Getting to Know… Maidon | Interview 🎤

For the 51^st interview in the Getting to Know… series, The Musical Hype gains some great insight from the London-based collective, Maidon.

“We write songs in the same way the anthems from the 80’s and 90’s were created. We keep all those reminiscences blended with fresh new sounds and ideas…” Pretty cool, right? Methinks! After getting the scoop from Fox Violet (Thea Juliette) for the 50^th interview in The Musical Hype’s Getting to Know… series, we tap Maidon for the first interview of February 2020, and the 51^st interview overall. Who is Maidon you ask? The London-based collective is comprised of singer-songwriter Aldan Torres and close collaborator and arranger Ivan Pela on lead guitar.  Without further ado, here is Getting to Know… Maidon, Interview #51.

Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype (Faulkner): Let’s get this started off right. For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes Maidon distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Maidon: Alright! What really makes us unique is that we write songs in the same way the anthems from the 80’s and 90’s were created. We keep all those reminiscences blended with fresh new sounds and ideas. Well, probably we are not unique but not many bands do what we do nowadays.

Faulkner: Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Maidon form and what were some of the goals or the visions you had as a band early on?

Maidon: Maidon is singer-songwriter Aldan Torres with close collaborator and arranger Ivan Pela on lead guitar. We both are long-term music partners and have been working on and off together. The project was created after members took some time off music and preceded by a period of substantial creativity. The target at that initial time was just to arrange, produce and record those compositions.

Faulkner: Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

Maidon: Honestly, they haven’t changed. Although at the beginning we just focused on making a good production, our plan was soon after very clear, we would like to thrive in this business and end up being able to make a living in music. We are continuously working in order to get an even better sound and trying to reach as many people as possible. But one thing is what you plan and another thing what it really turns out, let’s hope both things coincide this time.

Faulkner: Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?  

Maidon: Musical influences come mainly from the 80’s and 90’s. British and American great pop & rock bands and artists have been the base of our music. Bowie, U2, Stone Roses or Radiohead to name a few, are a model for us. If you put all that music in a blender along with more modern sounds you will get Maidon’s music as a result. 

Faulkner: Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

Maidon: We take a pass on this one. Hopefully, after our world tour will have plenty of stories to tell.

Faulkner: Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

Maidon: It’s difficult for us to pick a song when we consider that there are several powerful singles out there. Nevertheless, a very special song is “Outer Space”, its structure, its melody and the children choir with a final tribute to David Bowie make this track unique.

Faulkner: Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?  

Maidon: The coolest thing right now is that people have the opportunity to listen to 10 wonderful tracks and they need to know that many more are on the works at the moment. A live introduction tour of the band is also being planned.

Faulkner: Closing this thing out, what is you/your band currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure.

Maidon: At the moment we are honing six more songs for this project and trying to promote the tracks that are already out there – which is not easy without a proper promotion team behind. We are also considering other projects and always on the lookout for new opportunities.

Faulkner: Thank you so much for sharing taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

Maidon Socials & Such: Website • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube

Photo Credits: Brent Faulkner, Maidon, The Musical Hype