Interview with Madi Mai

East London-based singer-songwriter Madi Mai has just released her ambitious Indie/Alt-Rock single ‘Anti-Clockwise’, recorded and released by Instinctive Behaviour. Having written music her whole life, she's now teamed up with seasoned producer Major - a former MC and signed artist to Sony Music Entertainment, who has worked with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Soul II Soul, Tricky and Ciara. I caught up with Madi Mai to talk all about her new single 'Anti-Clockwise', the inspiration behind her lyrics and her plans for the future.

Hi Madi, how are you?

Hi! I’m doing good, thanks. These past few weeks have been crazy.

How would you describe your sound to the readers?

My sound has a little mix of everything. I’m mostly inspired by indie/rock and you can definitely hear that in my music. It’s like an indie, rock vibe with a blend of pop.

How did your musical journey start?

I’ve always been making music! I wrote my first ever song at the age of 11, but before then I was performing in small pubs and venues from the age of 5. I was born into a very musical family so music is definitely in my roots. At the age of 15 I was spotted by producer Major after I wrote a song about knife crime. Major and I got together to bring the song to life, and we just went on from there really. I’m 18 now and we’ve been working together ever since. We spend a lot of time in the studio together and we’re currently working towards releasing my debut album.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

My dad exposed me to a lot of rock bands when I was young, from Iron Maiden to Metallica. I think this inspired me to experiment with heavier rock sounds. I also love Green Day, Lana Del Rey, David Bowie, Kate bush - their vocals and writing have had such an impact on myself as an artist.

Your new song ‘Anti-Clockwise’ is out now, congratulations! How was the process of creating this song for you? Was it one that came naturally to you? Writing Anti-Clockwise came very naturally to me! I was at home one day when Major sent me a track to write to. I was immediately inspired by my own life as a teenager - how sometimes things go wrong and our teenage years can get a bit messy. When I’m about to write a song, I always note down words or lines which sound nice, even if they don’t make sense. Then, I can develop from those ideas and begin to construct a verse or a chorus idea. I wanted to write something raw and relatable, and not long after I ended up with Anti-Clockwise. When I’m with Major, working on a song is always great. It’s hard work but we always have a laugh and put our ideas together. We spent a lot of time laying down vocals and perfecting the song, but it was worth it! I love how it sounds.

Can you explain more about the inspiration behind the lyrics for this song?

Growing up isn’t always easy and so many songs nowadays romanticise teenage years. Those songs made me feel like I was missing out on something, because when me and my friends would hang out, it didn’t always go to plan and sometimes things go wrong. I really wanted to reflect that in Anti-Clockwise - things get a little hopeless but that’s just life, and it’s okay.

Do you have a favorite lyric or line?

“Things get a little hopeless” and “We’ll lose track of time” are important lyrics to me. I think it really highlights how things can spiral out of control.

What’s next for you?

I’m going to be out gigging and performing live a lot more! I’m always updating my social media with upcoming events I’ll be performing at. I’m still writing when I get time away from my A-Level studies. Currently we’re in the process of finishing my first ever album, so look out for that!

And lastly, what have you been listening to recently? Can you recommend anything to us?

I’ve been listening to a lot of the Gorillaz lately - On Melancholy Hill is my favourite song. They have such a unique sound, you just know when it’s a Gorillaz song.

You can listen to 'Anti-Clockwise' now on your preferred streaming platform, and follow Madi Mai on social media to keep up with her music and latest releases.

Listen to 'Anti-Clockwise' on Spotify here.

Follow Madi Mai on Spotify here.

Follow Madi Mai on Instagram here.

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