INTRODUCING: The Meffs
Over the last few years, we have seen the rise of Colchester-based punk duo, THE MEFFS. Made up of Lily Hopkins [guitars/vocals] and Lewis Copsey [Drums/vocals], the pair have taken the punk world by storm, picking up support from punk icons such as Fat Mike (NOFX) and FRANK TURNER along the way. 2024 has been the biggest year of their careers so far, seeing the pair go from strength to strength as they release their excellent debut album, What A Life. We were honoured to be able to sit down with Lily for a chat about all things THE MEFFS.
As we reach the twilight months of 2024, THE MEFFS frontwoman Lily reflects on what has been a huge year for the band by telling us that the craziness of it all has left them having to “pinch themselves every now and then whilst trying to to get rid of the imposter syndrome” but also describing that being on the go all the time is “something we don’t want to stop, we want it to keep going and going.”
Most bands in their position are often branded with the term “lucky”, Lily however wants us to change this attitude, and rightly so. “Lucky is a word we have to try and not put on bands. It’s not down to luck, it takes a lot of hard graft to get where we are.” When it comes to THE MEFFS, the graft the pair has put into the band is starting to pay off. The last year has seen them release two EPs (Broken Britain Parts 1 & 2) and their debut full-length album, What A Life. For a lot of bands, this is a position they all dream of being in. With the pair putting in all the work to get to this point, Lily remains humble and isn’t taking a second for granted by telling us “it takes a lot of pushing but when you break through that barrier – it feels incredible. We’re doing what we dream of doing and you can’t ask for much more.”
After last year’s two excellent EPs (Broken Britain Parts 1 & 2) helped expose THE MEFFS to a wider audience, thanks to signing to Fat Wreck Chords, Lily and Lewis turned their sights towards their debut album. The last few years of the UK’s political landscape are more than enough to arm any punk band with ideas for a record. Lily explains that with Broke Britain, they “took aim at how the country itself was being run”, but when it comes to What A Life, she explains it as “having a more all round and complete feel to it compared to the EPs. What A Life focuses more on what is going on around us. It still has the element of politics, current events and a societal view about what we’re seeing around us rather than focusing on singular problems.” Whilst writing the album it helped her to “see a change in my writing style which helped me to see a much wider vision of what is happening around us- especially in the UK.”
For the most part, punk rock has always been a progressive genre full of all kinds of folk, which is what has always made it so endearing to folk and THE MEFFS represent all the best aspects of it. However, there is an ugly side to it. There is still a weird disparity where misogynistic and other small minded people come to punk shows. From listening to THE MEFFS, you know that this is not what they stand for in their songs and have since written the song, Wasted On Women as a result of this being said to Lily previously. When discussing how they challenge these particular trolls who hold these views when at their shows, Lily jokingly says “we knock them all out”, which also would be a completely fair response to this. However, she further elaborates, “we get trolled all the time particularly online but I don’t care, I say bring it on and you give me more to write about. There’s more of us than there are of them. It can’t be a generational thing, there’s people who are my age who think like this, there’s no part of me that would think to say something out of order about someone because of who they are.”
To tackle this, Lily gives us a genuine and honest answer about the right ways of getting the message for the duo across and how it’s able to forge them a real identity rather than a faceless Twitter profile. “For me, the stage is my place. When I have the microphone it’s my turn to say what I want to say, to be who I want to be in front of a crowd of people. I know we’re not a huge band but it’s a platform I can use to spread the message of THE MEFFS and part of that is about being a woman and being queer in this punk community.” With every word Lily tells us, you can feel the passion that burns inside of her and inspires the duo. She is genuinely the real deal when it comes to being a punk and is a truly excellent ally to have in your corner.
As 2024 draws to a close, THE MEFFS aren’t quite done yet. After reeling in huge crowds at 2000trees and Rebellion Festival in Blackpool, there is one final stretch for Lily and Lewis. A support slot opening for none other than the godfather of shock rock himself; ALICE COOPER. They’re bound to pick up new fans at those shows alone and armed with a new album and their biggest UK tour to date in early 2025. The future for them is bright and holds no limits. It’ll be an exciting journey to go on with them and if you’re ever feeling down and out, stick THE MEFFS on, they’ll always have your back.
What A Life is out now via Bottles To The Ground/Fat Wreck Chords. View this interview, alongside dozens of other killer bands, in glorious print magazine fashion in DS114 here:
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