We speak to London-based Brazilian musician and producer Muca of Muca & La Marquise about his collaboration with La Marquise on ‘October Blues’ – and how the song’s incredible animated video came about.
Words by Chris Sharpe
Discovered via http://musosoup.com
Chris) First off, how the devil are you? Please tell us how your magical musical partnership was born.
Muca) I’m good, thanks! Strange times but keeping positive. This partnership came up when we first met in Hackney at music school. I was doing too much of production only and had plenty of music I wanted to develop and put out there. When I saw La Marquise singing, I just knew she could deliver an amazing vocal performance. We then started writing songs together, and that’s how it all came together.
Can you break down your latest track, ‘October Blues’, for us?
My songwriting process normally starts with a guitar idea, a chord progression or a melody. With ‘October Blues’, it was a chord progression. As a composer and music producer, I then start to foresee how that would sound in my head as a finished song, so I then start developing it.
Then I called La Marquise into the studio and we started to jam for a bit. Musically speaking, we work quite well and she can be quite fast on recording vocals. All the tracks for the album were recorded with guitars and ‘guide’ vocals only, and I worked all the rest on top of that, which is unusual. I then got George Vallack on drums, Vinnie Colla on bass and Jonathon Holder on keys. They’re great musicians and they delivered an amazing performance. Then I mixed it all in my Hackney studio, the Secret Warehouse of Sound. It was fairly easy to mix, having such good performance and musicianship.
Each of your three singles all have a different style to them. Can you tell us the influences that are helping you create your craft?
I’m obviously bringing loads of my Brazilian influences and roots – bossa and samba rock – but also some jazzy and even pop ones. I’d say it's a total mix from João Gilberto, Roberto Menescal, Tim Maia to Rickie Lee Jones, Jeff Buckley, Björk and others.
I wasn’t thinking much about a certain style to follow. I was more focused on writing songs that I felt something special about. That’s what this music project is about.
What’s the writing process like? Can you explain how everything comes together?
This project happened in two different ways. I’d bring a music idea and a sort of melody for La Marquise to listen to, and then add some lyrics and some of her melodies. We wrote some of the tracks by just jamming, and a great idea would come up. We wrote the track ‘London’ in 20 minutes on a sunny afternoon in London Fields park. We’d then record quickly on my phone to revisit a week or so later. I’d then work a bit more on the structure and time, and then we’d rehearse for a bit. Then we’d go to the studio and record guitars and vocals together. Most of the tracks for the album were recorded in two or three takes.
Are there any other musical projects you’re involved in?
I’m a bit crazy enough to get involved in several projects. I have my ’90s rock project, The Beatlux, who are releasing an EP early next year. Also there’s The LABRIT Project where I’m releasing a couple of tracks with Randolph Matthews. It’s sort of world-music/tribal with some remixes. He’s one of the best singers and performers that I’ve had the chance to work with. I'm super excited to be co-writing and producing for Alice Kennedy. It’s a sort of folk-pop and is seriously fascinating.
Did you have fun making the video for ‘October Blues’? How did you meet Tiago Judas, the painter and illustrator who animated the video?
That’s a long one. I’ve known him since we were kids back in Brazil. He’s always been ahead of his game as an artist and illustrator. I always wanted him to create an artwork for one of my guitars. And he came with the monster/dragon painted on my guitar that you see in the music video. It’s a character from one of his comic books, The Liquid Mystery and The Solid Fatality. Once he’d finished I thought about creating a simple lyric/music video with myself playing the guitar and a comic bubble coming out of the monster’s mouth – and he would speak the lyrics. But then we completely changed the idea and decided that I’d be only as a shadow playing the guitars and give space to the comic. We ended creating a sort of “animated” story, going through his comic book, which is seriously amazing as well. I had then Luan Palli putting it together by editing and creating the video, and Tom Casey filmed it.
I’m guessing an album or an EP is on its way. Have you set a release date?
Yes, we have a full album coming up in early 2021. Of course coronavirus messed up the world but I’m keeping it positive for a better 2021. Actually, the two main singles are yet to be released.
Is there any advice that you would offer new bands out there to help them on their way?
Get yourself a producer; someone with an uninfluenced view on your work and music. This will add massively to your art. Also work to deadlines. The number of people I know who are taking ages to release and get their work out there is crazy. That’s because there’s no one on their back forcing them to get things done. In arts, it’s extremely complicated when you have a commitment with only yourself. I’d also recommend studying music business.
What’s the plan for the next six months?
This year I’m releasing one more single for Muca & La Marquise, and we’re in the process of finishing another animation for one of the main singles. In December I’ll shoot the main single (if coronavirus allows) and I’m working on the release plan for the album and all the other projects I’m involved. It’s a tough one but really worth it!