.

.

Photo – @fayy.lilyy

.

Hey Maisie, Congratulations on the release of your latest single Pull The Rug! Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you get the song writing bug?
Thank you so much! I’ve always been surrounded by music in some way or another – my early beginnings with music were singing along to Ella Fitzgerald in the car with my grandad, and following that I signed up for saxophone lessons when I was about 9. I then bought a ukulele from a gift shop when I was on holiday in high school and learned to play some chords and sing some of my fave songs, and I guess things grew from there when I started writing my own songs. I didn’t begin to take it seriously at all until I realised that I feel the most like myself when I am writing and performing.

How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
The sound I’ve tried to create on Pull The Rug is a mix of my favourite elements of different styles – the intricacy of jazz, the cosiness of folk and the catchy melodies of pop. I think my sound is nostalgic and diverse. I like to describe it as sitting in the centre of the Venn diagram of First Aid Kit, Yebba and Fleetwood Mac – that’s what I’m trying to achieve anyway. I think people resonate with my music because I try, especially with the songs I’ve written most recently, to be honest and own all of the things I’m feeling about a situation. Some of my favourite songs I’ve written are about situations that could be black and white, but instead I use the song to explore the grey areas so that I can come to my own terms with it. I think people appreciate messy honesty because it’s something we can all relate to as humans who are all trying to make sense of life.

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
My favourite band, one that has had a huge influence on me throughout my time as musician and songwriter, is First Aid Kit, who are a Swedish folk duo. I have always admired how interesting and quirky their lyrics are. I guess because English isn’t their first language, sometimes the way they describe things in their songs is so unusual and definitely not how I’d put it, yet I know exactly what they mean and therefore their lyrics always breathe new life into familiar situations. I also have always loved the strength of their voices and their crystal clear harmonies, and the way that although they are defined as being a folk band, they are unafraid to brush against other genres – dipping into pop, rock and punk in different songs to capture and represent different moods. This has been hugely inspiring for me to see a folk artist pushing the boundaries of their genre and making it work in their favour.

.

.

Can you tell us more about the origin and evolution of Pull The Rug?
Pull The Rug is a song I wrote about being anxious at a house party! It’s basically me trying to explore my experience of being an overthinker who always tries to prepare for every outcome of every situation, only to be knocked back by the unexpected. It’s the result of me finally allowing myself to get honest and vulnerable about this side of myself and it was so cathartic to write, and continues to be so freeing and exciting to perform. PTR started as a simple acoustic tune and has since evolved to be the version you hear in the studio recording, chock full of so many instruments and layers that we carefully built up and up and up. It has quiet, delicate moments but also huge, loud, chaotic moments! That’s how big and intense and varied my emotions have always felt to me and I love that this song feels so representative of me.

Is there an EP on the drawing board?
There sure is! Pull The Rug is the first single from my upcoming EP, and there will be another single before the full release at the end of the year. The whole project is called “The Nothing But The Sun EP”. The sun represents the “good”, and each song explores this in a different aspect. A few examples are: trying your best despite struggles you’re facing behind the scenes, naively seeing the best in someone and then getting hurt, or reminiscing about someone who is no longer in your life and thinking of them fondly. Ultimately I believe that we’re all humans who are trying our best and for the most part people are good and have good intentions at heart. I’m looking forward to sharing this whole body of work so much!!

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 
I would love to add a fourth voice to Boygenius! They are such a fun and exciting supergroup and I’d be honoured to sing with them or even just spend time with them. They also have such bold and fun energy on stage and I’d love to soak some of that up.

.

.

Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist? 
I want to travel with my music and perform across the world. I am looking forward to releasing this EP so I can use it as a reason to plan some interstate solo shows. My biggest dream is to live in a cosy cottage on a big block of land, build my own studio there so I can make music all day long, and adopt lots of rescue animals and let them run around wherever they want.

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
My favourite thing about performing to a live audience is that you can get them involved in the show! Probably my favourite gig experience so far was when me and my band played at the Cranker last year to launch our song “Dreaming”. During one of my other songs “Onwards and Upwards” there’s a section at the end where the chords loop for as long as we feel like it, while everyone in the band jumps in and improvises and plays together and sometimes across each other in a big beautiful conversation of melodies. It swells and grows and at that particular gig I managed to engage the crowd so they would sing the simple repetitive main melody with me while the band was jamming. It was so magical to look out and see everyone looking so joyous and excited, people with their arms around their friends swaying and singing along to my song. Right at the end the band cut out and we all stood on stage and listened to the crowd singing for us. It was incredible and so exciting and touching. That’s the best part of making music – connecting with others.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Ruins by First Aid Kit
Artist – Phoebe Bridgers
Movie – Ladybird
Place to visit – The Botanic Garden here in Adelaide
Venue to play – The Jade
Food – Roast veggies and gravy
Drink – Tea
Person in History – Barack Obama
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?)  I have a beautiful book/candelabra tattoo that was done by the amazing @tattoosbychels!

.

.

About MAISIE B.

Maisie B. is a singer-songwriter and multi instrumentalist who weaves together her favourite elements of folk, jazz and indie pop into songs that are texturally rich and emotionally charged.

Maisie has an expansive musical resume; she has been performing her original music in Adelaide since 2017, initially as a soloist, and has supported notable local acts.

From 2018-2021 Maisie wrote, recorded and released her first DIY project “The Three Sugars EP”, which has allowed her to reach for and achieve several opportunities for further project creation. Alongside this, Maisie studied the Bachelor of Jazz Performance (saxophone), which is where she met the members of her 7 piece Maisie B. band, who she has been performing with since 2021.

Most recently, Maisie received funding in 2023 from the Helpmann Academy to record a new body of work with her band. “The Nothing But The Sun EP”, set to be released late 2024, is a project aiming to exist in the centre of the Venn diagram of First Aid Kit, Fleetwood Mac and Yebba.

.

.

Follow MAISIE B.
Spotify – Instagram – Tik Tok

.

Press Release 27th July 2024 (below) HERE

MAISIE B.
explores the feelings of
anxiety and overthinking in
‘PULL THE RUG’

.

.

AMNPLIFY – DB