Mirror Figure: Refreshingly Authentic
profile by Jamie hampton
photo by Alex Justice
Los Angeles’ newest lofi indie-pop duo, Mirror Figure, may be new on the scene, but is sure to make a lasting impression.
The duo is made up of Ray Libby and Kaycie Satterfield, both coming from impressive musical backgrounds. Libby and Satterfield have both been playing music since they were young and had spent their fair share of time in and out of different bands and projects.
Libby played with Bad Suns for the last 10 years, and upon his departure from the group, set out to create music on his own for the first time since the conception of Bad Suns.
“I think the idea was I just had a bunch of music I had been writing,” Libby said. “And like I said, I had never really done any music of my own for a long time and I was kind of like, ‘Oh, I want to do something with this but I don’t know what.’ Then we just kept writing together and it made sense.”
Satterfield added, “Ray brought some of his ideas that he’d been working on and we co-wrote ‘Initial Thought,’ learned how to play it and then figured out the melody and stuff and the lyrics and yeah, that was the first one.”
“Initial Thought” was the duo’s first release, and it debuted October 25. Libby and Satterfield expressed that from the very beginning it was clear that “Initial Thought” would be the single to set the standard for Mirror Figure.
“It was like very clearly the first single from the time it was written I would say,” Satterfield said.
Libby added, “I feel like when we finished that song it was like, ‘This is the vibe that makes sense.’ And I feel like that was a cool example of how the both of us work together. It feels pretty equally contributed to from the both of us.”
While both Satterfield and Libby have backgrounds in music, the two of them still run into a range of emotions when releasing new music, or in this case, announcing an entirely new project.
“I feel like I was super nervous to announce this new project because it does feel more authentic of what I like and stuff and that can be scary to be vulnerable,” Libby said. “There’s so much stuff that comes out so it’s definitely intimidating to expect people to care or whatever.”
Along with the intimidation that comes with hoping listeners listen and enjoy the track, Satterfield acknowledged that there are some internal struggles she faces when releasing music as well.
“I find releasing music to be deeply embarrassing,” Satterfield said, laughing. “It feels completely different to make it and finish it and then putting it out into the world just feels like there’s a magnifying glass on you and all of your innermost feelings and emotions.”
However, both Libby and Satterfield really believe in the music that they are making, and along with “Initial Thought,” look forward to eventually releasing the other tracks they had recorded at the same time.
Libby added, “I do really genuinely believe in it so it’s a good feeling to step forward and release it to other people but it is definitely really intimidating because it feels like the most authentically expressed version of my taste.”
Along with the eventual release of more music, Mirror Figure aims to stay authentic in their writing, as well as continue thoroughly enjoying what they do.
“I hope when other people listen to it or become fans or whatever, thinking about it, I want other people to feel about it how I felt about bands when I was younger and inspired,” Libby said. “Like, ‘Wow they seem like they’re having fun and I want to do that and I want to be on stage.’ Something that seems like something you want to be a part of.”