After originally forming at a chance meeting at an LA recording studio, emerging newcomers mama no likey are ready to introduce themselves to the wider world with their infectious debut single 'Mrs. Davis'.
Channelling a wonderfully raw and driven alt-rock energy for their initial offering, 'Mrs. Davis' makes for a strong and impactful introduction to their sound so far. With its swaggering hooks, pulsing atmosphere, and stellar vocals layered throughout, they are kicking things off with a wildly enjoyable opening number here.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Will: I’ve always been a drummer. My neighbor and I wrote original songs and put on rock concerts for our families in his basement when we were eight. I always played drums.
Troy: I loved guitars as a kid, acoustic actually. Mostly because I wanted to have the ability to play something cool as it was getting passed around the fire down at the beach on a Friday night.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Troy: I loved pretty much everything as a kid, but definitely anything that sounded soulful, mystical and free. Rock took over from about the age of 12 for me – it was my soundtrack for pure rebellion (laughing).
Will: I’m a product of the 90s. To think about the albums that were released in 1991 alone, it kind of blows me away: BadMotorFinger, Blood Sugar Sex Magic, Nevermind, Ten, Metallica, Gish, Temple Of The Dog, Use Your Illusion I and II, The Low End Theory, De La Soul is Dead, just to name a few. I loved it all, but the Red Hot Chili Peppers are my favorite. They offered such a distinct sound and energy at the time.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Troy: Up Style Down by 28 days. They’re a rock band that was popular in Australia at the time. I thought the songs were so sick. I mowed some serious lawns to that CD!
Will: one of my uncles left behind a Doors Greatest Hits CD after visiting my family. Technically, it wasn’t mine, but hey, he never asked for it back (laughing). It was cool because it enabled me to go down this Doors rabbit hole or what I call my “Doors phase.” I don’t listen to them much any longer, but L.A. Woman is both a great album and track.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Will: Hendrix’s Little Wing has always blown me away. Of course, I wish I could have written the guitar chords. But my goodness, those lyrics: “butterflies and zebras and moonbeams, and fairy tales.” Just wow. I’ve always found the song to be magical.
Troy: “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues,” by Elton John. Lyrically it’s my favorite song on the planet, something about that writing hits me hard.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Troy: This one is easy – get myself into a quiet room with both Will and Hannah and it just takes care of itself. There is an energy and connection between us that just flows.
Will: I like being open and alert to the ideas floating in and around me. And then just listen for what’s flowing and do my best to articulate it. New music comes from someplace inside me. Or through one of Troy’s great riffs. For some reason, it’s easy when we’re together.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Troy: The last 10 years, I can’t argue with anything Chris Stapleton has done, like who can? But more recently there’s a rock band out of LA called Dirty Honey that has my attention. And after watching the movie Piece By Piece, a documentary recommended to me by Will, Pharrell Williams and his partner Hugo have opened my ears to all kinds of cool stuff.
Will: I’ve been on a Lemonheads kick lately. I jammed Confetti, It’s a Shame About Ray, and Mrs. Robinson with a cover band last weekend. I had to listen to the tracks to prepare and have been grooving on them since.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Will: That’s easy - the Chili Peppers, without a doubt.
Troy: AC/DC! But if they were sick that day, the Chili Peppers!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Will: The opportunity to entertain and give people an escape from their lives, giving them a break from all stress and worry. Music has that potential. Whether we will ever be able to tap into music at that level, I have no idea, but I sure as hell want us to try.
Troy: Creating music with the band, then watching it develop into something that others can hear and enjoy. It’s like raising a child, a devilish rock child with the worst of intentions (laughing).
And what is the most frustrating part?
Will: There is so much to learn. Not only about music, but promotion, recording, mixing, etc. Sometimes it seems there’s not enough time in a day to do it all.
Troy: Balancing music with everything else in life, especially when you want to do music all day long!
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Will: Stay together and keep going. The longer a band can stay together and the more you can play and write music together, the better and better you will get.
Troy: Less is more!
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mama no likey's debut single 'Mrs. Davis' is available to stream now. Watch the new video for it in the player below.