Whether it be a singer, painter, photographer, movie maker, dancer.. I believe all of these professions fall under the artistic radar and sometimes rather than being a career choice, they are more of a career necessity, a lifestyle choice and most of all a gift.
Today I meet with the stupidly talented and breathtakingly beautiful Maiko Spencer. Having had the pleasure of meeting Maiko through a mutual friend over 8 years ago in a popular pub in Sydney,Australia, we have managed to maintain a long distance friendship over these years and continued to support each others passions.
I'm now back in London again, hanging out with her once more, watching in admiration as she slowly but surely is conquering London, giving it her all, and hitting London with the sound it craves.
With a brand spanking new website in tow, a fresh look, a whole bag of style and confidence, the music industry sitting up and taking notice....I get to pick her brains for a few minutes on what makes this little but dangerous package tick......
MAIKO,FIRST OF ALL CAN I START BY SAYING WHAT A PLEASURE IT IS TO BE BACK IN LONDON AND HANGING OUT WITH YOU AGAIN. LOTS SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED IN BOTH OUR WORLDS SINCE I WAS HERE 4 YEARS AGO AND YOU REALLY ARE GLOWING WITH HAPPINESS. WHAT SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED MOST IN YOUR LIFE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS?
Well Jodie, firstly it's great to have you back in London!
OH SHUCKS THANKS HONEY...
Yes a lot has changed, when you were last here I was singing as part of the band The Reluctants and now I'm flying solo working on my first album.
I guess the biggest change came after meeting with the great John McKenzie master bass player, he and I have been writing together since November and it has been a very productive and most of all fun experience we really get each other musically and I'm really loving what we are coming up with .
YOU GREW UP IN SYDNEY, HAVE LIVED IN NEW YORK, YOUR FAMILY HOME IS NOW IN NEW ZEALAND, AND YOU CURRENTLY LIVE IN LONDON (PHEW!)WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME AND WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT IT?
(LAUGHS) yes, it sounds exhausting when you put it like that.
I am an Aussie and Sydney will always be my home but I have spent an almost equal amount of time in New Zealand and its these two places I dream about when I'm away.
I miss them both for the amazing lifestyles in amongst such naturally beautiful setting, from the beaches to the mountains I miss it all.
And of course my friends and family but thanks to the wonders of skype they're never really far away
YOU HAVE SUCH A FRESH AND UNIQUE LOOK, WHICH IS REALLY RARE AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL NOW IN THIS INDUSTRY, WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND AND DO YOU STILL FEEL CONNECTED SOMEWAY TO THESE ROOTS?
Of course . My mother was born in Tokyo as was I but we moved - just the 2 of us - to Australia where my biological father is from.
My first language was Japanese although I lost a lost of it over the years living in Sydney since age 3.
My Dad who raised me since age 4 is from New Zealand and I was blessed to experience it too. Although I have not lived in Japan since i was a baby I have always been very connected to that part of me through my mother and her experiences and my Grand Mother.
I guess I cant help feel anything but connected to all the places and experiences that make me who I am .
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IN YOUR LIFE?
Laughter
WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FONDEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES?
All our family excursions (laughs)
WHO MUSICALLY WERE YOUR INFLUENCES GROWING UP, AND WHICH ARTISTS HAVE HELPED SHAPE YOUR STYLE?
Blues-BB King, Soul-Aretha Franklin, Country-Bonnie Rait anything my dad had playing in the house(Crowded House, Tim Finn). And then later came people like Lauryn Hill , Missy Elliot, Dr Dre, Mos Def, Jurassic 5 , but at the same time I used to love musical theatre .
I'm never good with these questions because I like soooo many different people and styles ... and as far as shaping my style on an artist that's not really how i look at it .
All I know is that I like soulful melodies, great groove and great beats . sorry not very technical (Laughs)
HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO SING? AND WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE IN YOU COULDN'T BE AN ARTIST?
I have always wanted to sing, ever since I started to watch Disney movies as a child.
If I couldn't I think I would still be writing and involved in the music business
AS AN ARTIST MYSELF,IT CAN BE TOUCH WORK! I SOMETIMES FEEL UP AGAINST THE WALL AND STRUGGLE FOR INSPIRATION AND DESIRE TO KEEP GOING, WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO KEEP ON PUSHING?!!!
(Laughs) Yeah I know that feeling, what motivates me is the fact that If I want this I don't have a choice I just do keep pushing. I just get up and make my self start playing with my guitar or finish of an idea from a previous day . Or sometimes I just take a nap or relax somehow and
that's when the best ideas come to you .
WHAT SONG CAN YOU NOT STOP LISTENING TO AT THE MOMENT?
I need a dollar - Aloe Black
HA HA DON'T WE ALL!
I FIND MY ART QUIET A PERSONAL JOURNEY, COMPARED TO MUSIC WHICH IS SO OFTEN A COLLABORATION OF MANY DIFFERNET PEOPLE. DO YOU PREFER WORKING ON SOLO PROJECTS OR IN A GROUP?
Even on a solo project , for me there is always some aspect of collaboration . That's why I value the great people I work with as they allow me to get personal even in a collaborative environment.
HOW DO YOU FEEL THE MUSIC INDUSTRY COMPARES TO THE REST OF THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?
I have always felt that London has a great diverse music scene, and very active, there are places to play every night of the week. As for the rest for the world, I'm heading off on a trip to Vancouver, LA and NYC to find out .
JEALOUS!!!! TAKE ME WITH YOU???
ON A MORE SOMBER NOTE...WITH THE DEATH OF AMY WINEHOUSE LAST WEEK, AND AS I TALK ABOUT IN MY BLOG ALOT, IT SEEMS LONDON IS FULL OF TRAPS AND HURDLES FOR YOUNG ARTISTS TO FALL OVER...HOW DO YOU STAY FOCUSED AND STEER CLEAR OF THESE DANGERS IN AN INDUSTRY SO SURROUNDED BY IT? AND WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUNG TEENAGERS WANTING TO PERUSE A CAREER IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
I think the best way to stay focused is to have your own confidence and self love so that you are not easily swayed by darker forces, and being around people who have a genuine interest in you as a person and your well being is a big part of it as well.
WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?
Like I said I am heading of State side to check out what's happening and to promote a release I am doing with the AUM BRAND, they will be launching 3 new Maiko T-Shirts in all their stores and I will release one of my songs with it. I'm super excited to see how the T-Shirts will look check out their website http://www.aumbrand.com/
OOOH CAN I HAVE ONE PLEASE BEFORE YOU GO?!!
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?
Hopefully doing what I love and sharing that with as many people as possible !
WHERE CAN WE HEAR YOUR SOUND AND CHECK OUT WHERE YOU ARE PLAYING NEXT?
WWW.MAIKOSPENCER.COM
NIGHT OUT OR NIGHT IN??
Night in (smiles)
Thanks to the beautiful Maiko for taking time out to talk to me today and good luck with everything...come back and lets do another interview after you concur New York please! xx
Keep a close eye on her by following her website maikospencer.com and make sure you go and see her at one of her gigs...I'm sure to be there, G+T in hand, and a proud grin on my face.
J-L
xcxcx
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