Miaoux Miaoux: 'we’ve already found parts that are impossible to play'

Jasmine Phull catches up with Glaswegian sound pioneer Miaoux Miaoux to talk writing, singing, and gigging with a band, ahead of his forthcoming performance at Brew at the Bog, Inverness.

Mike Warburton

Last updated: 29th Apr 2013

Photograph: Vito Andreoni

Graduating from debut to sophomore is always as much about the journey as the outcome. Glasgow-based producer Miaoux Miaoux creates soundscapes that infiltrate the mind offering poppy indie electro sounds decorated in vocals. It’s a melodic, fine-tuned development that waves goodbye to the young musician’s instrumental, sampled based beginnings but with it new challenges are brought to light. Translating such a complex melange to the live-stage is something that needs to be seen to be believed.

Jasmine Phull speaks to Miaoux Miaoux ahead of his Brew at the Bog gig.

Your debut album Rainbow Bubbles was released in 2009 and in 2012 you released Light of the North. What’s one thing you did differently the second time around and why?
Well, the first time around I self-released the record – actually myself and a friend set up a label – and for Light of the North I worked with Chemikal Underground Records, which was a huge step up. I guess that came with a change in the sound as well. Rainbow Bubbles was a completely instrumental / sample based record. Light of the North has loads of vocals.

What significant life change affected the newest offering?
I was having a rough time in my last relationship, and that’s where most of the lyrics came from. I wanted to make something with a bigger sound, and a broader scope, and also tie together lots of different genres within the one album, but have it work as a single listen, like a mixtape. I think it more or less does.

As an artist whose music oscillates between a variety of genres, from trance to experimental, how easy is it to translate your sound onto the live stage?
Yeah, pretty tricky! I’ve been gigging solo for the last few years, with a couple of band gigs here and there but I’ve just got together a new band for this year’s festivals, and will be gigging with them full time from now on. They’re great; they’ve helped to bring the sound out a bit more. That said, I’m not writing with a band in mind, and we’ve already found parts that are pretty much impossible to play.

You’re performing at Brew at the Bog in May, what is your method behind preparing your set?
I took a few of the most upbeat songs on the record and sped them up. It will be pretty full-on party music.

Your musical direction has changed somewhat since the first album, who were your main musical influences while working on Light of North?
Probably Apparat, Chris Clark, Deerhoof, Ricardo Villalobos, Prefuse 73, James Holden, Sigur Ros – at least, those are a few of the artists that I was consciously imitating / ripping off.

Who or what is your biggest musical influencer now?
Well I mentioned Deerhoof, and they’re probably my favourite band, and a big influence in terms of approach and attitude. They do exactly what they like and have a blast doing it. Sound-wise, probably CHVRCHES, Baths and Julia Holter.. I’m really into a band called American Football, the guitar playing is fantastic.

In three words describe your music:
Aquamarine voltage rush

Last song you listened to?
Right now I’m listening to Fennesz – ‘Black Sea’

First album you bought?
First album was probably ‘Hits 96’ on double cassette, if that counts as an album. First artist album was the Spice Girls record.

What next?
I’ve built a new studio and am working on a new EP. Plus rehearsing and playing with the new band. Lots of new stuff!