Local West Cumbrian Band
Mazzoni
It's been five years since local Whitehaven band Mazzoni burst onto the West Cumbrian music scene with their exciting indie/pop/rock sound. Since their inception the band have changed somewhat and certainly matured sound wise during their spell and it looks like 2011 could be an interesting year for them.
Fine lyrics along with bang-on harmonies are the order of day for Mazzoni, the vocals are delivered with almost telepathic synchronisity from 29 year olds Rothers and Tubby.
I'm a fan, I always have been and really appreciate and respect the song writing skills possessed by the lads.
In fact one of my all-time favourite songs is Wasted, what makes this song (recording) so special is not just the beautiful strings on the acoustic but the song from start to finish is superb. Another of Mazzonis songs that elaborates and showcases their song-writing and arranging skills is Village Bicycle.
Seriously, here are two songs that in ten years time will be as good and relevant as they are today.
I caught up with a few of the old timers Rothers - Tubby and Proudy to see what they had in store for 2011.
Your sound has changed somewhat over the years. With different people coming and going has this changed the sound?
'It has to an extent but we where always going to change, we see it as evolution' says 30 year old Mark Rothery ' we are so committed to it and we put so much time into it, we still enjoy what we do and will continue to push the boundaries which inevitably will see the band grow and change for the better.'
Bassist, 21 year old Proudy says: "I was apprehensive when I joined Mazzoni, now I couldn't be more confident and feel that we have the right set up and the right vibe. I listen back to old demos and still find myself surprised on how far we have come"
You started out 5 years ago with zest, vibe and passion, is that still there?
27 year Guitarist and backing vocalist Tubby says: "definitely, we are and have always been passionate, especially when it comes to writing songs and being creative. I still feel the same excitement and passion as when we first started out".
Are you where you want to be at this moment in time?
Your always looking to get to the next step on the ladder' says 31 year old Rothers.
What is the highlight of the last few years?
Tubby - I enjoyed the London gig, we played at The Water rats in London, when your in a venue like that and you can shout out, 'Is there anyone in from Kells? and a massive cheer goes up' laughing, its a good sign.
32 year old Rothers says: "The best for me would have been Cockrock 2009, it was a brilliant gig. We played in a small tent, Tent 42, but it was full to capacity, you couldn't move. The atmosphere was intense."
Everyone in that tent was watching, listening and singing along in some cases, it was one of them gigs that you see on Telly every night of the week, it was absolutely mint.
Proudy says: "Ive got two actually, the whole thing of going down to London and getting to play was great and also our EP Launch, recording it, launching it, it was the two things for me that was taking it to the next level."
How was 2010?
We started out quite slow and the second half of the year we where busy as ever' Says Tubby.
"It's been nice to take it easy and concentrate on other aspects as opposed to just gigging.
We had a few blinding gigs and a few terrible ones, we supported Twisted Wheel one night which was blinding and the next night we travelled to Newcastle for an all-dayer. There where about three people at the gig and three of them where with us. It was a shambles, especially after such a high with Twisted Wheel where people are screaming at the front going mental demanding set lists."
You played the local festivals in 2010 what do you have lined up for this year?
33 year old Rothers says: "We will be playing few different festivals starting off with The Dirty Dozen Festival at Millom, the event is brilliant and looks fantastic.
Twelve bands over Twelve hours and it sells out every time, I've checked it out on You Tube and it looks immense."
Regarding Ep's what have you got planned for 2011?
We are hoping to get to Prague where we will record our next Ep, this will have new tracks on that we haven't recorded in the past,' explains Tubby. "You will recognise a few songs from our latest gigs other than that it's new material."
Which new bands are you looking to for inspiration?
34 year old Rothers says: "I don't really think there is much to shout about at the moment, Detroit Social Club are a decent band and Twisted Wheel are a band which are a really underrated."
Tubby says: "the bands that do it for me have been around for years like the Artic Monkeys, they still inspire. But I don't see anyone new that offer something totally different."
Proudy - I don't listen to new bands.
Do you all write as a band?
35 year old Rothers - we tend to bring songs in individually, bring them to practice and learn new songs in threes, we all throw our little bits in and the songs develop from there.'
Five years is a long time to be in a band, what has kept you going for so long?
36 year old Rothers says: "The reason for me is that I believe in what we are doing, if I thought we where rubbish I wouldn't bother but I think that we are alright.
With a bit of luck we could probably do alright, I know it sounds corny but I enjoy it and if we where still doing exactly the same thing as where a few years ago and we had not moved on I would have walked away. But I believe in it and enjoy it."
"The last few months things have really come together, we are all in the right frame of mind" explains Proudy. "We have had out ups and downs but now we are better than we have ever been, everyone is more committed and we are more like a band that means something, its like a new band but we have got all this experience, it has taken five years to get where we are, we have fought to get where we are and the results and where we are now have proven that it is worth fighting for.
Mazzoni have some brilliant songs under their belt, personally I find it more than frustrating that this local band have not moved on to bigger and better things. I don't doubt they will as they have all of the components to go onwards.
They have the talent - they have the passion and they have the will and apparently Tubby has a recording machine, but I'm doubtful of that machine.
Is 2011 a year where Mazzoni will raise their game an notch up an extra gear?
Proudy - "we will have a number one by July!"
29 year old Mark Rothery says: "Up a gear at least, the time for excuses is gone now, if we don't do anything now its our own fault, we need to get our Ep out, videos sorted, tour sorted out, the time for excuses has gone, there's no more, there's no more..."
Mazzoni are supporting Detroit Social Club at Gallaghers on the 19th Febuary
