Metronomy

History

Joseph Mount began Metronomy as a bedroom project while living with his parents in Devon as a teenager. After drumming in several school bands that fell apart, he used an old computer from his father to experiment with music around age sixteen or seventeen. The name Metronomy was influenced by the band names Autechre and Funkstörung. In 2002, Mount moved to Brighton for studies and worked odd jobs including at a local HMV.

After graduating, he became interested in music production and soundtracked animations. He began performing as a DJ at electronic music nights, where someone offered to release his recordings, resulting in an album's worth of material. In February 2005, Metronomy released the debut album Pip Paine (Pay the £5000 You Owe) with the single "You Could Easily Have Me". After limited attention, Mount built a reputation for live shows.

Initially a laptop/DJ act, he soon asked his cousin Oscar Cash and old schoolfriend Gabriel Stebbing to join, as solo shows were "pretty crap". The trio gained live experience over three years while Mount created remixes for other artists; contractual issues with the record company halted new releases. Mount stated he only likes remixers who care about their work and has a good strike rate with released remixes, though a DFA-inspired remix of U2's "City of Blinding Lights" was dismissed by their marketing manager and not released.

Live performances

Metronomy have played across the UK and mainland Europe as an opening act for Coldplay, Bloc Party, CSS, Klaxons, Kate Nash, and Justice. Their own first headline tour of the UK happened in 2008. They have also performed in the US and Canada, including a notable set at the 2007 SXSW festival. Their concerts feature choreographed dance moves and lighting effects, most famously with push lights attached to their shirts.

Mount explained this came from a pound shop find before their first Brighton gig, adding that while some dislike it, others enjoy the playful spectacle. The band played at Field Day in Sydney on New Year's Day 2012 and joined the NME Awards Tour in February 2012 alongside Two Door Cinema Club, Tribes, and Azealia Banks. Later appearances included Primavera Sound in Barcelona in May 2014, Rock Werchter in Belgium in June 2014, and Festival No.6 in Wales in September 2015. In June 2022, they performed at Glastonbury Festival.