As Siobhan Mazzei releases her incredible new single, ‘I’m Not Scared’, she talks LITM’s Annie Rew Shaw through its backstory and her future plans
Mesmerising, melancholic guitar riffs and crystalline vocals intertwine in Siobhan Mazzei’s ethereal new single ‘I’m Not Scared’. The fourth track from her new EP ‘Consumed by Chaos’, the track is a slow build, gradually evolving into a raw, grungy pinnacle that seems to defy the bounds of genre. I had a chat to Siobhan to find out more about her musical beginnings, how the EP was recorded and why she wouldn’t say no to a Slipknot collaboration…
Discovered via http://musosoup.com
Annie) Hi Siobhan! Can you tell me a bit about your musical journey so far?
Siobhan) Hello! And sure! I've been playing in bands since I was about 14, mostly playing lead guitar. Then I dabbled in songwriting and it sort of escalated from there. I started performing at open mics around 18 years old and have basically been trying to ‘make it’ since!
I’m totally mesmerised by your single ‘I’m Not Scared’ – it’s a really hypnotic track. What’s the inspiration behind the song?
Thank you! I try to keep my music open to interpretation and leave it to the audience to decide what the track is about. However, for me, the track was myself talking to my inner demons and trying to fight them.
The track is part of your new EP, ‘Consumed By Chaos’. What was the recording process like?
It was great! We recorded at Tiny Studios with Neil Segrott over two days. It was the first time I hadn't used a click track to record – me and the drummer just played the tracks together one by one and then the rest was added. It was lovely, though, and gave the whole EP a natural feel. Plus there were plenty of cups of tea, so that was a bonus!
Your music interweaves so many different styles and sounds. If you could collaborate with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
What a wonderful question! And a tough one to boot. I think I'd like to collaborate with someone totally unexpected and different to myself – like Slipknot or Beyoncé – take people by surprise! I love a good twist.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Well, I've had a lot of advice over the years but I guess the best one has to be along the lines of ‘don't undersell yourself’ and ‘don't say yes to everything’. So many artists just want to break through at any cost, including themselves. I used to be like this and it's bit me on the behind a few times working with people I shouldn't have or played gigs that actually didn't benefit me whatsoever.
What have you got lined up for the rest of the year?
I’m playing at several festivals throughout the year, including Timber Festival on 5 July, Barefoot Festival on 28 July, Woodfest on 10 August and Ragefest on 10 November. Ultimately I want to write some more and release another EP!