In this interview feature, we get to know the most radicalist up and coming stars on the planet.

This time around, we’re discovering exactly what makes the Auckland-based electronic artist So Below tick. From whispering quietly into a microphone and experimenting with Garage Band in her bedroom to opening for The Naked And Famous, New Zealand artist Maddie North has come a long way over the past few years. Her music has also undergone something of a transformation, which comes clearly to light when we compare the dark, quiet textures of debut ‘Drift’ (which match her self-chosen “gothpop” label in every way) to recent release ‘Ruin’ which combines sparkling club beats and her blossoming vocal.

In addition to her esoteric rise as So Below, North has teamed up with studio accomplices Sam McCarthy (aka BOYBOY) and Aaron Short (of The Naked And Famous) for a brand new project called Space Above. Listening to the results of this triad, such as ‘Fall Through’ and ‘Let It Still’, you can hear the ever-expanding world of Maddie North’s musicianship with pulsating electronics and her gossamer voice.

Returning our focus back to solo project So Below; this year we’ve been treated to the artist’s first dance track ‘Ruin’ and a mesmeric cover of Now, Now’s single ‘SGL’. These two offerings almost stand at polar ends. One is hedonistic and extrovert, reaching fast-paced BPMs not before heard from So Below. The other is soft, swaying and presents us with an understated ambience akin to Christine and the Queens. It seems as though So Below could head in either direction from here, perhaps she will continue to pursue both, offering listeners music to both lose and find themselves in.

***

TMR: Hey Maddie, thanks for speaking with TMR. First of all, we’d love to know, how did the So Below project come about?

Basically I started using Garage Band a number of years ago and whispering into microphones in my room at night haha. I eventually showed some of my demos to friends who were also musicians and they liked it and helped me work on some songs and that's about it!

TMR: Each of your songs are tagged with “gothpop”, why did you choose this label?

Well I thought it sounded funny, coz when you put stuff on Soundcloud you have to add a genre. I had one friend label his music as 'Space Tech' and another as 'Sun Kissed' so I wanted to also write a silly genre. Seems to have stuck though lol.

TMR: The first song we heard from you was ‘Drift’, which we likened as a mix between Nine Inch Nails and Grimes, but who do you cite as your main influences?

That's so awesome coz I'm a massive fan of both those artists! For that song I think I was listening to Caribou a lot, which is weird coz 'Drift' sounds nothing like them haha.



TMR: I suppose The Naked and Famous have also had a great impact on your musicianship, especially since you’ve joined Sam McCarthy and the band’s Aaron Short as Space Above. How does the experience of being in a trio compare to working alone?

Well I would say pretty similar as I work with Sam and Aaron on my own stuff also. I suppose it's more with Space Above, Aaron takes the reigns whereas for my stuff I drive the direction more :D

TMR: Recently, we’ve been enjoying the sweet, mellifluous sounds of your Now, Now cover. Why did you want to record your own version of ‘SGL’?

I don't really know but I did a The Naked And Famous cover ages ago and it was fun coz I made it super different to the original. I was driving in my car the day after ‘SGL’ came out and I said to myself "I gotta do a cover of this!", so I locked myself in my room for 8 hours and then showed it to Aaron Short and he put some jazzy fun production on it!

TMR: Aside from that gorgeous cover, you also released a new song called ‘Ruin’ just last month, which transports the listener to some underground club time-travelling between the 1980s and now. What inspired you to make this comparatively upbeat track?

It’s super about the mood you're in on the day. I think that day I suppose we sat down and thought “let's write a dance track!” Also we had all just finished watching Stranger Things, so our heads were full of beasts from other dimensions and teen angst lololol.

TMR: Would you say there’s a favourite song of yours from the So Below project? Why?

From what I've released? I would say... ‘Hard’. It’s just to me exactly the sound I've been wanting to achieve in a track. It’s dark and aggressive but feminine also. Super duper proud of that baby.



TMR: Do you prefer writing and recording in the studio or playing live on stage?

They're both so different, and both feel awesome once it’s complete. But I get hella stage fright especially about forgetting lyrics haha. I suppose it's more relaxing sitting in a room with your friends writing a song, looking like crap and making dumb jokes.

TMR: What has been your favourite live show to date?

Probably when I opened up for TNAF in Auckland, it was the biggest show I've played and all my friends and family were there. Lots of cool people came up to me afterwards and said nice stuff :D

TMR: Finally, what does the rest of the year hold in store for So Below?

More shows, more music, and I have a music video coming out in a few weeks for Ruin xx



-Hannah Thacker

(Main photo: Nina Jordan)