Marsicans – Ursa Major

By starrymag | May 12, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) Upbeat indie/dirty pop/social anxiety played on guitars and drums.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) The Maccabees, Bon Iver, The 1975, Arctic Monkeys, Weezer, Arcade Fire.

 

Q) Your new single “Sunday” picks up from your recent releases of “Juliet” and “Can I Stay Here Forever (pt.II).” How did you decide this would be your third single?

 

A) The first two singles are pretty in your face, musically. “Sunday” has this kind of laid back, California driving vibe that we wanted to ease out into the world. Releasing it as Single 3 seemed like a nice way of suggesting that there might be a few slowies on the record.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans will connect to?

 

A) It’s a love song and it’s about yearning for someone to complete a pretty perfect picture. So, I suppose anyone who is happy but feeling like they are missing that final flourish might like “Sunday.”

 

Q) What is your songwriting process?

 

A) Often James [Newbigging] or myself will sit down with a guitar or at the piano and write the bones of a song, then we’ll bring it into our rehearsal space and embellish the idea all together. It’s a very democratic process, which can take time. So, we also have the “Song King” card to play in times of stalemate where someone gets the final say. We wouldn’t have finished the album without passing around the imaginary crowd, so maybe you can call us Royalists in the headline for a bit of click-bait.

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music? 

 

A) Our producer would probably say “too much.” He tells us off a lot and we struggle to let go of the wheel sometimes, but we definitely need a captain during the recording process. As mentioned, the democratic republic of Marsicans struggle to come to consensus quite often, so a good producer is essential for us to actually finish our work. We have a big input in the way things sound, but in regards to the way things are structured, kicked around and cut up we tend to do as we’re told.

 

Q) How do you shake off a long day in the studio?

 

A) With sub-standard red wine.

 

Q) What are some themes we’ll see explored on your upcoming debut album Ursa Major?

 

A) Overthinking, being in love, being scared of your phone, being alive in the modern era, worrying about all of the above, riffs.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to this album as a whole?

 

A) That the album as a whole is still an important thing in a world of Spotify playlists and singles. That life is complicated, but that you’re not alone in your highs or lows and that if you come to our album tour, you’re gonna have a really good time jumping up and down arm in arm with your best mates.

 

Q) The album drops May 22nd. How do you plan to celebrate the release?

 

A) With sub-standard red wine.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Marsicans performance?

 

A) Lots of energy, excitement (verging on danger if Oli [Jameson] is having a ‘Bambi on ice’ type evening) and sweat.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) Porches – Ricky Music. The production is super cool, 80’s pop, but in a kind of lackadaisical way.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) It’s an amazing way of talking directly to the people who care about your band. Whether that be to tell them about upcoming shows, ask them how they’re feeling about new music or thanking them for being a part of the whole thing.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) Thank you, from the bottom of our little hearts. Honestly, being in a band is the coolest thing in the world and without people supporting your wild ideas, you’re just making noise in a room by your selves.

 

 

 

All Questions Answered By Bassist/Vocalist Rob Brander