“Με ρυθμό που δυναμιτίζει και ξεσηκώνει το κομμάτι γίνεται κατευθείαν αγαπητό. Η μελωδία σε μια ανεξέλεγκτη τρέλα εναλλάσσεται και κεντρίζει το ενδιαφέρον ακόμη περισσότερο. Τα φωνητικά πληθωρικά και με πάθος ανεβάζουν την αδρεναλίνη και προκαλούν με την ηχηρή παρουσία τους.”
“At a rhythm that strengthens and raises the piece, it becomes straight away. The melody in an uncontrolled madness alternates and springs even more. The phonetic exuberants and passionately raise adrenaline and cause their loud presence.” (Automatically Translated)
“Ο ήλιος έχει βγει λαμπερός, σύννεφα δεν υπάρχουν πουθενά. Τα βήματα μου βαριά περπατούν στο ήσυχο μονοπάτι ανάμεσα στο πράσινο λιβάδι. Η μελωδία υπέροχη και μοναδική με την νοσταλγική θλίψη της κάνει την δική μου θλίψη να φαίνεται μικρή. Σαν να με λυτρώνει και να παίρνει το βάρος πάνω της, το περπάτημα μου γίνεται πιο ανάλαφρο και πια μπορώ να στρέφω το βλέμμα μου προς τον ήλιο.”
“The sun is glowing, clouds are nowhere. My steps are heavy walking on the quiet path between the green meadow. The melody wonderful and unique with its nostalgic sadness makes my own sadness look small. As if it redeemed me and getting the weight on her, my walk is getting lighter and I can turn my eyes to the sun.” (Automatically Translated)
“Με γενναιοδωρία τα όμορφα φωνητικά μας ταξιδεύουν χωρίς να ζητούν τίποτα από εμάς. Η μελωδία με ευγένεια και με ζωντάνια μας καλημερίζει κάτω από τον λαμπερό ήλιο. Ο ρυθμός σαν ένα ζωηρό ποτάμι κάνει την ψυχή μας να ανθίσει και να νιώσει ότι η ζωή έχει το νόημα της. ”
“Guarantee our beautiful vocals travel without asking for anything from us. The melody with courtesy and vitality welcomes us under the glittering sun. The rhythm like a vibrant river makes our soul bloom and feel that life has its meaning.” (Automatically Translated)
“Με όρεξη και καλή διάθεση τα φωνητικά μας διασκεδάζουν και παίρνουν τις έννοιες μας μακριά. Η ονειρική μελωδία γίνεται οδηγός στις κινήσεις μας, οι οποίες πια είναι μόνο χορευτικές. Ο ρυθμός ζωηρός και ξέφρενος μοιάζει σαν να μην έχει σημασία τίποτα άλλο πέρα από τη γιορτή που μέσα μας έχει στηθεί.”
“With appetite and good mood our vocals have fun and take our concepts away. The dream melody becomes a guide in our movements, which are now only dance. The rhythm live and frantic looks like nothing more than the celebration that has been set up within us.” (Automatically Translated)
“Όμορφη και χαρούμενη μελωδία που σε ταξιδεύει σε ψηλά και αγέρωχα βουνά. Τα φωνητικά εξαίσια και με μεγαλοπρέπεια μας κερδίζουν και μας ανεβάζουν σε ένα παραμυθένιο θρόνο. Ο ρυθμός με ευγένεια και λεπτότητα δεν μας χαλάει καμιά επιθυμία και ρομαντικά μας κρατά το χέρι.”
“Beautiful and happy melody that takes you to tall and angry mountains. The vocals exquisite and with greatness win us and lift us to a fairytale throne. The rhythm with courtesy and subtlety does not spoil us any desire and romantic holds our hand.” (Automatically Translated)
“Deep and melancholic mood that is full of atmospheric soundscapes creates some wonder within this composition. Blissful piano theme that starts in the second part adds more emotion to that first feeling that is felt from the start. ”
“Τα φωνητικά μοιράζουν την ζωντάνια τους και τη δροσιά τους. Με χροιά καθαρή και δυνατή ξεχωρίζουν. Η μελωδία κεφάτη μας χαρίζεται γενναιόδωρα για να μας φτιάξει τη διάθεση. Ο ρυθμός μας ξεσηκώνει καθώς μια νότα φρεσκάδας μας αναζωογονεί και μας τονώνει.”
