MAIRA: Fascinated by the story of a dog that remained loyal to his master who was killed by his own creation

MAIRA

Useful links:

www.facebook.com/Mairatheband
www.maira.bandcamp.com
www.twitter.com/MairatheBand
www.soundcloud.com/Mairatheband

The Band:

Reini - Guitar /

Mario - Bass, Keys, Vocals /

Johannes - Drums /

Max - Guitar /

Matthias - Guitar (sub.)

Interview with radikaliai.lt (2016 10 27).

You worked with a plethora of artists over the years. What collaborations were/are the most interesting and important to You and why?

Our first foreign gig in Misano Adriatico (Italy) near Rimini was a very pleasant experience. We had the chance to share our music, and learned a lot about their scene and the cultural background, most notably from “Built in Obsolescence” the hosting act of this festival.

We also enjoyed sharing a stage with very interesting artists, such as Tengil, Ottone Pesante, The First Lights and others …

      
Can you tell me, in short the main ideas behind your music? Could you name your favorite compositions / albums / collaborations?

Each one of us comes with different influences, making it a big pool of names. Amongst the main influences we have post rock/blackgaze/shoegaze bands, such as „Deafheaven“, „maybeshewill“, „Radiohead“, „Godspeed you!Black Emperor“, „Wolves in the throne room“ and „Alcest“.

Next to our main genres we also hear so many different styles of music such as: Alternative (Feeder, Blur …) Ambient (Brian Eno …); Classic (Chopin, Ennio Morricone …); Hardcore (Boysetsfire, Enter Shikari …); Metalcore (Architects, Bring me the horizon …); and Progressive Rock (Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree …); Furthermore we enjoy the classics from the 60s throughout the 80s and 90s, even Jazz and Hip Hop and so many more …

But the most we try to unburden our own hearts to this musical project.

What about the new album?

The new EP tells the beginning of a story about our society and the fast moving time in which we live. But more closer to a later time, because the story moves on!

The sound is magic. You had proved it. But, what ends, when there‘s no sound?

Silence is as important as sound. Music is driven by emotion, everyone feels it differently, and sometimes less sound is more expressive.

We try to compose our music with this in mind, and go one step beyond by trying to let the melodies speak for themselves, by using not too many lyrics. And when the music ends, the listeners are left alone with their own impression.

What is and what is not a Sound Art?

This is a question unworthy of such a short answer. The borders of art are blurry. All periods of history show attempts to define art. Ours would be, that Art comes from experience (and is experience), it opens doors to new paths for our mind, to walk along, if we wish so.

What do you think about relations between the old art and computer art? Are they compatible?

Art should not be made for comparisons. In the end we decide for ourselves if it´s interesting or not. There is no difference, it's like cooking water in a pan or a pot. It’s just different paths towards a same aspiration.

What do you think about the thousands of electronic/neofolk/industrial/ambient/tribal/electroacoustic/avangarde etc. bands/projects? Is it a kind of trend, or just a tendency forwards better music?

The evolution of music is moving forward and demands time.

All these genres are strange „by nature“ and have yet to enter our acoustic normality. They make short work of accustomed habits of listening, amaze again and again with surprising changes of rhythm, unexpected shifts of harmony and suversive-ironic reinterpretations and have thereby won for themselves an audience. Every trend develops, and has a tendency to move forward towards „other“ music.

What do You know about Lithuania? What Lithuanian and foreign musicians do You value most?

Sadly not a lot, it´s not a scene that gets resonance around here. Some time ago we heard of the Postcosmos festival in Lithuania/Vilnius though. We’ve seen some videos of this experimental/post rock/electronica driven festival. It seemed very interesting.

What inspires You most?

Everything in our lifes gives us inspiration. Conversations, nature, beauty, every person we meet and every good or bad experience and turn we take.

We like watching movies, listening to records and some of us are into drawing and writing. Each member of MAIRA has a different character, history and musical background, so we try to inspire and complement each other.

What are You working on right now?

After the release of our EP we try to focus on new songs and experiences for our upcoming album. We’re also, of course, planning for further live events.

What does Your band name mean to You? What ideology/religion/worldview do You follow?

Originally the name MAIRA derives from Greek mythology. Maira was the hound of Icarios of Athens and Erigone, his daughter.
Icarios was a follower of the wine god Dionysus and had been taught how to make wine.

As he was killed by drunken shepards, he was found by Erigone with the help of their dog. In her grief she hanged herself after burying her father. As the loyal dog he was, MAIRA remained on his masters grave and starved to death.

After his passing he became a part of the Starry Sky as SIRIUS.

Some of us grew up in a sector of lower Austria called „Weinviertel“ (wine quarter), and we were fascinated by the story of a dog that remained loyal to his master who was killed by his own creation (wine).

In reference of this story we have chosen the name „MAIRA“ and included the constellation of SIRIUS in our logo.

Shortly after our group decided on this name and concept, we were visited by a stray dog (a husky) in our garden during a band practice.