“Why isn’t this Christchurch indie-pop artist huge already? Sarena Close is clearly a solid songwriter with range, depth, and a great voice to boot.” -RNZ
“Close’s faultless vocals hold your hand and walk you through a dozen sunny, folk-pop cuts.” - Under the Radar
“Even just a cursory listen would tell you there is a great depth of lyrical, vocal and songwriting talent here.” - Elsewhere.co.nz
“Her voice is thick as maple syrup, coloring with dark supple shades of amber that is as haunting as it is necessary.” - B-Sides & Badlands
Today, Christchurch singer and songwriter Mousey makes a fiery return with a new girl power anthem, ‘The Bench’. The anticipated single release follows the success of her bewitching debut album Lemon Law, which earned a 2019 APRA Silver Scroll nomination for breakout track, ‘Extreme Highs.'
Produced by Ben Edwards (Marlon Williams, Aldous Harding), 'The Bench' was written by Mousey in lockdown last year. Heavy with rage and bite, and bolstered by raucous electric guitar, the track digs into Mousey's experiences and frustrations with "silly boys" over the years. "The Bench is a crazy, feminist bop that has this charming rage boiling inside of it," Mousey explains. "All of my bad experiences and frustrations with boys in high school and similarly later in life needed a constructive outlet, and this song is it."
The accompanying video, directed by Ōtautahi-based filmmaker Martin Sagadin, embodies the song's potent girl power message and sees Mousey and her all-female band kicking it in power suits and taking care of business. Listen to 'The Bench' HERE
Mousey is the project of Christchurch songwriter Sarena Close. With a strong sense of melody and emotionally raw sincerity, Mousey cherishes the art of communicating the human experience above all else. She is inspired by local artists Aldous Harding, Tiny Ruins, and Anthonie Tonnon, as well as Big Thief, Lomelda, and Eels. And yet her sound defies the restrictions of genre and her music provides a unique and powerful insight into this wonderful and confusing world.
Her 2019 debut album Lemon Law marked a significant milestone for Mousey, and earned her a nomination at the 2019 APRA Silver Scrolls for breakout track, ‘Extreme Highs’. 2020 would also see her as a finalist for the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut prize at the Taite Music Prize Awards and performing at the Silver Scroll awards with a captivating live performance of L.A.B’s 'In the Air'.
As a live act, Mousey has played headline tours in New Zealand and Australia and opened for acclaimed artists such as The Beths, Reb Fountain, The Chills, and more. Her performances are characterised by her faultless vocals, and raw emotional energy.
Stay tuned for more to come from Mousey.