Metal Hammer UK

Beyond The Rave

f0056-01.jpg
PRESS/NATHAN JAMES

Mimi Barks’ lair lies in the depths of East London, behind rusted gates and corrugated iron sheets. Glass crunches underfoot as you approach this run-down warehouse. Cautiously wandering into the courtyard, you’re greeted by corroded bike frames and weed-covered abandoned furniture. A half-formed creature made of clay and nestled beside a mound of loose bricks and wood planks completes the last-days-on-Earth vibe.

But look beyond the flaking brickwork, and there’s much more to this apparent hovel. Walls are adorned with neon graffiti, murals inject images of nature into this urban landscape and it’s dotted with sculptures formed from discarded scrap. It’s rough around the edges, sure, but there’s a wild creativity to it. It’s no wonder one of the nu gen scene’s most exciting performers feels at home here.

Mimi shares this place with a group of other creatives. Right now, she’s up on the roof, accessible via a rickety staircase. She’s a vision in leather and chains, gloomy make-up sinking her eyes deep into her skull. Her aura is captivating, if not a little menacing. As we approach, she holds out a black plastic bag and smiles a devilish grin. This is disconcerting., such as the murky jar containing a two-headed embryo or some mutated animal taxidermy. Oh, no, wait. It’s cans of Stella. She just wants a drink.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Metal Hammer UK

Metal Hammer UK6 min read
The World Went Mad – And So Did Metal
Escaping the news cycle in 2024 could be tough. Rage, division, pitiful men with huge egos saying dumb shit. But enough about Falling In Reverse’s new album – this year had its bright spots if you went looking for them. For one, Jon Bon Jovi literall
Metal Hammer UK4 min read
Seven Hours After Violet
SHAVO ODADJIAN HAS been waiting nearly 20 years to release an album. More specifically, he’s been waiting nearly 20 years to release a System Of A Down album. But, with his main band in a state of creative exile – although they still play shows on a
Metal Hammer UK3 min read
Wednesday 13
THEKLA, BRISTOL Lexington’s lord of schlock makes an emotional return STONE SOUR MIGHT have had the longest and most successful run of the two Slipknot side-projects that launched simultaneously two decades ago, but the more feverish cult following c

Related Books & Audiobooks