tour has that one fan-favorite song. Which one do you think it’ll be this time?

Nell: People always want "In My Head", which I love. But I hope by tour time it’s something new from the EP. "Lose You Altogether" might be that one; fans already made a project for it on the last tour, which was adorable. We’ll see, but probably "In My Head"… or maybe "Homesick" if I decide to play it.

Frederike: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

Nell: I hitchhiked in Italy a few weeks ago. We were in a tiny town with no transport, so my friend and I stuck our thumbs out. I’m terrified of everything, but I knew I’d get in that car. Luckily, it was fine, but if I were a mum and my kid did that, I’d lose my mind. Definitely one of the craziest things I’ve done.

Frederike: We have a Spotify playlist for all artists we interview. You can add three to five songs: favorites, inspirations, or even your own.

Nell: Okay, here’s my list: "The Closest We’ll Get" by Nell Mescal, "Free Treasure" by Adrianne Lenker, "Parachuter" by Divorce, "Play House" by Lucy Blue and "Waters of March" by Art Garfunkel. I play "Waters of March" whenever I step off a bus. It’s in The Worst Person in the World, my favorite film, and it makes me feel like I’m in a movie. Random playlist, but I love it.

Frederike: Thank you very much for taking the time! And good luck with your performance later, we're excited!

LISTEN TO NELL MESCAL'S NEW EP HERE:

LISTEN TO OUR ARTIST RECOMMENDATION PLAYLIST HERE:

WANT TO SEE MORE OF NELL MESCAL? HERE ARE ALL THE PICTURES: