The Last Dinner Party: “We wanted to show that we really care about the music”
The Last Dinner Party guitarist Lizzie Mayland talks about finding freedom from small town life, a fateful freshers’ pizza night and what to expect on the album
The Last Dinner Party has attracted a devoted following of supporters and landed coveted opening slots for the likes of Lana Del Rey and The Rolling Stones.
And yet, until recently the London five-piece hadn’t unveiled any singles, and even now, they still have only ever shared two tracks.
In the era of the viral artist, the band has rewritten the script on how to find and connect with an audience.
Instead of releasing endless singles until one goes viral, The Last Dinner Party returned to the fundamentals and honed their craft through live performances, winning widespread acclaim in the process.
Their theatrical live performances took London’s live music circuit by storm and in April, when they finally released their debut single, Nothing Matters, the track became an overnight hit.
Lizzie Mayland, speaking to me on the phone, explains that this approach had always been their plan.
“Because going to gigs and seeing live music was so important to us and part of our social life, that was the most exciting prospect of being in a band. We wanted to be part of that scene and have fun on stage.”
The band crossed paths nearly four years ago whilst studying in London. Mayland met Georgia Davies, bassist, on her first night at university.
“I did one of them horrible freshers – come make friends, we’ve got pizza events – and we were both standing there awkwardly. I passed her a beer and that’s how we became friends”
Davies then met lead vocalist Abigail Morris on her course and Aurora Nishevci, keyboardist, and Emily Roberts, guitarist, were introduced to the group through mutual friends.
She says they were inspired to do something different from what they were seeing on stage before the pandemic.
“There were a lot of guys being too cool for school and trying not to look like they were trying really hard”
“We wanted to come and be joyful, maximalist and show that we really care. We really do care about the theatrical element of our shows”
Their follow-up single, Sinner, was written by Mayland and explores her struggle with self-acceptance and the longing for her past and present self to become one.
It serves as a testament to her journey from a small-town upbringing, steeped in the traditions of the church, to the liberating embrace of London.
Mayland, coincidentally, actually spoke to me on the train having just left Hebden Bridge, the idyllic Yorkshire market town that she used to call home.
She fondly reminisces of a childhood spent surrounded by natural swimming lakes, waterfalls and hiking trials.
“The nature was a really important part of my upbringing. As much as I love London, I do really miss Yorkshire and I love coming back.”
At 18 years old she attended the Northern Guitar open mic nights in nearby Leeds, performing Father John Misty.
When she moved to London, Mayland says this is where she properly began her journey towards discovering who she was and how she wanted to express herself creatively.
“I saw things in a different light and found freedom in the people that I met as I grew into an adult.”
The band is hitting the road again this autumn for a new UK headline tour, including a show at Live at Leeds in the City on October 14.
A new single is imminent, though Mayland is clear that it will sound different to what we have heard so far.
“I would encourage people to expect the unexpected.”
“The two singles we have put out are the most similar to each other on the album. The next single will be a left turn and I hope people will keep coming with us on the left turns we make because we love experiment with genre and its very eclectic.”