Making music between nostalgia, chaos and the dance floor.
The producer will take Indie Rocks Forum! a show that mixes darkwave, electronics and new ways of understanding their sound.
After establishing himself as one of the most visible names in contemporary darkwave, Mareux decided that their second album could not repeat the same formula. Non-Stop Romance It works as an expansion of his sound universe: brighter, more danceable and less tied to the expectations of the genre. Between complete albums, playlistsvideo games and the pressure of making a living from music, Aryan Ashtiani talks about the process behind the album, his current relationship with music and what he expects from his return to Mexico this May 10 at the Indie Rocks Forum!
Indie Rocks!: Thanks for your time. There are many things to talk about: you released an album last year and you are also coming to Mexico in a very short time. I'd like to start right there. What was the process of making this second album like? What changed compared to the first? And something that seems important to me: why release a full album in an era dominated by singles?
Mareux: The second album felt much freer. In the first one I had a lot of pressure to make another darkwave album and fulfill what people expected of me. But towards the end of that album I was already beginning to include things closer to new age or ballads that were less typical of the genre. In songs like “Little Lies” That change was already felt.
With Non-Stop Romance I wanted to make something more danceable, lighter and optimistic, not so similar to contemporary darkwave. I wanted to experiment within the genre and try new things. It was a fun experiment.
There are completely different songs from each other, like “Wild at Heart”which is practically disco. It's a little all over the place, but I really enjoyed doing it.
Now, with the new music I'm writing, I'm trying to go back to basics a little bit and give people something closer to the Mareux what they expect But it's also been fun because I haven't done it in a long time.
GO!: And that seems very interesting to me because we live in a time where singles and virality dominate music. So why keep thinking in album format?
M: I think I'm just very old school. For me bands make records, release records and that's how it works.
Maybe I should change my strategy, but I honestly don't think about it too much. I just put the songs together and it makes sense to me that it all comes out as one piece.
Plus it takes me a long time to write music, so when I'm done I practically have a complete album. It's all been a pretty organic decision.
GO!: You mentioned that you still enjoy listening to full albums. So I want to ask you: how do you listen to music nowadays?
M: If I'm at home, I usually listen to full albums. We put vinyl or albums on a speaker Bluetooth. But in the car I do hear playlists.
Although I always say this and it makes me a little sad: I don't really listen to that much music. I'm a bad music fan.
I've had a CD in my car for about a year and it's pretty much the only thing I listen to there. And I couldn't even tell you what it is because I'm terrible at remembering song names. I hear something and say: “ah yes, that one.”
GO!: It's very interesting to hear a musician say that he's not that big a fan of music. So, what are you a fan of?
M: Honestly I'm a pretty boring person (laughs). I have very specific interests.
Right now I'm playing a lot Cities: Skylines. I've been playing that for about ten years. I also get into things random: I was obsessed with manager mode FIFAI watch a lot of YouTube, I was interested in it for a while blackjack and the bets…
I also watch a lot of movies. I recently became obsessed with all the mafia movies and then the brothers movies coen.
I think music became too serious for me. It's like life or death: if you don't make the right song, you don't pay the bills. That makes it difficult to enjoy it. I'm trying to make it fun again.
And I think a lot of artists can relate to that.
GO!: Do you play Cities: Skylines 1 or 2?
M: The 1. I love the first one too much. I haven't touched 2 yet.
GO!: Speaking of the show in Mexico, what do you expect from this visit and what do you plan to present here?
M: I hope the Mexican fans are amazing. There are certain places where I imagine people really connect and Mexico is definitely one of them. Also Brazil or Poland.
I want it to be something intimate and fun. Let the people sing, go crazy and let that energy also infect us on stage.
GO!: Do you plan to stay a few days in the city or are you just coming to play?
M: No, we want to stay three or four more days because we loved it last time. We want to make the most of the trip as possible.
GO!: For those who haven't seen you live, what is the Mareux show like?
M: I play with a live drummer, Joe Lopezand also with Christian Morales on keyboards and guitar.
We play the songs but we also improvise a lot on them, so the live versions are different from the recorded ones.
GO!: Are there plans to play unreleased music?
M: Honestly not much. It's difficult to play songs that people don't know because the reactions are usually very cold.
It happened to me with songs like “Lovers from the Past” either “Killer”: Before officially leaving we played them live and people just watched without reacting. Now they love them from the first seconds.
So we prefer to focus on songs that already exist and that people can enjoy immediately.
GO!: I'm not going to lie: I think it's better this way.
M: Exactly, totally.
GO!: For someone who is going to see you for the first time, what mood Would you recommend coming to the show?
M: I like it because the show is divided into different sections. There are more electronic and danceable moments, others more focused on guitars and others more pop.
I think there is something for everyone. I just want people to come, have fun, find a song they connect with… and maybe also do a little people watching.
That's something fun about my shows: people dress amazing, with outfits very crazy You just have to arrive, have a drink and have a good time.
GO!: For someone who is just getting into your music, what song would you recommend as a starting point?
M: I think I would have to say “The Perfect Girl”because it is the best known. It is probably the best entrance door.
GO!: And to close: if you had to describe Mareux in three words, what would they be?
M: Moodynostalgic… and nostalgic again.
GO!: Some bands need a lot of words. You already solved it with two.
M: (Laughs) Exactly.
GO!: Thanks for the conversation. See you at the show. And put some Cities: Skylines (laughs).
M: (Laughs) Thanks to you.