“The vocals share their vitality and their coolness. They stand out with a clear and strong tone. Our melody is generously given to us to make us moody. Our rhythm rises as a note of freshness rejuvenates and stimulates us.” (Automatically Translated)
“Bass line steals the show with this track. It is very funky and so groovy, perfect fit with the groove and a driving force behind the track. Subtle synth house themes are perfectly placed within the arrangement, creating some smooth atmosphere. ”
“Τα όμορφα φωνητικά με ξεχωριστή, λεπτή και καθαρή χροιά τους είναι το δυνατό στοιχείο του κομματιού. Η μελωδία με το μελαγχολικό της ύφος μας βάζει μέσα στο συναίσθημα και ανεβάζει την αδρεναλίνη μας συμπάσχοντας. Ο ρυθμός δίνει τα δικά του χρώματα με τις εναλλαγές του. Κάποιες φορές οι αποφάσεις είναι τόσο δύσκολο να παρθούν.”
“The beautiful vocals with their distinctive, delicate and clean complexion are the strong element of the piece. The melody with its melancholy style puts us in the emotion and raises our adrenaline sympathizing. The rhythm gives its own colors with its alternations. Sometimes decisions are so difficult to take.” (Automatically Translated)
Nagamag:
Which are the genres that describe your music style better?
Maven Grace:
Bands are extremely good at defining themselves by saying what they aren’t. It’s much harder to make positive statements about what you are. If there’s a genre which includes Marvin Gaye, Radiohead and Ennio Morricone then that’s our genre. Someone described us on the radio yesterday as ‘dreamscape space cowboy movie soundtrack music’. That’s a good attempt, I think – a bizarre amalgam of styles which somehow makes sense.
It’s a difficult one because I don’t think we have a ‘signature’ track. If we had one song that summed us up and encapsulated our creative ambitions, we’d probably have to stop and say ‘Job done!’ Of the music we’ve released so far, I think Lone Star has a good combination of our musical ideas. It has elements of all three of our voices, and I certainly hope that anyone who hears it will be intrigued to dig deeper.
Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?
Maven Grace:
We’ve all known each other a long time. Tom and I first met when we were in different bands signed to the same label as teenagers. My first national tour was supporting him, actually. I remember thinking that our dressing room at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire was even more spacious than the one at the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen.
Mary and I also met on the gig circuit in London. I accidentally insulted her by saying I loved her band’s song with the lyric… ‘Condition’s normal, you’re coming home’. She said, ‘That’s Enola Gay by OMD, the only cover in our set’.Anyway, I hope she’s forgiven me. And it is a brilliant song. It has an indelible melody and great instrumentation. It can be enjoyed on that level, but if you want to dig a little deeper, you rapidly discover something very sombre and lyrically serious. I like that approach to songwriting. Let the deeper meaning and intent creep up on people.
Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?
Maven Grace:
I remember the Rolling Stones song You Can’t Always Get What You Want being on tv when I was a child. My mother’s ears pricked up and she said ‘Oh, I sang on that’. I can pick out her voice even now. She was in a brilliant touring choir, so I was familiar from a very young age with the idea that music meant travel. I was also able to forge a personal connection, albeit on a very small level, to a song loved by a lot of people. That was inspiring. In retrospect, I’m so glad she sang on the track she did. It might be a little trickier if it had been Under My Thumb or Brown Sugar – lyrics which have not aged very well.
Nagamag:
Your single Lone Star is inspired by Clark Gable – and indirectly by Bryan Ferry. Tell us a little bit about Clark Gable that we should know, and what made you want to write a song about him?
Maven Grace:
The Roxy song title 2HB references Humphrey Bogart. For some reason, I immediately associated him in my mind with Clark Gable, and obviously the Golden Age of Hollywood in general. There is something fascinating about the tension between the glamour and deification of film stars and their real lives. The studios sold Gable to the world as an icon of romance and masculinity, but the real man behind the performances was deeply uncomfortable with his image. Also, real tragedies befell him, like having to give up his child for adoption and his wife’s death in a wartime plane crash. He’s a symbol of the gulf between dreams and reality, I suppose. I could’ve written it about Marilyn Monroe, but Bernie Taupin got there first.
Nagamag:
Maven Grace album has contributing musicians from all over the world. Was that the intention when you set out? Has the vision for the band and album changed with these contributions?
Maven Grace:
The major contributor other than the three of us is our friend the violinist Diana Galvydyte. She is one of the great contemporary players, but, like a lot of classically trained musicians, she prefers to work from a score. So although her playing is amazing, she was largely bringing ideas to life that we had already worked on. To that extent, the vision always remained very much with the three of us in the band. But the difference between real playing and demo samples is inexpressible, so she helped bring everything she touched to life in a very vibrant and dramatic way.
Nagamag:
Many artists listen to genres that they are not producing music for. Which track is your favorite that is NOT similar to yours?
Maven Grace:
Rachid Taha – Lli Fat Mat
Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which is the track from a similar artist you admire?
