INTERVIEW: madanes discusses his influences and future plans alongside new single ‘in love with Laura Ingraham [what’s wrong with me]’
Having already made his mark with a string of impactful releases over the years, fast-rising artist madanes recently returned to deliver his catchy new single ‘in love with Laura Ingraham [what’s wrong with me].
Filled with fun and infectious hooks from start to finish, his latest outing is another shining example of why so many have been flocking to him lately. So we caught up with him to find out more about his influences and what he has planned for the future.
–
What was the first rock song or artist that made an impact on you?
At kindergarten, I can remember myself standing on a big play-climbing car and singing it loud. The late Gary Eckstein, an Israeli musician and a brilliant guitar player that did rock a take-off on country music.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences within the rock genre?
Discovering Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown was my best “school” for writing songs. And of course, Ian Dury, who was the real pioneer of the punk attitude “it does not matter how you say it, but what you say”.
Are there any non-rock musicians or genres that have also influenced your music?
Tons… I am a vinyl collector, 6,000 records… and have been a DJ for 19 years. A friend calls me a “Russian composer” for my love for old Russian folk songs. Admire the music without understanding the lyrics.
Israel is an “ingathering of the exiles” which brought here amazing musicians from Europe and Arab countries and had a new language to compose music to. So, growing up in Israel gave me the gift of hearing many kinds of music.
Then came the “crossover” between them: Genius Alon Oleartchik, Jazz musician, Berkeley College of Music graduate, who mixed oriental into jazz and rock. And Dudu Tassa who has collaborated for a few years now with Jonny Greenwood, whose grandfather and grandfather’s brother were the directors of the Iraq orchestra of the king… and he sampled old recordings from Baghdad to new distortion rock.
What is your main inspiration when looking to write new music?
It is usually something I want to say to somebody in a new, original way, mostly women that hurt me or anything that annoys me. It starts with words and comes together with the music.
What do you enjoy most about performing live and do you have any memorable live performance experiences you’d like to share?
My band… best musicians and good friends. My unusual live experiences were during my days as a DJ in the army. I have played all over the occupied west bank and in Lebanon. Used to carry 600 vinyl with me, together with an M16 that I had attached a peace sign to… These parties were sometimes “boys only” and to make people dance with no girls around and no alcohol makes you focus on the music and become an expert in “reading” the people dancing. When you play for 10,000 people and somebody leaves the floor it is nothing… but when you play for 12 soldiers…
When you have to drive through dangerous areas, sometimes split the equipment between a few protected tracks… When a driver takes a fast turn and part of your equipment is dropped out in a middle of an “enemy” city and you have to go down, alone, to pick it up, with this long gun on your back… when you play and suddenly hear a bomb… laying on the floor and then being laughed at me because it is “ours and not them”…
What has been a particularly rewarding moment in your musical journey so far?
A theatre class at a unique high school took an old song of mine as the only song to their adaptation of Romeo & Juliet. They separate it and play and sing it in a few interesting ways.
How would you define success as a musician?
Wembley stadium show and an OD… Keep writing. I had a year and a half dry and it was frustrating.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?
Not to listen to me… and to try to write good melodies… otherwise it is boring.
–
Listen to madanes’ new single ‘in love with Laura Ingraham [what’s wrong with me] below.
