‘The Eighth Note’ is 8 quick Questions with Wellington Musicians.
A chance for us to catch up with people & see what they’re up to, or introduce you to a new musician/band and their music. Up next is French ambient musician, record producer and film composer Marin Esteban, who has been travelling around New Zealand for a while, and is currently based in Wgtn where he has been playing some gigs.
Who are you? Tell us a bit about your music:
I’m Marin, a French musician currently in Wellington. In music I use to compose and play on my old Guild acoustic guitar which is treated with some digital effects. The result is a mix between sound texture and sweet melodies. I like to think music like a process. It depends of the context, the acoustic of the venue and the state of mind, of course. I’m pretty much into the melody. There is something mysterious in the melody. A kind of thing with no name which is connected with the infinite.
What have you been working on lately? Any new tracks or albums on the way?
I was touring New Zealand last month with a solo act. This period make me thought about my first record. My work is often close to a journey, or visual arts. I usually work on movies soundtracks and I have published a music video showing some Fantails flying above the misty lake at Kerosene Creek. I should start a series video on the water element and why not continue on every elements.
Video recorded at Kerosene Creek, New Zealand, 2019
Where is the best place people can follow you & find your music?
People can find my music everywhere on the internet [Bandcamp] but I’m sure the easy way is on Youtube.
What were the 3 most influential albums to you growing up?
When I was child, I was listening Marqueen Moon by Television in a loop. I got the album on tape that I have erased the recordings cause of several listenings. There is a bridge on the eponyme song Marquee Moon were guitars sounds like seagull. I thought music were very close to the nature. After that I felt in love with the live album, which is mainly a movie, Live at Pompeii by Pink Floyd. I have discovered how poetry and philosophy could surrounded the music. The album Ronrocco by Gustavo Santaolalla is one of my latest big influence in music. I was bringing a small speaker during tramping in the Pyrenean mountains in France to listen it at night. The album’s title is the name of the instrument recorded on it, also call Charango. It’s an eight nylon string wooden instrument. This intimate sound connected to the wilderness feeling during the night was quite a revelation.
A horse trekking journey in south island’s high country of New Zealand during summer 2019.
Which other Wellington musician (s) would you most like to work with?
Motte alias Anita Clark is one of my favorite music project in Wellington. Her music is coming from outer space. I don’t know how to define it and I’ve talked to her only few words but her music is pretty close to my universe.
What’s your favourite Wellington venue to play in?
I’ve attend a lot of gigs in Wellington and playing some opens mics as well. Each place have it’s own personality but Valhalla is the high quality sound system I guess and the Pyramid Club is a good place to experiment as the audience is quiet and open minded.
Live recorded at Valhalla, July 10th 2019 (Wellington, New Zealand). Support Tower Of Flints + Secrets Of The Sun.
In your songwriting or composing how do the compositions and songs take shape?
Working in the studio is mainly improvising and recording. When something happen, it’s recorded. Sometime, when you are playing, you don’t realise what you are doing. Recordings and listening is a great part of the composing’s process.
Where/when is your next gig?
I’ll perform at the Pyramid Club on August 8th with Todd Luffa an American musician. I’m very excited to perform in this venue and to share the stage with this artist.
Video recorded at Huka falls, Taupo, New Zealand, July 2019.