Maika Makovski: Interview SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 16th 2010 11:24AM by María Lopez
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Multi-instrumentalist Maika Makovski's mixed heritage (she's equal parts Mallorcan, Macedonian and Andalucian) means she's lived a more nomadic life than most. Having settled in Barcelona (by way of New York), she's recorded her international debut LP, the self-titled 'Maika Makovski', with John Parish (PJ Harvey, Eels). Maika's already toured with the likes of Howe Gelb, the Dubliners and the Jayhawks and is looking forward to a stint at SXSW before hitting the road again. She caught up with Spinner to discuss her love of biker boots, Britney and Prince.

Describe your sound in your own words.

Caveman meets sex sweat meets schizophrenia... and love.

How did your band form?

I started writing music at 12, playing live at 13, but it wasn't until 2003 that I stopped wandering around the world and had the stability to form a band. I met David, the drummer first - it was just the two of us, simple drumming and distorted acoustic guitar banging, until 2004, when Luque, the bassist, joined us. I knew him through a friend, and the truth is he was pretty green and had a horrible five string bass guitar and heavy metal hair back then, but we trusted he would grow into the classy man he is now. We were sort of garagey, sort of careless at the time, then two years ago we felt the urge to expand our horizons and change our sound, so Xarim came into the picture, with lots of crazy slide guitar and Farfisa organ playing, and amazing hair, I must say. He left the band and now it's Oskar doing that.

What are your musical influences?

Everything I hear can be a musical influence, but it's never conscious, at least it hasn't been for years. I listen to really different things, from Della Reese to Tom Waits, from Dinah Washington to Giant Sand, from Nick Cave to Depeche Mode. I can't say there's one band or a series of bands that affect my sound directly, it wouldn't be true. Sometimes I listen to a song on the radio that makes me go "hm, there's a new angle for me to explore", and then I forget all about that song and keep only the concept, distort it, play with it. And having said that, I believe that what influences my music the most is life, not music.

What's your biggest vice?

I don't know about vices, I have many quirks though.

What's in your festival survival kit?

My Harley Davidson boots. I've had them for 11 years; they're indestructible. Lots of paper and pens, too.

Who was your first celeb crush?

Prince! I wanted to believe he was very tall, can you believe it?

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

I don't feel guilty about liking whatever music I like, but I get what you're saying, so an appropriate answer would be Britney Spears. Not the cheesy ballads, but the cheesy disco tunes.

Beatles or Stones?

Probably Stones, though every time I listen to a Beatles record I can't help but pay close attention to it and be amazed. They're still incredible arrangements and songs. The Stones feel less rational to me, more about blurting it out, and I guess I can listen to it from a more animalistic side of me, which is probably my idea of true pleasure.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

I can't tell you that!