Miki Berenyi Reflects on Her Journey in Music in Her Memoir 'Fingers Crossed'

Miki Berenyi, the former frontwoman of the '90s band Lush, might hesitate to call herself a writer, yet her new memoir, 'Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success', draws on her rich personal archive of diaries, letters, and annotated photos to tell her story. Despite laughing off the emotional maelstrom of her teenage diaries, they served as a key resource in piecing together the chronicles of a life marked by a troubled childhood and an artistic career. Berenyi, half Hungarian and half Japanese, grew up in London and faced an early life riddled with domestic challenges, including an overbearing grandmother.

From these formative experiences emerged a spirit of rebellion and creativity, leading Berenyi to bond with Emma Anderson over a shared love for music. This passion eventually birthed the creation of Lush, a band that found a mix of cult adoration and mainstream flirtation, particularly in the United States within the alternative scene. The band's journey, however, confronted a tragic halt with the suicide of their drummer, Chris Acland, in 1996, prompting Berenyi to step away from music for an extended period.

In 'Fingers Crossed', Berenyi doesn't only recount personal experiences but opens up about the less-discussed facets of the music industry, sharing insights into band dynamics and financial dealings that often remain opaque. She hopes that her memoir will reach beyond the Lush fandom, aiming to engage readers unfamiliar with the band by explaining the inner workings of a musician's life.

The book is an honest exploration, detailed enough to satisfy Lush enthusiasts—complete with behind-the-scenes stories like the inspiration for the song 'Ladykillers'—while offering a broader message of solidarity and humor through the lens of the female experience.

After her hiatus from the stage, Berenyi has stepped back into the world of music. Following a brief Lush reunion in 2016, she ventured into a new project, Piroshka, and most recently, the Miki Berenyi Trio. The new band is set for a U.S. tour, with a special stop at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. The event not only marks Berenyi's return but will feature opening acts Lol Tolhurst and Budgie, esteemed musicians from The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees respectively—names that would have astonished her younger self, diligently journaling the dreams she is now living.

music, memoir, tour