Everyone loves an alt-pop bop, right? Right. Then you’ll want to get familiar with rising popster mazie.
Dedicated to her first year living in the bright lights and starry ambition of Los Angeles, ‘All I Ever Wanted (Was You)’ is about holding up a mirror to her relationships with her friends, in a world where people would quickly enter and exit at will. It’s also Really Very Good Indeed – and coming off the back of her acclaimed ‘Rainbow Cassette’ EP, certainly not a one-off, either. Pull up a chair and find out more.
Hello mazie! How’s it going? What are you up to today?
Hi! I’m very good! Going to the studio today.
What first sparked your interest in music?
I’m not sure if there was one thing in particular – I just remember always being obsessed with singing. I loved Disney soundtracks, singing everything at church, or singing with my grandmother 24/7 when I was little. I was always very drawn to music.
When did you start to write songs of your own?
I remember writing my first song when I was 9 years old, but I didn’t really start trying to write real songs until about 15. I met my neighbour, Elie Rizk, who had a recording studio in his house, and I started writing songs 24/7 after we met.
Do you have anywhere you particularly like to write?
I just moved to a new apartment, and I made myself an amazing little studio. It’s right in front of these big windows with all my plants, and I’ve really been loving writing there.
What’s your process like?
My process is all over the place. If I’m by myself, I start at the piano and noodle around with chords and melodies until something sticks. I keep a running log of any song ideas I might have and usually draw from there to start writing something. But I feel like I really shine when working with other collaborators – I love making music with other people. It helps the creative flow so much!
Did it take long for you to find your sound? Do you think you have found it?
Oh my god, yes. Elie and I have been making music together for the last seven years. In that time, we’ve made about four different projects together. Every project has been drastically different and the first handful of years working together was dedicated to finding a “sound”.
I’ve been working on a new project, and I really feel like I’ve hit my stride and found a sound that is genuinely me. I’m so excited to start sharing these new songs I’ve been working on
Tell us about your latest single ‘all I ever wanted (was you)’ – where did it come from?
I wrote this song with Elie right before I went on tour. We wrote the whole thing acoustically, and I didn’t track anything until months later. I had gone through a bit of heartbreak and was so, so bitter. I just wanted to pour every ounce of bitterness into one song, so I could put it all in one place and move on. It was an extremely cathartic process.
Is being a musician living up to the hype? What’ve been your highlights so far?
Absolutely! There is nothing else I’d rather be doing with my life. I think the main highlight is being able to create and develop my artistry every single day. It is such a blessing to be able to do music full-time, and I am so grateful for the life I am living as a creative.
Are you creative in non-musical ways too?
A little! My favourite creative outlet outside of music is fashion. I’m obsessed with fashion and, especially, sustainable fashion. I only shop second-hand and love creating a very personalised wardrobe for myself. I love photography and have a little Konika point and shoot that I’ll bring out sometimes. I’m really trying to get into video editing right now and learning how to produce – both are so hard and very out of my wheelhouse, but I’m working on it!
Music aside, what do you do for fun?
Lately, I’ve been playing this game Horizon, and I literally can’t get enough. When I don’t have to be working on something, I am immediately turning on the PS4 and playing Horizon, haha.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am actually in the process of wrapping my first long-form project. It’s taken the last six months to work through and has been the most gratifying and challenging thing I have ever worked on.
I’m also collaborating on a visual project to go along with it (with @jozikworld), and that has also been incredible. My visuals are so important to me, so being able to have a long-form audio and visual project is a dream come true.
Who do you think is the most exciting band or musician around right now?
Honestly, I am so effing excited about my friends Julia Cooper, Judith, and Georgee. They inspire me so much, and I see them working so hard every day. I can’t wait for the world to know them and their music.
Tell us a secret about yourself?
I am terrified of aeroplane bathrooms. I can’t explain why there’s just something about them that is so, so scary to me. I feel like I’m going to drop through the floor? I don’t know. I haven’t used one in like seven years. It doesn’t matter how long the flight is; I just can’t bring myself to use an aeroplane bathroom.
mazie’s single ‘all I ever wanted (was you)’ is out now.
