Maude Latour – Starsick

By starrymag | June 26, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) A symphonic metaphysical overly-lyrical pop perfection attempt at capturing transcendence, pining and all my greatest fears.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) I would say Queen has really led me through finding my sound. Bowie, reminding me what music is. The Beatles, reminding me what pop intricate perfection is. The Beach Boys, reminding me who I am as a composer. Lorde, for my upbringing, Lana Del Rey for teaching me how to create a reality. Gwen Stefani for teaching me to scream it out and fall to the floor. SZA for showing me my exact words and feelings can be translated perfectly. Regina Spektor for showing me the scope of what I can do. The Strokes for knowing my soul. All of these people have influenced me deeply. So many more.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

 

A) I keep books and notes of poems and lyrics. I have thousands of videos and voice memos of melodies. Most often I’d say they come at the same time. I sit down at the piano daily and every single time I feel anything– or even when I feel completely numb. Practicing the muscle of opening the valve to letting things stream out. It’s painful, it’s often miserable. It’s frustrating, but, wow, when it works– there is nothing like that feeling. I chase it.

 

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

 

A) I’m proud to be certain that I’m a good backseat producer. I know exactly what I want, and I love working with producers who understand that exact vision. There’s such a stark difference between the music before I learned the terminology (pre-Starsick EP), and after. Now I know the exact specific way my voice needs to be placed in the mix, the reverb I detest, the dryness I love. I’ve of course learned a lot about production from being in the room. As I’m lucky enough to be able to stay inside right now during this unprecedented time, I’ve been spending all of my time finally diving deep into learning everything by myself. I’m having an absolute blast, and I can’t wait to see what I make once I have mastered production.

 

Q) What are some themes you explore on your new Starsick EP?

 

A) Oh, utopia. Revolution. Self-awareness. Freedom– true transcendent freedom. God. Change. The passage of time. Absolute depression. Being lonely, existentially lonely.

 

Q) What song on the EP holds a special place in your heart and why?

 

A) “Lovesick” definitely holds a vulnerable place in my heart and has a different type of effect on me. It has brought me to tears several times while playing it. I can often not even listen to it. I cannot watch the music video; it makes me cry every time. It was timed with the loss of a love for me that ended up having a profound influence on my existence. Ultimately, creating Lovesick and releasing it as the final song, and putting this whole body of work together, caused me to realize the depths of this dream of pursuing this– how close I am to creating the worlds I want to create. How cohesive and true these songs are.

“Superfruit,” though. [laughs] I love “Superfruit.” So much. I think it does something no pop song has ever done. I think it’s absolute perfection. Without even making the listener flinch, it expresses all your deepest fears somehow in bright color explosion.

 

Q) What songs off your EP have you been enjoying performing live?

 

A) “Ride My Bike” has completely come out of its shell live. It is absolutely legendary live, which is something I never expected. The crowd goes so hard. I love it. Of course, “Superfruit” too– it goes absolutely crazy. I’ve been reminiscing on the shows lately. Wow when the crowd is good, that’s something worth living for.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your new EP as a whole?

 

A) I actually have trouble answering this question when I get asked it. I truly write my music for my own existence and I have a promise to the world that all of my songs exist completely because I need them in order to literally get through my life. If it speaks to anyone else by chance, that’s so cool but that’s not my intention at all. I needed furniture in order to be able to see straight. Thankfully, it existed and helped me through my life.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you? 

 

A) I absolutely love performing at colleges. My Columbia shows have been life changing. My NYU show is probably my favorite of all time. Wesleyan, a weekend I’ll never forget. I am sure I will one day think of Rockwood Music Hall fondly, but only once it’s in hindsight. I just want a place where the audience goes so hard– and I find that at college shows thus far.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) Rostam! Rostam. Rostam. I really want him to produce my work.

 

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

 

A) Soccer Mommy– Damn, Color Theory is just a classic. She’s making the melodic lines of my dreams and it crushes my soul entirely. It hurts too much to listen to most times.

 

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

 

A) I think I talk to probably two hundred people a day in my DM’s. I know about the lives of so many fans, we talk constantly. Honestly, I feel so close to this body of people who follow me. I feel like the understand a lot of me and sometimes they’ve given me wisdom I never could’ve expected. It’s crazy to me that they feel like true friends and feel like people who understand my art better than the people I know best. But it’s a fascinating relationship. I’m still working that line, and have made new discoveries in how much to put myself out there. I have other mediums in mind for my life and Instagram is not where all of my life’s work should be represented.

 

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

 

A) They already know what I have to say to them! But…I know they know it’s just the beginning. I know they are on the edge of their seat and they believe that this is going to work with all of their heart. I can promise them I won’t disappoint them. I trust the music. The music speaks for itself and I swear there are things I know that are on their way out of my brain that is the reason I’m doing this… It’s all yet to come. They know. [smiles]