The Girl in the Song

Chapter 1

ED

Now

Musical Muses: The Girl in the Song

A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES

Ed “Nasher” Nash, the charismatic lead singer of indie rock band, The Mountaineers sits in an oversized black leather chair, preparing to be interviewed by the renowned and respected music journalist, Mick Kennedy.

An attractive dark-haired make-up artist puts the finishing touches to Ed’s make-up to eliminate any potential shine on his handsome face.

Ed thanks the girl, flashing her one of his smiles and she flushes slightly and then hurriedly leaves the set.

Mick Kennedy glances briefly down at his notes just before the camera starts recording and he welcomes Ed, with a smile.

MK: This interview is the first in our series of Musical Muses: The Girl in the Song where we look at songs that were inspired by some quite remarkable women and today we have Ed Nash, writer of ‘Used to Be’ and lead singer of indie band The Mountaineers.

Hello, Ed. Great to see you again. So, you’ve finally got the success you deserve.

EN: Thanks Mick, yeah. It’s been one hell of a ride to get here!

Ed shifts slightly in his chair and takes a sip of water from the glass tumbler placed on the small coffee table which separates the two men.

MK: What do you mean by that Ed?

EN: Well, we’ve been writing and playing music for years but after Observance, the BBC series about the cult asked if they could use our track “Used to Be” as their theme tune, people have started to really see and hear us. It’s let us reach a much wider audience and we’re extremely thankful.

MK: We’re here today to talk to you about your inspiration for that particular song, Evie Del Rio - your muse, if you like. Tell me a bit about her.

EN: Well, when I was in sixth form, I met Evie through some friends and we started a very intense relationship. We did everything together.

MK: Would you say that she was the inspiration behind many of your songs?

Ed enthusiastically nods in agreement, warming to his theme.

EN: Yes. Definitely. She was and still is my muse. She has inspired all of my song writing.

MK: Are you still in touch with her?

The camera does a close up of Ed, capturing his handsome face, etched with regret.

EN: No, unfortunately we lost touch as her parents moved away from where we lived in South West London.

MK: That’s got to be over thirty years ago! Mick gives Ed a sympathetic smile.

Ed nods.

EN: Yes, it was.

MK: No one’s ever matched up to Evie Del Rio then?

EN: No. Never.

MK: What made Evie so special?

EN: Well, she was a one off. Different to other girls my age, you know. I always described her as the female version of me. She got me and I got her. She completed me and inspired me with my songwriting. It was such a shock when she disappeared without a word to anyone.

MK: You have no idea where she went or where she is now?

Ed Nash shakes his head sadly, pushing his hand distractedly through his dark hair.

EN: No. I have no idea, but I’d love to be reunited with her one day, to see if the spark is still there.

Ed smiles full on to the camera, his hypnotic blue eyes staring straight into the lens.

MK: Tell me a bit more about the song “Used to Be” after we’ve had a look at a short clip from the video.

Camera cuts from Ed and Mick straight to the video which shows a young couple embracing and then later it shows them being apart, while the camera cuts to Ed singing along with the rest of the band.

MK: That’s such an iconic video. I mean, I‘ve probably seen it about a hundred times, but I take something new away from it, every time.

EN: Thanks Mick. I appreciate that. I wrote this song originally when Evie and I were together but after she left, I rewrote the lyrics slightly to represent what we’d had together and to show her how much I missed her.

Mick nods briefly and sympathetically, before pushing ahead with more questions.

MK: Am I right in saying that your entire debut album, Past Times was inspired by Evie Del Rio?

EN: Yes. Every single song was inspired by Evie. I know it was a long time ago, but I’ve never forgotten her. I just hope she’s ok and that she’s had a happy and fulfilling life. I’m just gutted that I couldn’t be part of it.

MK: You’ve never married or had kids, have you, Ed?

Ed shakes his head as Mick continues, like a dog with a bone not quite ready to give up the question that everyone wants to know.

MK: Do you think not knowing where Evie is has held you back, how can I put this….

Mick pauses for dramatic effect. He continues.

MK: ….from forming future long-term relationships?

Ed answers immediately.

EN: Yes. Absolutely yes. None of my relationships have ever matched up to what I had with Evie.

MK: Don’t you think it’s just some kind of teenage romanticised nostalgic memory?

EN: Not at all. The feelings I had all those years ago are as real and raw as they were when Evie and I were still together. It was that heady kind of first love that I think would have lasted a lifetime. If she hadn’t gone, I think we would still be together.

MK: Wow! That’s very honest and candid of you. There’s every likelihood that Evie has probably moved on.

EN: In reality, yes, she probably has but there is always that slight possibility that she is still single. And I really hope that she still thinks about me and what we had together.

MK: What would you say to her if you had the chance to speak to her today?

EN: I’d ask her why she left as it’s the one question that I’ve never had the answer to.

MK: She knew where you lived all those years ago. Don’t you ever wonder why she never got in touch with you?

EN: Yes, constantly. There’s got to be a legitimate reason as to why she disappeared.

That’s one of the reasons I agreed to being part of this documentary.

I want to find Evie and hear from her own mouth as to why she left.

I mean I completely respect that she may well be married but I just want some sort of explanation from her, some closure really.

MK: You must surely have tried looking for her via social media.

EN: Yes, frequently but without success unfortunately. There’s no trace of her.

MK: If you could say something to Evie right now. What would it be?

The camera zooms in on Ed’s face and he looks straight into the lens.

EN: Please Evie, just reach out to me, I just want to understand why you left.

Ed breathes deeply and then composes himself.

MK: Thanks Ed, for your time today.

EN: Thanks Mick. And thank you for including “Used to Be” in the documentary. We, as a band are so honoured. It’s just mad to be included with such other amazing songwriters and bands. I can’t wait to watch the rest of the series.

MK: Our pleasure Ed. Any last words, before we wrap?

EN: Yes, um, I’d just like to put it out there that if anyone knows where Evie is or knows what happened to her, please do get in touch.

MK: Well, that’s quite the ask, isn’t it? British public – you know what to do! Let’s find Evie Del Rio. Someone must know where she is. Next week I’ll be talking to Noel Gallagher and his inspiration behind Oasis’ epic anthem Wonderwall. And interestingly, it’s not quite what everyone thinks!

Mick reaches over to shake Ed’s hand and the camera pans away from the two men as they chat quite amicably in the background until just their two shadows remain and the last few verses of Used to Be play out.