Ayah Marar
Interview
Friday 10th of July 2009
We caught up with Ayah Marar to get all the gossip on her new single release 'My Spy' as well as what it's like working with Calvin Harris and Jack Penate.
Simon and Garfunkel and Rage Against The Machine both appear in your record collection - how come?
My dad was a huge Simon and Garfunkel fan. I didn't really get it when I was younger but having it played around the house for years, it became obvious that they wrote some big tunes. Rage Against The Machine came into my life while I was at school. I'm pretty sure it had something to do with teenage rebellion but I also had a huge crush on Zack de la Rocha, and I still love the music.
How did you hook up with Calvin Harris and Jack Penate?
Calvin and I met when I was working at Uptown Records in Soho. He had a CD of beats and was looking to move to London. I was starting to do some bits and bobs on the underground scene and had a spare room in my house, so it all came together quite nicely!
I met Jack through producer Paul Epworth who has known my manager for some time. He knew I was up for getting involved in anything he had on the go, so he asked me in to do some vocals on the album which was beyond exciting for me.
How do you balance your solo work while working on their two albums?
To be honest, you have to find the time for all of it. With the boys, it's a case of going into the studio for a day or two and putting down the tracks. My solo stuff is ongoing 24/7 business so there's time for it all!
How do your collaborations affect and influence your solo work?
I'm not sure they affect me musically, but it's such a treat to be around talented people and learn what gets them going. I'm looking to get into production myself in the coming years so it's great being in the studio with people like Calvin as I can get to see how he works. I'm the girl in the corner asking lots of questions about buttons and knobs. With someone like Jack, it's all about watching him perform live. He has such a brilliant energy which is inspiring to me.
How would you describe your new single?
'My Spy' is a bit of tongue in cheek pop. It's just fun, but I'm also talking about personal experience and watching people around me. The point being that you never really know someone, or there are degrees of knowing someone in a relationship, sometimes it's not what you think it is and you don't really know that person at all. Everyone knows a spy or two.
When is your single and album released?
The single has just dropped on iTunes this week and the Limited 7" is available now too!
With the album, I'm still at work trying to get it all to come together so it's all about recording lots of songs at the moment, then rounding them up and pushing them out there. Watch this space!
Author: Steve
Label: Hubba Hubba
Found in: Interviews