MAYVE – Animals

By starrymag | January 27, 2016

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

Nick: Like a teenage emo kid into his parents’ 80’s record collection.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

Joe: Talking Heads, The Killers and Coldplay

Q) What is the song writing process like for you? Do you need music before you create the lyrics?

Mike: I think we’re still trying to figure that out.

Q) What is the feel and vibe for your new EP “Animals?”

Nick: The whole EP takes fans through stages of life that have happened to us at some point and things we feel could happen to anyone in some form or another. It’s meant to be uplifting and relatable and let you know that you are not alone when you’re looking inward, self-assuring and following your passions. Those are definitely the central themes.

Q) How did the band select “Animals” as the title for it?

Mike: Well, when we were recording the songs we really had to connect with them and understand what we were saying. “Talking To Myself” is a song that opens the listener’s eyes to their own self-reflection. “Higher” showcases how it feels to want to attain something that you’re not sure you’re good enough for. “Hearts On Fire” celebrates unity and achieving the unthinkable, followed by “Magic” celebrating love and “West Coast” urging us to do whatever it takes to set ourselves on the right path.

Matt: We realized these thoughts are still very primitive and everyone is in the same boat essentially. If everyone realized this, we’d all be as free as animals.

Q) What was the most challenging part of making the EP?

Matt: Choosing the title! We had to look back and realize what the songs were really about and how we could bring them closer to each other.

Q) What do you think it is about your song “Hearts On Fire” that fans are really connecting to?

Joe: It’s a song about coming together which, especially in these times, is necessary. But overall I think people really take to the uplifting groove and positive vibe of the song.

Q) How much of a hand does MAYVE have in the production of their music?

Nick: We are extremely involved in the production of our music. Every aspect is thought out in pre-production, which for this EP we just did in Logic. That usually takes our song writing to a polished level. We dial in different sounds we want to have for each instrument in every moment of our songs.

Joe: After pre-production, we go and record in a professional studio and take everything to the next level.

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

Kyle: Technical difficulties [laughs]

Joe: Unforgettable experiences! [laughs]

Q) Nerdist noted you as one of the “best underground albums of the week.” How did that make you all feel?

Nick: We had no clue Nerdist even knew who we were! It was also a victory for unsigned bands, knowing that people still pay attention to independent artists creating cool stuff.

Q) What can fans do to help promote your music?

Kyle: Listen to us on Spotify and recommend us to your friends and family?

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

Mike: The world is so instant and technologically driven, which is amazing because we can access our fans everywhere at any point and give them a view into who we are and how we see the world.

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

Mike: It’s the little successes that keep us going and any time anyone engages with our music it’s a little success.