The Tape

Andrew Maury

Written by gzabriel on Wednesday, 9 of April , 2008 at 12:15 pm

Andrew Maury is a 22 year old multi-versed musician and producer. He is a recent graduate of Syracuse University soon to reside in New York City and start his career in the music/media industry. He has 14 years experience as a guitarist in various bands, and has recently immersed himself in the convergence of indie rock and creative original-sample-based remixing.

I, Gzabriel, of The Tape sought out an interview with the man to ask him some questions about himself and his work and to hopefully give him “The Tape Boost” that many other artists have enjoyed or just to ask him questions. Questions in bold, answers in plain text. Bon Apetit.

What songs/bands/albums made you want to make music? Do you still listen to them and how did they influence you?

Since I was 8 years old, I’ve had a loyalty to music… and it keeps developing. I started playing guitar back in 3rd grade when Nirvana perked my ears; That was the band that sparked my musical interest. By middle school, I got involved playing in bands, covering general 90’s awesomeness. You know, Goo Goo Dolls, Collective Soul, Stroke 9, Bush. No regrets there. But high school took me into classic rock, Zeppelin, Floyd, Aerosmith, and U2. I continued to play in better bands, learned to play the drums, picked up the bass often, and learned about audio and musical gear. These days, I’m a college senior playing in an original band, studying recording, and listening to The Strokes, Radiohead, Interpol, VHS or Beta, Tokyo Police Club, Justice, Snowden, Death Cab, Incubus, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc. My college years and passion for these kinds of bands have really inspired me to become an active musician, and remixing is such a cool outlet for me. The work allows me to harness energy as both a musician and music fan.

You’ve picked some really difficult tracks in my opinion to remix as they seem so perfect already (Arcade Fires Black Mirror, Ra Ra Riots Ghost Under Rocks) what is your take on the remixes youre doing? are you simply doing your take on the songs or are there cases when you feel like you can make something better?

I think of a good remix as a musical caricature. It manages to highlight and expand-on its best features. A great remix also allows the artist’s taste, style, and creativity to influence a song in a new direction; Hopefully for the best. I often find that my best creative moments happen when I say to myself, “If I were in the band when they were writing this song, what would I have suggested in the process? What chord change could sound cooler here, or what structural change would drive the song more?” Its not to say that I have major problems with the songs I’m remixing, because I agree, these songs are GREAT in their original form. In fact, there are times when I wonder who I’m offending by twisting them up. There are some interesting trends happening in the music world right now. Sales are down, album significance seems to be dwindling, and Internet trends are rising. Our whole society is embracing the “remix,” whether its mashing up youtube videos or photoshopping movie posters together. While part of me worries that the remix culture is inducing some form of mass A.D.D., I think of an excellent remix can bring new significant light, and ultimately a form of support for the band.

What artist do you want to work with most right now?

I’ve been pretty happy, even flattered, with the work I’ve been doing recently, actually. Like I said before, some of my favorite bands of today are the bands I’ve been granted the opportunity to remix… like Tokyo Police Club, Ra Ra Riot, Snowden, and even Radiohead with their newest online mischief. (http://radioheadremix.com). However, If I could call up 5 bands and have them say “yes, you may remix us,” off the top of my head, it would probably be Ratatat, Kings of Leon, Broken Social Scene, Interpol, and, [haha] another Radiohead song.

How did it feel getting the invitation to join RAC and do you feel you have a lot in common with Andre?

Invitation to RAC = elation and utmost honor. I can safely say that one of the coolest people I know, I’ve never met. Andre and I are purebred, 21st century internet friends. We’ll spend hours bouncing files and projects that we’re working on back and forth, chatting about kick drum samples, sending ebay links for $450 tape delay units that we cant afford, and giving each other tips for new music to check out. I really think that RAC has a future, and I’m so proud to be a part of it in its early stages. Please visit the site, subscribe to the RSS blog, and stay tuned for news and new mixes! http://theremixcompany.co.uk

How long have you been making music and what was your first remix you were proud of?

I’ve been playing music almost all my life, but only writing and creating music seriously in the last 5 years. I’ve been playing lead guitar in a band called Magic Hour (http://myspace.com/magichourmusic) here at school, writing little electronica songs for fun, and remixing as of September 2007. My first remix was Ra Ra Riot’s “Ghost Under Rocks,” which I can safely say I was beyond proud of when I finished it. With only a groundwork of recording/mixing knowledge and experience writing sequenced drum/synth parts, I couldn’t believe how cool it sounded. And it all happened in a week. The feedback I got from friends and even blogs inspired me to get into remixing.

What are you listening to and liking right now?

The most recent incarnation of my musical taste involves:

Justice - ✝
Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell (I promise, I’m going to buy it)
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Jukebox The Ghost - Let Live And Let Ghosts
Coconut Records - Coconut Records
Radiohead - In Rainbows

What upcoming things are you doing?

1) A really cool remix of a song called “Juno” off of Tokyo Police Club’s new album that I co-produced with the guys and girls of Ra Ra Riot. It features some beautiful string parts, quirky bass, riffy guitar, a hodge-podge of percussion, and some incredible new melodies– sung and mostly performed by the band members of Ra Ra Riot. I’m really proud of the way this one came out, and it will be featured on a remix EP alongside Elephant Shell. (http://tokyopoliceclub.com)

2) A song called “Long Lean Queen” by Bear Hands, an up and coming, fantastic Brooklyn indie/garage band. (http://myspace.com/bearhandsband)

3) A brand new, unreleased Snowden song called “Red Handed” off their new album, which is still in production right now. I’m very excited for this one. (http://snowden.info)

4) And just today, I heard back from Tigercity. I hadn’t heard of them until a few nights ago when my band played a show in Rochester, NY, opening for them and VHS or Beta. They remind me a lot of Phoenix, fused with the sounds of Prince and Michael Jackson. Definitely check it out. (http://myspace.com/tigercity)

Anything you’d like to say as a non sequitur to end this interview fashionably?

I took a poll of my roommates for an answer. This was the winning non sequitur:
“Music is cool and all, but the best thing to remix is sexual positiions.” - Chris D’Errico

You owe it to yourself to check him out at his site: http://www.andrewmaury.net

and over at RAC’s site: http://theremixcompany.co.uk/

and listen to his remix of Nude by Radiohead.

http://radioheadremix.com/remix/?id=434

And so I’d like to conclude by saying Andrew Maury is one cool dude and we at The Tape hope to hear good things from him soon. And thanks to him so much for doing the interview!

Category: Interviews

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