Nell Mescal

Nell Mescal
Nell Mescal
	Mescal performing at Moth Club in July 2024
Background information
Born	28 April 2003 (age 21); Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland
Genres	Indie pop; indie folk;
Instruments	Vocals; piano;
Years active	2020–present
Labels	Q Prime Management; LAB;
Website	nellmescal.com

Nell Mescal (born 28 April 2003) is an Irish singer-songwriter.

Early life

Mescal is from Maynooth, County Kildare.^[2] She is the younger sister of actor Paul Mescal. They have performed a few song covers as a duet.^[3] They also have a middle brother, Donnacha.^[4]

Mescal was bullied at school.^[2] When she was 14, she was diagnosed with scoliosis and had to have back surgery. It was during her recovery time off from school that she honed her music skills.^[2] At 17, she spent three months in Brighton where her career began.^[2] She left school early in October 2021 for London to pursue music full-time.^[5]

Career

Mescal released her debut single "Crash" in 2020, working with producer John Leader.^[6]^[7] This was followed by "Deja Vu", "Swingsets",^[8] and "Missing You".^[9] She gained attention through song covers she posted on social media, catching the eye of public figures such as Jennifer Garner and James Bay.^[10] She performed professionally for the first time at Shoreditch House in 2021, supporting Phoebe Bridgers.^[11]

In 2022, Mescal released the single "Graduating", which she wrote about her decision to forgo finishing school in favour of music, and opened two tours, including the UK leg of Phoebe Green's.^[12] Her first headline show took place at the Social in Fitzrovia that September, and she was also part of in Victoria Park's All Points East line-up.^[13]

This was followed by another single "Homesick", which Mescal performed with her band on RTÉ One's The Late Late Show in January 2023, marking her first television appearance.^[14] With the release of the single "Punchline", Mescal announced a UK and Ireland headline tour, beginning in October 2023.^[15] She played at a number of festivals, including The Great Escape Festival, BST Hyde Park,^[16] Dot to Dot Festival, Latitude Festival,^[17] Boardmasters Festival, Electric Picnic, Kendal Calling, and Live at Leeds. She also supported Birdy's Dublin show.^[18]

In January 2024, alongside releasing single "Killing Time", Mescal announced her debut EP Can I Miss it for a Minute?, set to be published in May 2024 via LAB Records. Mescal described it as a "concept EP written about growing up, moving away, friendship breakups, and trying to navigate between current emotions and negative memories".^[19]

Artistry

Mescal grew up listening to Mary Chapin Carpenter and Fleetwood Mac through her parents. She said she has sung her whole life and began writing music when she was 13. She has named artists such as Birdy, Lennon Stella, Jensen McRae, Orla Gartland, Taylor Swift, Bon Iver, the 1975, and Finneas O'Connell as inspirations of hers.^[20]^[21] NME compared Mescal's music to Tate McRae and Lucy Dacus.^[22]

Discography

EPs

Can I Miss it for a Minute? (2024)

Singles

"Crash" (2020)
"Deja Vu" (2020)
"Swingsets" (2020)
"Missing You" (2020)
"Graduating" (2022)
"Homesick" (2023)
"In My Head" (2023)
"Punchline" (2023)
"Teeth" (2023)
"Killing Time" (2024)
"Warm Body" (2024)
"Yellow Dresser" (2024)

References

^ McGoldrick, Debbie (22 July 2022). "Irish singer-songwriter Nell Mescal following in her brother's footsteps to stardom". Irish Central. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Hodgkinson, Will (26 January 2023). "Nell Mescal: 'A therapist told me that people were jealous of me because of Paul'". The Times. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
^ Corcoran, Mark (31 July 2020). "Normal People star Paul Mescal and sister Nell show off amazing talent in incredible duet". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
^ "Introducing... singer Nell Mescal on musical genes and famous relatives". Sunday Independent. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
^ Kemp, Ella (2 August 2022). "Nell Mescal: candid and tender indie folk that tugs at the heartstrings". NME. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
^ Burne, Louise (22 May 2020). "Watch: Paul Mescal's talented musician sister Nell has released two singles & they're incredible". Extra.ie. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
^ Roantree, Megan (9 September 2020). ""Since I Was A Baby I Was Always Singing And Humming," Meet Nell Mescal". KISS.ie. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
^ O Neill, Bronwyn (13 November 2020). "Rising music star Nell Mescal says brother Paul still owes her a red carpet date". Evoke.ie. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
^ Finnan, Sarah (29 October 2020). "Original Nell Mescal song chosen to feature in Brown Thomas Christmas window display". Lovin Dublin. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
^ Fahey, Olivia (10 September 2020). "Nell Mescal has an A-list fan to her brother Paul's delight". Evoke.ie. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
^ Maclean, Craig (19 January 2023). "Nell Mescal: 'I'm really proud of Paul, but I'm in my own lane'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
^ Reilly, Nick (2023-01-20). "Nell Mescal: 'I've been singing for my entire life'". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
^ "Nell Mescal Announces Headline London Show & All Points East Festival – Debut Single 'Graduating' Out Now". Essentially Pop. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^ O'Neill, Claire (19 January 2023). "Nell Mescal drops new single 'Homesick' ahead of The Late Late Show performance". Hot Press. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
^ Duran, Anagricel (7 July 2023). "Nell Mescal shares new single 'Punchline', announces UK and Ireland tour". NME. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
^ Taylor, Sam (5 May 2023). "Nell Mescal and Sam Ryder are amongst the new names for P!nk's BST Hyde Park shows". Dork. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
^ Damara Kelly, Tyler (13 April 2023). "Oscar Lang, Nell Mescal, Etta Marcus and Mae Stephens among new names for Latitude 2023". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
^ McCarthy, Lauren (24 March 2023). "Nell Mescal on "In My Head", Overnight Fame, and Taylor Swift". Nylon. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
^ Jamieson, Sarah (19 January 2024). "Nell Mescal announces debut EP 'Can I Miss it for a Minute?'". DIY. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
^ "Singer and songwriter Nell Mescal chats about her love of words, music and creativity". Talent in Borders. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
^ "Behind the music - Nell Mescal". RTÉ. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
^ "The NME 100: essential emerging artists for 2023". NME. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.

