“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?
“Ζωντάνια και ρυθμός που σε ξεσηκώνει απίστευτα κάνουν το κομμάτι να ξεχωρίζει. Τα φωνητικά δημιουργούν μια αναπάντεχη γιορτή και είναι τόσο ταιριαστά με το ρυθμό και τη μελωδία, η οποία πραγματικά μας γεμίζει χαρά και ευτυχία. Ένα υπέροχο πάρτι αγάπης που όλοι είναι ενωμένοι και ανέμελοι.”
“Lives and rhythm that raises you incredibly make the piece stand out. The vocals create an unexpected celebration and are so fitting with rhythm and melody, which really fills us with joy and happiness. A wonderful love party that everyone is united and carefree.” (Automatically Translated)
“Crispy vocal and faster groove will definitely stay in your head and move you on the dance floor. Chorus part is perfect, specially the distorted vocal used as a lead instrument, sounding like a electric guitar, great production idea. ”
-Nagamag.com
This song released by: Neon Gold Records
Track Sources: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3V48bcyWTfF1gy2X6tGBkF Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDcB5dmouKU Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/take-the-exit/1660243516?i=1660243713
“Εξαιρετική μελωδία που ξέρει να φτάνει τα συναισθήματα στην κορύφωση τους. Τα φωνητικά σαν εκτεταμένος λυγμός είναι σαν να θρηνούν για την χαμένη αθωότητα, την προδοσία των παιδικών χρόνων και την ελπίδα που προσπαθεί να πιαστεί από κάπου απεγνωσμένα. Με άπειρη θεατρικότητα και παραστατικότητα μας ταξιδεύουν σε άλλους κόσμους. Ένα υπέροχο κομμάτι που σε κάνει να ανατριχιάζεις.”
“Excellent melody that knows how to reach the emotions at their climax. The vocals as an extensive bend are like mourning for the lost innocence, the betrayal of childhood and the hope that he is trying to catch from somewhere desperately. With infinite theatricality and representation they travel to other worlds. A wonderful piece that makes you shudder.” (Automatically Translated)
“Η απαλή και σχεδόν μελαγχολική μελωδία έρχεται για να μας προβληματίσει. Τα υπέροχα φωνητικά με διακριτικότητα εκφράζουν τα συναισθήματα τους και την αγανάκτηση τους. Κάπου όμως μέσα στο τούνελ ένα φως αρχίζει να φαίνεται. Ο ρυθμός δεν σου επιτρέπει να αφεθείς , αλλά με τρόπο σου λέει να συνεχίσεις.”
“The soft and almost melancholic melody comes to reflect on us. The wonderful vocals with discretion express their feelings and their indignation. But somewhere in the tunnel a light begins to appear. The pace does not allow you to be left, but in a way it tells you to continue.” (Automatically Translated)
“Electronic bliss can be felt from the start of the song. Beautiful synth themes and amazing vocal creates the basics and the groovy drum and bass rhythm lifts the whole song up. Great production is crystal clear and editing is masterful. ”
“Σαν ένα γλυκό ξημέρωμα μια ζεστή μέρα, πριν ο ήλιος φανεί στον γαλαζοκόκκινο ουρανό, η μελωδία αγκαλιάζει το μυαλό μας. Τα φωνητικά με αγάπη και με ρομαντική διάθεση εκφράζουν τα συναισθήματα τους για έναν έρωτα. Ο ρυθμός διασκεδαστικός και γεμάτος ενέργεια μας ζωντανεύει σαν ένα κύμα δροσιάς.”
“Like a sweet dawn a hot day, before the sun looks in the blue -red sky, the melody embraces our minds. The vocals with love and romantic mood express their feelings about a love. The rhythm of fun and full of energy comes to life like a wave of dew.” (Automatically Translated)
“Wonderful and very seductive vocal, layered with perfect ambient sounds in the background, creating sublime atmosphere. Subtle but smoothly layered drums, very easy listening are driving the song so well arrangement wise. ”
“Η μελωδία αντηχεί και μας αφυπνίζει σαν θυμωμένη και επιθετική αγάπη. Τα φωνητικά άψογα και με μοναδική καθαρή χροιά μας μεταφέρουν την συναισθηματική ένταση τους που προκαλεί η ανάγκη για τη φροντίδα του αγαπημένου προσώπου. Ο ρυθμός με σχετική σκληρότητα αγγίζει την καρδιά μας.”
“The melody resonates and awakens us like angry and aggressive love. The vocals flawless and with a unique pure tone convey their emotional intensity that the need to take care of the loved one. The rhythm with relative cruelty touches our hearts.” (Automatically Translated)
