Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
Elaine Mai: I’m from a county called Mayo which is on the west coast of Ireland. I grew up on a small farm, but swapped that for city living as a grown up. I’m not based in Dublin. For me, I’ve simply not been able to not do music. Even if there was no one listening, I’d still be making it in my room just for me.
MuRli: I’m from Limerick in the west of Ireland. Growing up I didn’t always see the city as a place I would eventually pursue a music career, since I couldn’t see the opportunities out there for me, with the dreams I had. However I grew up to love and fully embrace the fact that I was exactly where I needed to be to do what I do. Being from here we’ve had to dig a little deeper and that helped shape our sound, our approach and how we move.
I initially just did it as someone who was creative and needed a way to express that side of me and I’ve always been fascinated with words and the many ways they can be used. My journey in life gave me something to say and music gave me a voice. The career came as I figured music was the one thing I could do and give my best self.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
Elaine Mai: I’ve been listening to a lot of classic stuff recently because I recently welcomed my daughter Nell and it’s been really fun showing some of the music I love. So far, disco is a big hit with her. Steve Monite’s ‘Only you’ is one of her faves.
MuRli: I’ve been loving that new Lil Silva album ‘Yesterday Is Heavy’ and also Asake is one of the artists inspiring me the most right now. Oh and DOMi & JD BECK, check them out if you haven’t yet.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
Elaine Mai: My first and definitely the one that left a huge impression on me was Alanis Morisette. To me, Alanis was one of the most raw, unapologetic and authentic artists, I was totally drawn in by her. She sang in such a natural way and spoke honestly about her experiences. She inspired me to pick up the guitar and write, and has had a huge influence on me throughout my life.
MuRli: My first would be Koffi Olomide who is a Congolese Soukous musician whose music was played in my house everyday as I was growing up so we all grew up dancing to his music. My strongest musical influence earlier on would be Kanye West and then mynameisjOhn, Naive Ted, Timbaland, Lil Wayne, I could be there all day really.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Ready’. Is there a story behind it from your side?
Elaine Mai: For me, the sounds, melody and beats I created were very much inspired by a sample MuRli shared which kicked the project off. That was the bedrock and the rest just flowed really easily from there.
MuRli: When we got in the studio the first time, I wrote some raps which were really good actually but I felt like it didn’t really work the more i tried it, so I woke up one day and started mumbling some melodic stuff to the beats and straight away i got out my phone and recorded it. To me that instantly felt like that’s the song right there at its most organic. There was no other way I could see it done. The melodies then dictated the subject matter. I had to stop drafting, I needed to just do it and I did, and we did and now we have this banger.
Q: Can we expect an EP or even an album from you in the near future?
Elaine Mai: I plan to get back writing at the end of this year, so stay tuned!
MuRli: At this point, I’ll just say, expect everything!
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
Elaine Mai: This is a tricky one, but esssentially I aim to make music that makes you feel something. The theme of my debut album ‘Home’ was belonging, a feeling which can be experienced in many ways. Each track trys to focus on a different interpretation of that feeling and what it can mean to the listener.
MuRli: With me, the content first of all because I only write when I have something to say, so I just hope it speaks to somebody and makes them feel something. My sound is actually progressive Soul.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
Elaine Mai: As I mentioned earlier, I’d still be doing this even if it was just for me, so everything else is a bonus! It’s incredible to get to work with artists like MuRli, play live, collaborate, get so engrossed in something you lose hours. I love it.
MuRli:I think it is! I think as people we’d always want more because the journey must continue so I look forward to stepping into new arenas and to what effect it’’l have on me and vice versa. I have a confident expectation that I will continue to get more from music for as long as I’m in this and even after. I’m far from my peak as an artist so I can’t wait to see what that’s going to be like.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
Elaine Mai: It doesn’t follow the same set structure, but in general, I try to start with a base idea. Be it a voicenote, a sound, a melody, a sample. Something to get the track started. From there, I write melodies around it and that defines what direction the track will take. It can be so surprising where you end up and that’s part of the magic.
MuRli: I often start off with my sampler. Depending on the mood I’m in that day, I’ll get the track and drop it on the sampler, chop it up and reimagine it to see where it might take me. From there I’d just see what elements would complement it, be it drums, keys, guitar, bass, vocals etc and then the structure comes. Once I have the structure I know the song’s there. If someone needs something specific then I’d go off the example of what they’d give me and use that as inspiration.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
Elaine Mai: Covid was really tough for artists and I really missed performing. Since shows have come back, I’ve appreciated them even more.
MuRli: Reinventing myself as a solo artist after my band. For years I didn’t know where to start, how to reintroduce myself as a different act and how to navigate an ever changing musical landscape.It’s only just started to click really.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
Elaine Mai: Having my debut album and lead single nominated for both the Choice Music Prize song and album of the year here at home was amazing.
MuRli: We were in Croke Park, I had just played with Denise Chaila as a support act for Ed Sheeran and a few minutes into Ed’s set, I looked around and there 80,000 people, I looked at the lads and said how are we part of this moment! That was really significant!
LISTEN TO THE ARTISTS:
ELAINE MAI SOCIALS
https://soundcloud.com/elainemai
https://www.instagram.com/elainemai
https://twitter.com/elainemaimusic
https://www.facebook.com/elainemaimusic
MURLI SOCIALS
https://soundcloud.com/murlimurl
https://twitter.com/MuRliMuRl
https://www.instagram.com/murlibo