Chatting with Maud: Creative Processes and Sparkling New Releases

Following an interesting theme Norwegian producer Maud is releasing her debut album also dubbed ‘MAUD’ via Maud records.

 A powerhouse on the Killing Moon roster Maud is not one to miss, diverse entertaining and enthralling she is far from your average dark electronica artist.

She creates a soundscape truly immersive, her previous singles ‘Bad Things’, ‘Baby Girl’ and ‘Nobody’ are all well worth checking out before you dive into the new project. 

The collective works of the past two years her new album is an exciting prospect and it was a pleasure to sit down with her to discuss her motivations, work process,
and inspirations.

I’m really looking forward to hearing the album! Having complete creative control over the project is something your very proud of, were there any aspects of making the record you found unexpectedly difficult?

Finishing a track and knowing when a mix is done is really difficult. All of the songs on the record have been through a lot of different stages and versions, and when you’re working alone a lot like me you could potentially put yourself in a situation where you end up never finishing a song.

It’s easy to get lost in a mix or a production, and at the beginning, you’re like «this is the best song I’ve ever made», and then you’re like «I hate this song», and I think all these stages are kind of inevitable. It’s just a part of the process. Luckily, I’ve been working with a very talented mixing engineer on some of the songs, and I also know a lot of great musicians and producers that have given me feedback and motivation to finish the record. 

Are there any aspects of the album your particularly proud of?

I’m proud of creating what feels like my own universe on this record, and I hope the listener can hear how much work I’ve put into each track. Some of the songs are both produced and mixed by me, and I’m really proud of that. 

Do you think by producing, writing and singing on the album has changed how you will

create in the future?

Writing, producing and singing on this album has definitely given me more experience and insight in these different processes. Sometimes it can be hard to separate the producer from the songwriter and the singer, and vice versa. As I’m currently working on new music, I’m already more aware of these different aspects, and I’m also moving back to a more piano oriented song writing where I basically started out as a kid. 

Did producing each track help with the writing/ lyrical process or vice versa?

I usually combine the lyrical process with both song writing and production, and these processes can often happen quite simultaneously. My lyricism can definitely be inspired by how a production or beat turns out, but I rarely write a lyric before I start to write the melody. However, I do sometimes write down cool lines or words and use them in a song. 

Do you hope to have complete creative control over your forthcoming projects? Would you like to create the album from scratch yourself?

Yes, but as I’m more confident in myself as a songwriter and producer now, I’m also more open for collaborations. I think I still need to have complete creative control in order to fulfil my artistic vision, but I’m not longer intimidated by working with others. 

Even if you were to continue to create the tracks entirely by yourself is there anyone you’d like to have featured on a future project or someone you’d love to collaborate with?

If I ever get famous, I would love to collaborate with artists like Grimes and Kanye West. 

Do you feel as though the album is more personal because it is entirely your creation?

Yes, 100%. The songs on the album are written in the last 2-3 years, while going through different life stages, emotions, experiences, as well as different influences, and it kind of feels like a diary to me. I can’t wait to listen to this album in 20 years from now. 

Looking forward to the album release are there any specific tracks that you think we should look out for? Any that feel particularly personal or special to you?

‘Alone Together’ is very personal to me, and I think this track is a good pointer about what’s to come in the future. I’m also very excited about some of the songs that aren’t released as single tracks. 

How similar is the rest of the album from ‘Nobody’?

’Nobody’ sticks out as perhaps a bit more intense and aggressive than some of the other tracks on the album. I feel like each song has its own universe, and I think my own vocals, and perhaps production style, are kind of tying everything together.

Reece Ritchie

@reeceiain

Image: Provided by PR