The child of musicians, they started writing and playing music at the age of four. They studied violin, viola and composition at the Purcell School before being offered a scholarship to attend the Guildhall School of Music and Drama to study composition. Levi performed as a DJ and MC around the UK garage and grime scene in London, and released a mixtape titled Filthy Friends, which was posted on their Myspace page in 2006. For Filthy Friends, they enlisted the help of friends and musicians of various backgrounds including MCs Baker Trouble, Brother May, Man Like Me & Ghostpoet, singer-songwriter Jack Peñate, jazz band Troyka, London pop-band Golden Silvers, producers Kwes. and Toddla T. Following its release, Filthy Friends became sought after on the London club scene.
While a student at Guildhall, Levi was commissioned to write an orchestral piece for the London Philharmonic Orchestra which was performed at the Royal Festival Hall in April 2008.
Levi formed a band called The Shapes, which includes Raisa Khan on keyboards and Marc Pell on drums. They signed to Accidental Records who released their debut single "Lone Ranger" in May 2008, followed by "Golden Phone" in August 2008. With the Shapes, Levi's focus has been on experimental pop music. Most of this music prominently features an acoustic half-guitar with various non-standard tunings, extensive distortion, and use of noise and found-object elements, as well as occasionally unusual time signatures. Despite these experimental leanings, the artist categorizes her output with The Shapes as pop music.
Their debut album, Jewellery, produced by influential electronic musician Matthew Herbert, was recorded around Mica's composition studies at Guildhall School. Advance copies of the record reached the press in early 2009, and generated positive feedback. In the wake of this growing buzz, Micachu and the Shapes were signed to Rough Trade, who released Jewellery on 9 March 2009. Drowned In Sound consequently hailed the record as "thrillingly improbable pop made by a grade-A maverick."
Levi describes the music they performs with The Shapes as "pop", without many of pop's defining characteristics (obvious choruses and accessible lyrics). They often use unorthodox instruments, many of which are homemade. These include a modified guitar played with a hammer action, called a 'chu', and a bowed instrument fashioned from a CD rack. This multitude of objects, varying from broken bottles to a vacuum cleaner, help Mica achieve their distinctive and unique sound. They also own a 3rd bridge Home Swinger built by Yuri Landman.
They produced the very effective horror-like music to the 2013 Jonathan Glazer's movie Under the Skin.
Never
Micachu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it's you I adore
Unbelievable
Unbelievable
Will you leave? Probably
It won't end properly
I don't care I give up
Any chance
We could be too advanced
In this mystery
You're better than me
Get with you
Get a screw
Give me time
All the time
Any time
All the time
Never great
Never good
Never clean
Never you
Never right
Never win
Never new
Never nice
Never said
Never hear
Never speak
Never clear
Never off
Never on
Never like
Never strong
Never wrong
Never test
Never more
Never less
Never lie
Never guess
Never end
The lyrics to Micachu's song Never have a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty to them that is beautifully reflected in the melody and arrangement of the song. The opening lines encapsulate this feeling of uncertainty as the singer proclaims that she doesn't know anymore if it's the person she adores or not. The word "unbelievable" suggests a sense of wonder but also disbelief, questioning the authenticity of the emotions that are being felt. This sense of ambiguity and questioning continues throughout the song as the singer wonders if the relationship will end properly or not, but ultimately resigns herself to the outcome, saying "I don't care I give up."
The middle section of the song is where there is a chance for something more, a chance that is worth taking even if it is unclear where it may lead. The lines "Take a chance / Any chance / We could be too advanced" seem to suggest that the relationship could be something special if only there was an opportunity to explore it further. However, there is a sense of inadequacy that is felt by the singer when she compares herself to the other person, saying "You're better than me / Get with you / Get a screw."
The final section of the song is a litany of negation, with the singer listing all the things that the relationship will never be or never have. This section seems to suggest a sense of acceptance of what cannot be, and a willingness to move on, but there is also a sense of regret and melancholy that permeates the song as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know anymore
My feelings are uncertain and unclear
If it's you I adore
I'm not sure if I love you or not
Unbelievable
This situation is incredible or hard to believe
Unbelievable
This situation is incredible or hard to believe
Will you leave? Probably
You will most likely leave me
It won't end properly
Our relationship will not end in a satisfactory way
I don't care I give up
I am indifferent and have given up on our relationship
Take a chance
Let's try something new or risky
Any chance
I'm open to any opportunity or possibility
We could be too advanced
We might be more developed or complex than others perceive
In this mystery
Our relationship is enigmatic and puzzling
You're better than me
You are superior or more skilled than I am
Get with you
I want to be with you
Get a screw
To become more eccentric, and less concerned with societal norms
Give me time
Allow me to have more time to think and reflect
All the time
Continuously or frequently
Any time
Whenever it's appropriate or convenient
All the time
Continuously or frequently
Never great
Things are never fantastic or excellent
Never good
Things are never okay or satisfactory
Never clean
Things are always messy or dirty
Never you
You're never around or available
Never right
Things are never correct or accurate
Never win
I never succeed or obtain victory
Never new
Nothing is ever exciting or fresh
Never nice
Things are never friendly or pleasant
Never said
Things are left unspoken
Never hear
I never receive any news or feedback
Never speak
We never communicate or talk
Never clear
Nothing is ever understandable or clear
Never off
Things are always on or active
Never on
Things are never off or inactive
Never like
It's never similar or comparable to anything else
Never strong
Things are never powerful or resilient
Never wrong
Things are never incorrect or mistaken
Never test
We never put things to the test
Never more
It never gets better or more favorable
Never less
It never gets worse or less favorable
Never lie
I never tell a lie
Never guess
I never speculate or estimate
Never end
It never stops or concludes
Contributed by Parker S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.