English electronic duo Maribou State, aka Chris Davis and Liam Ivory, recently released their debut album, 'Portraits'.
The record has propelled the act to new heights, receiving attention from BBC1 and leading to spots at some of the UK's biggest festivals including Glastonbury. Mid-November will see the pair undertake a four-show Australian tour before making their way to America.
When did the two of you first begin to make music together?
We’ve actually been writing music together for quite a few years now, either under different aliases or with other bands since we were both about 16.
Is there a story behind the band name?
Unfortunately there is not much of a story to tell. We’ve never been particularly good at naming things, often drawing for the simplest of inspirations. Maribou State is completely nonsensical but is very loosely adapted from the title of the Irvine Welsh novel, 'Marabou Stork Nightmares'.
What is the songwriting process like as an electronic duo?
It can really vary. Sometimes one of us will start an idea at home and then bring it to the studio the next day, but most times we’ll start things together. Beyond that it’s usually lots of trial and error, experimenting and making diplomatic sacrifices.
Was there a particular atmosphere or aesthetic you were trying to create with 'Portraits'?
A lot of the album reflects our surroundings in Hertfordshire, where we grew-up and where our studio is. Although this was unintentional, I feel like a lot of our environment was captured on the record. We also tried to capture places we’ve been to around the world, often collecting field recordings from our recent travels.
You're coming to Australia; looking forward to the tour?
We’ve been over quite a few times now, each time being better than the last. We really enjoy coming over to Australia to DJ. The parties are always great and we love the response from the crowds.
Has music always played a significant role in your life?
Completely. Since a young age music has been a firm staple in our growth. From music handed down from our parents, to the music discovered with friends. It has sound tracked our lives and always given us something to aim at.
Are you inspired by any musicians that we might not expect?
Well it’s hard to say, as we’re not completely sure what people would expect from us. We can say that we both have varied tastes in music, especially against each other's tastes. We both listen to a lot of old music and tend to gravitate towards the more soul-infused, blues styles.
How do you spend your time when you're not writing or touring?
It’s about R&R. Spending time with our friends and family and catching up on sleep. To be honest this so called down-time has become non-existent. We also try and keep active and play sports, while spending much of our time debating what’s healthy to eat or not. It’s just recovery time for us.
What's been your favourite live show to play?
We’ve had so many great live shows that have been special to us for different reasons. We recently did a run of live shows from Paris through to Amsterdam and then Brussels, as part of our 'Portraits' tour. All three shows were at amazing venues, with such great crowds, we couldn’t have asked for a better start to the tour; I’d say these are pretty high on the favourites list.
You've got a very specific art style recurring throughout your album artwork, posters and videos – what's the story behind that?
Thankfully, we worked with an amazing designer called Jack Hardwicke who created the theme. We asked for the artwork to represent our surroundings, so he came back with all these blurred and skewed images of natural landscapes, which fitted the vibe perfectly.
What's next after you finish this tour?
Ideally, we would love to get back in the studio early next year and start writing the next album; that's the plan anyway so fingers crossed we will get the time.
Written by Brendan MacLean
Maribou State Tour Dates
Wed 11 Nov - Woolly Mammoth (Brisbane)Thu 12 Nov - Oxford Art Factory (Sydney)
Fri 13 Nov - Shadow Electric (Melbourne)
Sat 14 nNov - Rocket Bar (Adelaide)
Sun 15 Nov - Garden Party @ The Court (Perth)
