Interview by Carol Wright
Musician MAUMAUMAU chatted with us about his new song “Curveball Whip Cream” and how cathartic it was to write the songs on his upcoming EP Meow Meow Meow.
Was there a particular moment that you remember that sparked your interest in music?
Yes! My dad has never been talented in music, but for as long as I can remember, my dad would dance with my brothers and me to all sorts of music. Seeing him so happy about something so seemingly mundane always stuck with me. However, I don’t think that sparked my interest in becoming a musician (although I’m sure it helped). I grew up with clinically diagnosed ADHD. I always felt somewhat disconnected from people and felt too intense to fully understand (I still feel that way sometimes). Looooong story short, it wasn’t until I played my first original song, and saw people connect to me in a way I hadn’t experienced before, that I fell in love with music. I’ve wanted to help connect people to their feelings ever since.
Has living in Los Angeles had any influence on your sound?
I don’t think so… but maybe? I feel like artists are like sponges. They soak in their surroundings, and then we squeeze that out into our artistic vehicles, so I’m sure there’s some LA in my sound.
Tell our readers about “Curveball Whip Cream.” What inspired the lyrics?
“Whip Cream” was the first song I wrote as a solo artist, and I wanted it to be an introduction to who I am as an artist and where my head goes as a human. The whole idea is that life never goes how you planned it, and the irony of loving that sensation of getting the rug swept from under you, life’s curveballs if you will. And the visual of it being a pie to the face just made me giggle. I was super on it with the SEO intentionality *surfer accent* haha.
Your upcoming EP Meow Meow Meow is going to have more of a focus on your personal life. What motivated this decision and were the songs on the EP cathartic to write?
HECK YES! To the catharsis. It mostly is with my songs. I’ll occasionally write something that isn’t super close to the heart, but most of my songs come with a lot of thought and a lot of catharsis. As for the decision to make it somewhat personal, I think I just wanted to introduce myself as MAUMAUMAU to the world. I’ve always been in projects with other people in them, and trying to get everyone’s ideas to work and fit in has always been a priority. But with MAUMAUMAU, I just wanted to be sincere and weird and unfiltered to some extent. Meow Meow Meow is just the byproduct of that initial desire.
Has this period of quarantine given you time to experiment more with your music?
Yes and no. It has been a creative rollercoaster. I’m trying not to guilt myself if I can’t think of anything to write, but when it rains, it pours. It’s been more so of a personal exploration of my mental health that has yet to reap its depth in my music yet, but I look forward to whatever comes out of it. Musicians, sponges, you get it.
What advice do you have for aspiring musicians?
Dare Greatly! Been super into Brené Brown as of late, hahaha. But seriously, dare greatly with your craft. Don’t emulate other artists but never stop getting inspired by them. Take time with your lyrics and your message. Take care of your mental health! Don’t do it for the fame. Be ok with failing miserably and a lot. Don’t expect money to roll in… ever. Be grateful when it does. Help others when you have a position for it. Ask for help when you need it. Be a sponge. Lots of periods in that statement. Grammar is tricky, but you get the gist.