External links

[1] McGoldrick, Debbie (22 July 2022). "Irish singer-songwriter Nell Mescal following in her brother's footsteps to stardom". Irish Central. Retrieved 4 August 2022.

[Times-2] Hodgkinson, Will (26 January 2023). "Nell Mescal: 'A therapist told me that people were jealous of me because of Paul'". The Times. Retrieved 29 January 2023.

[3] Corcoran, Mark (31 July 2020). "Normal People star Paul Mescal and sister Nell show off amazing talent in incredible duet". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 3 October 2020.

[4] "Introducing... singer Nell Mescal on musical genes and famous relatives". Sunday Independent. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2021.

[5] Kemp, Ella (2 August 2022). "Nell Mescal: candid and tender indie folk that tugs at the heartstrings". NME. Retrieved 4 August 2022.

[6] Burne, Louise (22 May 2020). "Watch: Paul Mescal's talented musician sister Nell has released two singles & they're incredible". Extra.ie. Retrieved 3 October 2020.

[7] Roantree, Megan (9 September 2020). ""Since I Was A Baby I Was Always Singing And Humming," Meet Nell Mescal". KISS.ie. Retrieved 3 October 2020.

[8] O Neill, Bronwyn (13 November 2020). "Rising music star Nell Mescal says brother Paul still owes her a red carpet date". Evoke.ie. Retrieved 8 March 2021.

[9] Finnan, Sarah (29 October 2020). "Original Nell Mescal song chosen to feature in Brown Thomas Christmas window display". Lovin Dublin. Retrieved 8 March 2021.

[10] Fahey, Olivia (10 September 2020). "Nell Mescal has an A-list fan to her brother Paul's delight". Evoke.ie. Retrieved 3 October 2020.

[11] Maclean, Craig (19 January 2023). "Nell Mescal: 'I'm really proud of Paul, but I'm in my own lane'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 January 2023.

[12] Reilly, Nick (2023-01-20). "Nell Mescal: 'I've been singing for my entire life'". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 2023-01-24.

[13] "Nell Mescal Announces Headline London Show & All Points East Festival – Debut Single 'Graduating' Out Now". Essentially Pop. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2023.

[14] O'Neill, Claire (19 January 2023). "Nell Mescal drops new single 'Homesick' ahead of The Late Late Show performance". Hot Press. Retrieved 2 January 2023.

[15] Duran, Anagricel (7 July 2023). "Nell Mescal shares new single 'Punchline', announces UK and Ireland tour". NME. Retrieved 2 August 2023.

[16] Taylor, Sam (5 May 2023). "Nell Mescal and Sam Ryder are amongst the new names for P!nk's BST Hyde Park shows". Dork. Retrieved 2 August 2023.

[17] Damara Kelly, Tyler (13 April 2023). "Oscar Lang, Nell Mescal, Etta Marcus and Mae Stephens among new names for Latitude 2023". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2 August 2023.

[18] McCarthy, Lauren (24 March 2023). "Nell Mescal on "In My Head", Overnight Fame, and Taylor Swift". Nylon. Retrieved 2 August 2023.

[19] Jamieson, Sarah (19 January 2024). "Nell Mescal announces debut EP 'Can I Miss it for a Minute?'". DIY. Retrieved 19 January 2024.

[20] "Singer and songwriter Nell Mescal chats about her love of words, music and creativity". Talent in Borders. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2021.

[21] "Behind the music - Nell Mescal". RTÉ. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.

[22] "The NME 100: essential emerging artists for 2023". NME. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.

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