In this interview spotlight, I chat with мʌvʌ about the latest music, technology, challenges and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I am audiovisual artist from Slovakia. I write songs, try to sing and produce them in my bedroom and build the whole audiovisual world for the eventual LP. I wouldn’t necessarily classify music I make by genre because it changes based on what the scheme for particular record is. After finishing debut album “Sinusoidal” I picked “singer-songwriter” tag. I suppose not for its meaning in the taxonomy built by music industry/reviewers but rather to point out personal reflection on these two words. The sophomore album “Enklávy bezlesia” is acoustic guitar-led written in Slovakian and I named the style “Slovák retrogard”. Music I am working on at the moment explores living in the nether world with intricate animal aesthetics conveyed by vocal experiments, combining organic instrumentals with gloomy sounds of vintage synths. I have recently purchased and started to play with the custom made theremin – pioneer in synthesizers and the early 70’s tiny combo organ made in Czechoslovakia.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
I created the first virtual piano demo recording on the 1st of May 2014 when I was living at dorm in the Czech Republic. I had been writing short poems for a few years out of depression and desperation over sheer existence and unsolicited situations happening as the consequence of post-teenage student’s void. Truly, just to find a single thing that could be worth your time while wasting most of it either way. I have always been interested in music and liked singing from the early childhood so songwriting was the logical choice. In April 2016, I self-released the debut album under мʌvʌ. Instrumentals were mainly programmed on PC, because I hadn’t taken any music lessons before (although I really wish I had). Then I somehow persuaded myself to learn to play a real instrument. In May 2012, at the end of the second semester, I bought the acoustic guitar which I hadn’t played much for like five years until leaving the institution and deciding to record most of the album on it.
In general, I suppose my motivation has antipodal nature – to satiate the insatiable.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
Definitely different in the sense of questioning difference.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
I still haven’t performed live in front of the audience. That’s probably the biggest challenge. On the other hand, I enjoy the process of developing songs alone and I actually hate when someone watches me making any art piece in the middle of the process or wants to see the unfinished product if I am not willing to present it yet.
Regarding technology, discovering DAWs and how they work was a huge leap and made ideas in my head and efforts of my hands more approachable, tangible and viable.
What was the last song you listened to?
My new Song One Is ?!.
It is the first single off of the prepared LP which serves as the primal track to awakening.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
It doesn’t matter as long as the record is good. I’ve been buying some CDs and vinyls over the last couple of years and my favourite way to obtain them is at concerts or groceries. I released my 2nd album on CD, Blu-Ray Disc and Musicassette. I still have the old aiwa walkman that will be turning 20 soon + I do need to find the cheap CD-player from Polish flea market my grandad gave me and I never quite played it.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I have an account on one of the forementioned. I find Bandcamp’s layout compendious and efficient. A platform to get to know and support artists. It suits lads who bother to sleuth on obscure independent musicians, too. I reckon something like MySpace or Blogspot resonated with DIY communities in the past. Nowadays they are on the edge of extinction with the rise of all those trendsetters. I think it is cruel and counterproductive for music when people feed the giants and their shenanigans with money.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
https://myaudiovisualart.bandcamp.com/
Anything else before we sign off?
Thanks for your questions! It has been pleasure to think about the answers.
And listen to my new record if you wish?
