Yay Maria
. … on writer’s block, influence and the importance of napping.
There’s a strange journey I take when listening to the music of Derby singer/songwriter Maria, who also releases music with the band ‘Grawl!x’. They’re an artist whose music offers a sense of escapism the same way a book does, taking you from the real world and making you the observer of a new one. A very welcoming world where there’s lots of detail and plenty to admire.
“Napping is of vital importance!” says Maria, a sentiment that most of us can agree with but this particular quote resonates with their music. There is a sleepiness to it. It’s like the blissful and euphoric lines of reality that falter between the states of wake and sleep. “It’s just waiting for some kind of spark to bring things together, which usually happens in the morning. Dreams are great for that.” Their inspiration is often found in many different places but they admit, “other artists can set me off. I am oddly competitive in that sense but only with other musicians. If I hear something I wish I’d have thought of, I immediately run to the nearest instrument.” It’s that odd competitiveness that spurs Maria on to create and stems from growing up with two older brothers. “I would hang out in the corner while they practised. Then when I was older I would go to shows and the whole atmosphere and them playing their own songs was super exciting to me.”
Their own solo live performances are just them, a microphone and a laptop, but I’ve seen them incorporate eye-catching visuals as well as making their way through a crowd of people to play an old dusty piano in the corner. “It’s still quite a new setup for me so I’m eager to explore what I can do.” There’s a real sense of togetherness between the audience and performer but Maria admits it isn’t always an easy thing to do, “I’ve learnt the hard way that lugging lots of gear on your own is not conducive to a good back or good performance. It’s fun but nerve racking because there isn’t an instrument to hide behind.” In comparison, their shows with ‘Grawl!x’ are almost the opposite. “It’s pretty much a full band at this point. It’s fantastic because I trust and love the guys and we make a good racket.” The music is compelling to watch live and easily draws in the audience.
Maria also recognises the importance of hard work, “I spent the majority of my teens sitting in my bedroom teaching myself to play guitar and watching the same Nirvana tape over and over again.” The significance of being consistent comes into play as well. “I remember I watched an interview with Stephen King of all folks. He said something like ‘read and write as much as possible.’ so that has always stuck with me.” The hard work shows throughout the Grawl!x/Maria back catalogue, with songs that are introspective outlooks on the world supported by textural and moving instrumentals that evoke emotion effortlessly.
“I’ve had a few instances of writer’s block when I was younger which I realised occurred as a result of not having enough experience or reference to draw from.” By expanding their frame of reference they have been able to establish an ongoing approach to songwriting. “I keep pads full of lyric ideas and I have a few riffs and sessions knocking about.” Overall though, they note that, “not to sound too pompous but the best inspiration comes from life stuff. Most of the time you’re mudding through but every so often life chucks some dramatic stuff at you and my response has always been to create.”
Maria’s debut album ‘Lepidoptera’ I often visualize as looking into a kaleidoscope not only made up of the vibrant colours we see on butterflies, but the more subdued tones we see on moths as well. Their sound isn’t just a listening experience but a visual one, “music videos are a great way of putting something together that feels bigger than a song. Oftentimes when I’m writing lyrics I’ll have a scene idea in mind related to the subject matter and begin by describing that.” Grawl!x songs such as ‘Appendix b’, ‘Atlas Bear’ and ‘I Don’t Know What to Tell You’ have music videos each with a striking take on visualisation of the songs. They are a spectacle that link the relationship of sound and viewing together effortlessly. As a projectionist at Derby arts centre ‘Quad’, it is easy to see how the relationship comes off so well. “I’d say film has had a big impact on my creativity. There was a period when I was younger where I wanted to be a filmmaker and I’ve infrequently written scripts for fun.” They even co-wrote, directed and scored their own short film ‘Fleeting’ which was released in 2018. Though they say the exploit “was a way of seeing if I enjoyed that type of process. It turns out I didn’t so much but it was still a great experience.”
“I want someone to invent a word that describes the state between creativity as a hobby and doing it as a living. That’s where I am at the moment. How about ‘ttygesuvnslron’?” Whether or not the pronunciation of such a word is possible, I think it’s a word that a lot of people could relate to. In the modern world most people’s lives are centred around full time work whilst being a creative is a hobby. For Maria, music is an inherent part of life and “is just something I need to do” they confess.
A new Maria single; ‘Endtimes’ will be released on the 10th of July and you can listen to Maria’s debut album ‘Lepidoptera’ over at thier Bandcamp. Grawl!x music can be found on their Spotify, YouTube and Bandcamp. Follow them on Instagram and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest releases.
Originally posted 01/07/20 by Alex Bamforth
