Biography
Mëstar are a pop/rock trio formed in 1996 in Dunedin, New Zealand. The band came together after vocalist and guitarist John White and vocalist and bassist Stefan Bray first met in a high school maths class, where they noticed similar daydream scribbles inside the back covers of their exercise books. Drummer Ian Wilson completed the lineup, and the three have remained together ever since, earning a reputation for melodic, guitar-driven pop and rock from within Dunedin’s Arc Cafe music scene.
The band’s earliest recording was a four-track EP of six songs. One track was lost in a taxi on its way to be mastered, and was replaced by a hastily recorded song titled “L. Is Poison.” That song caught the attention of Arc Cafe manager Elliott Young, and it ended up on the first Arclife compilation, establishing Mëstar’s foothold in the Dunedin scene. The band’s lineup has remained consistent throughout their career, though they have enjoyed occasional live appearances from guest performers including Jay Clarkson, Cloudboy’s Demarnia Lloyd, and Christchurch rocker Reta LeQuesne.
In 1998, the trio released their self-titled debut album
Mëstar on Arclife Records. The record received three NZ b.net award nominations — for Best Rock/Pop Release, Best New Act, and Best Indie Release — and was named album of the month by
Real Groove magazine in December 1998.
“Mëstar’s record is quality stuff; cruisy, very user friendly tunes with warmth and fire.”Real Groove, December 1998, via Muzic.NZ
The band followed their debut with the
Steamer EP in 2000, again released on Arclife Records. The release earned another NZ b.net award nomination for Best Indie Release and continued to attract strong critical notices.
“Mëstar peak again with more all original swinging dirty guitar pop.”
Real Groove, June 2000, via Muzic.NZ
Mëstar released their second full-length album
Porcupine in 2002 on Yellow Eye Music, before moving to Arch Hill Recordings for their 2006 release
Shut The Squizwot Factories Down. John White has also been active in other Dunedin acts including
The Prophet Hens,
Zoo Polluters, and
The Blueness, while Ian Wilson has played with
The Sproutts.
Members
Discography
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