Feature: MAUMAUMAU Decodes “God Bless The Irony”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "God Bless The Irony" and the story it tells?
“God Bless the Irony” is one of the singles from my album, ‘Mauch,’ a concept album about self-discovery through a breakup. The song is a vulnerable yet goofy take on online dating, how hard it is to feel like a person when you’re just another number in the pool of possibilities, and the irony of participating in the opposite end of the exchanges and seeing potential partners under the same lens. The music video we just put out is a goofy and satirical depiction of the self-deprecating experience that online dating can be.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for this song to life?
It all actually started with a sample from a friend's Instagram video. Louis Futon posted a drum sample online and asked if anyone wanted to do something with it. I loved the sound and the fill at the beginning, and it kind of kicked off the guitar riff from the intro in my head. He was kind enough to send it over and let me work my music into it. After doing a demo to get my vision somewhat ready to go, I hit a creative wall to get it to sound just right. I hit up my friend Steve Pagano, and he loved the idea. He saw where I wanted to take it. We got in the studio for two sessions and made what you hear now. There was a lot of playing with guitar sounds and layers of synths and sampling little textures here and there to make the song sound unique. In fact, when we got to the outro part of the song, we thought of maybe doing a face-melting guitar solo to really punctuate the ridiculousness of it all, and I remember playing around with it for a bit and it not feeling right. We brainstormed what the song needed, and after half an hour, I asked Steve if it would be ridiculous to use old arcade and toy gun sounds to replace the idea of the solo. We played around with a bunch of sounds till we found the right parts, and well, if you pay attention to the last section after the final chorus, you can hear the beeps and boops of the arcade solo. I think it brings the whole song to life.
What was your favorite moment in making the music video?
I’ve always struggled to find visuals that keep up with my goofiness. I’ve also been fortunate enough to work with directors who love my music and have their own vision for it; however, it has never really quite fit my personality. My best friend, Cloud Campos, is an incredible creative director and I was finally able to tackle a music video with him. We invited a bunch of friends and came up with the most unhinged things to put me through, and then problem-solved from there. Long winded answer, but the context is important, hahaha. My favorite moment was the very first transition from jumping out of the room and figuring out how the dummy being chucked through the hallway was going to pair up with everything. We were unsure how it would look on camera or if it would even line up or make sense. After a couple of hefty throws and foam-curdling hits, we finally found our stride, and we couldn't stop laughing at the ridiculousness—definitely a core memory.
Can you share a bit about your musical background and the journey that led you to where you are today?
It's been quite the journey, but what a wonderful one it’s been. I was born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico. I always had an affinity towards music but hated learning in general. I just hated being told what to do or the monotony of repetition in practice, so any kind of musical inclination I had I had it by ear. I was bad. But it sounded kind of good? My parents insisted I take classes, but I resisted them with all my being. The itch for music was there, though. I felt connected to it and understood when playing it for others. Fast forward a bunch of important moments and experiences; I ended up applying to Berklee College of Music in 2010 and somehow got accepted with no musical background. I was elated. Then I got there… I was humbled. I found my strengths and place in songwriting, even though I'm still working to make a name for myself, hahaha. I love making music, though. I love exploring my feelings and trying to crack the code on how to help others navigate theirs. It’s a crazy passion, but one I can't imagine living without. Music is medicine to me, and I just want to distribute it in convenient gel tablets (or 2-3 minute doses of musical goodness).
Your lyrics often tell stories. Can you talk about your approach to storytelling through music?
They do! The storytelling is what really drew me to music. I grew up with a bad case of clinically diagnosed ADHD. I often felt misunderstood and couldn’t find a way to communicate my thoughts and emotions. Music was the first thing that allowed me the space to feel profoundly seen and understood by another human. I remember listening to Dave Matthews and Radiohead and feeling connected to songs like Ants Marching or 2+2=5. I became obsessed with how music made me feel and how seen and understood I felt by certain songs. I feel like my approach with my songs and artistry always comes from self-exploration, where I wrestle with thoughts or themes or feelings and polish them to a point where I feel like others can piggyback off of my words and navigate their feelings through my songs. I like to think that I suffer the grueling hyperfixation of uncomfortable topics on certain songs so that people can easily navigate their feelings when they choose to connect deeply with my songs.
“Mouth Breather” was a deep dive into the chaos of the COVID lockdown and the mixed feelings of fear, compassion, and resistance to authority that happened in America and the world with the Black Lives Matter protests.
“Happy” is about the complicated feelings of fighting with your partner. It is about trying to quiet the Ego to remember that you love this person and that even though the conflict can sometimes get out of hand if we can refocus, the truth is we just want our partner to be happy despite us.
“God Bless the Irony,” the single we are here to talk about, is about the goofy, frustrating, and hypocritical experience of online dating and not feeling good enough for anyone while also not feeling like anyone is good enough for us.
I hope you enjoy “God Bless the Irony.” May it become the soundtrack to moments in your life, and hopefully, it will spark your curiosity to check out the rest of the songs I’ve released.