‘New Album’ is where a band or artist answers some questions about their latest release. Our first guest is indie-garage band Maple Syrup who have just released the album ‘Who Is Maple Syrup’.
When/where was the new album recorded?
We recorded the album over a weekend early last year before Jerry & I headed to the States in July. We recorded in a garage in Avalon where we have band practise. Oliver Devlin from Hans Pucket recorded us using various equipment from friends in the Wellington music community.
Who produced/engineered the album? How did the tracks come together in the studio, or at home?
The lovely Oliver Devlin did all the recording, mixing and mastering. Me and Jerry would spend evenings in his room eating snacks and working on the tracks. This whole album was very DIY.
How did the songwriting happen?
Jerry and I wrote all the songs on this album. Usually one of us will come up with a riff or a song melody and then we play off each other to complete the song. For example, Keeps Me Sane (Nobody Cares) started with this guitar riff I was playing with and then the lyrics sprouted from that.
Were you going for a different sound/approach on this album? Was there any specific gear you used to capture that?
The songs on this album were ones we had been playing regularly in our live show. We wanted this album to capture our live sound, so if you dig our album you will dig the show. For this record we explored lots of different sounds which I think better captures our vibe as a band. We love records that have an immediacy to them (like The Pixies Doolittle) so were inspired by those too!
Is there a particular single/track that you feel captures the essence of the album?
Thats a tricky one.. I would say the last track Don’t Complain. It has a mix of soft melodies and very heavy guitar solos at the end. It’s one of my personal favorites!
Is there a physical copy available? If not which digital platforms is it available on?
Not as of yet but we would love to get physical copies eventually. You can stream/download the album at maypalsyrup.bandcamp.com & soundcloud.com/maplesyrupmusic. We will also be on spotify soon!
Are you working on a video/videos for any of the songs?
We already have a video out for Maybe Someday (I’ll Have A Friend). We also have a couple of videos in the works. Our plan is to make videos for as many of the songs as possible. Jerry & I love the medium of film so it’s a great opportunity to explore that.
Cover used with permission.