#maja lena

[hairtusk]

alt-folk musician maja lena

[vriendenboekjes]

such a lovely song :)

Where is the ego lodged this far from camp? / Gazing into a bog so dark and dank / Did we labour nearly enough on our plot of land? / Thickening paste of fog on our gallivant

[harlith]

[farseerofthestorm]

[innervoiceart]

Maja Lena - Antares (Official Video)

[andhowfm]

Ola's Kool Kitchen 451

Ola’s Kool Kitchen 451

Ola’s Kool Kitchen on NOW on AndHow FM comes in sonic colours everywhere from Babe Rainbow, Yllwblly, Damon & Naomi, The Pastel Waves, Remington super 60, Alone in Deer Park & Maja Lena

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[shemakesmusic-uk]

Getting To Know...

Maja Lena.

Real name Marianne Parrish and formerly of alt-folk band Low Chimes, Maja Lena’s solo moniker is an affectionate nickname given to her by the Swedish half of her family.

She has just released her debut solo album The Keeper via Chiverin Records, an album forged in the fires of fear and self doubt, brought on by setting out on her own musically after years of being part of a collaborative effort. Driven by Marianne's unique vocal delivery and depth of emotion, this record teaches of life challenges and lessons, existentialism, escapism, musings of alternate realms and of our relationships with time.  

The recording process for the new material took place under the nurturing gaze of producer and former bandmate Rob Pemberton, who brought his extensive artillery of creative talents to the table to help shape the record into its cogent form. They recorded at Rob's home studio in Stroud, relishing the comfort of familiar surroundings from their time together in Low Chimes.

We had a chat with Marianne all about The Keeper and what she has planned next. Read the Q&A below.

Hi Marianne! How are you? What does a typical day look like for you at the moment?

"Hello! I’m good thanks! It’s quite variable right now, but recently I’ve mostly been either working on new music with my friend and producer Rob Pemberton in his studio or over at a Natural Horsemanship Therapy yard where I work part-time. I go out for a walk every day too, often a cycle or a run and then usually play my guitar, and read if I’m not too sleepy by the end of the day! Lots of hanging out and going for walks with our dog Titus too. I’m loving the longer Summer evenings at the moment and having more energy in them. Trying to make the most of it!"

You've just released your debut LP The Keeper. What can you tell us about the record? And what does it mean to you?

"I wrote it all over the course of a couple of years except for the song ‘Birch’ (which I wrote back in 2014), after I was in the band Low Chimes. Then Rob (who I also played alongside in the band) produced, recorded, mixed and played on it. We had some lovely friends come in to play on it, and it was mastered by Hallam Robinson. Themes include reality vs expectation, self-doubt, existentialism, the life and death cycle, and letting go. Influences ranged from The Incredible String Band, Cocteau Twins, Sandy Denny and Leonard Cohen, to Nine Inch Nails, Grizzly Bear and Radiohead. It was a really cathartic record for me to write, as a long era of my life had come to an end. The process really helped me to move into a new one with more joy and purpose. I’m grateful to it for that!"

Please take us through your songwriting/creative process for The Keeper. Which part of it did you enjoy the most and which did you find the most challenging?

"I wrote some songs at home in Stroud, some in the Lake District and some in Sweden. The songs started to arise when I’d been feeling a bit lost, unsure if I wanted to carry on writing and playing music. It felt like a real relief when I started to write again, helping me to process and move through things I was feeling at the time, and playing a big part in shifting some of it.

"Some of the record felt quite emotional to write which was challenging at times, and some of it felt new and exciting. I most enjoyed bringing it to life with Rob through the recording process and working with the featured artists on the record. I love it when new dimensions start to open up within the songs through Rob’s production and what the featured performers bring to them, taking them somewhere new and evolving into what I find a much more interesting and expansive soundscape.

What do you hope fans/listeners will take away from the new record?

"Maybe something new and familiar simultaneously! Both comfort and refreshment. I hope it’s cathartic to listen to, and perhaps what the listener is needing at that moment in time. I’d like the listener to develop their own relationship with the songs without my imposing of any of my ideas of them though, as I feel interpretation can be very individual. I think that process is one of the joys of finding new music!"

Absolutely! Finally, what else is next for you? Any plans to tour the record? Any other goals you're striving towards?

"I’m working on new music with Rob in the studio which I’m excited about! As well as playing at a couple of lovely independent festivals this Summer, and supporting Plastic Mermaids on their UK tour in October. Going to try and learn some synth skills this year too, as well as trying to improve my guitar playing, and I’m working on new visuals for the project with my friends Martha Webb (maker & photographer) and Anders Duckworth (choreographer) which I’m also very excited about!"

The Keeper is out now digitally via Chiverin. Pre-order the vinyl HERE.

Photo credit: Martha Webb

[thankfolkforthat]

New Release & Tour: Maja Lena - Antares

New Release & Tour: Maja Lena - Antares....

Maja Lena draws ever nearer to the release of her debut album The Keeper with her stunning new single ‘Antares’ and the announcement of a UK tour. Dedicated to a close friend, ‘Antares’ is a song that muses on the life & death cycle, loss, renewal and existentialism. It arrives accompanied by a film by visual collaborator Aloha Bonser-Shaw, which touches on these same themes through shadowy and…

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