Music stories from clients who trusted Mind The Wax to press their music on vinyl!
Meet Maj Rachel, a young ambitious singer and producer born and raised in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
She started as a shy singer from a young age and later she found her expression through experimentation in composition, sound design with objects, machines, field recordings, spatial and reflecting sound, producing with effects and vocal art. She records everything by herself, and arrange and mix everything in her bedroom.
By making music, Maj unfold atmospheres, stories and fantasies from her unconscious as well as conscious thoughts of distorted and pleasant happenings in her life and the fluctuating views on the outside world and herself. Processing thoughts on the intensity and wonders of life, or nothingness. Maj likes to create sound experiences in composed music as well as spatial sound art and performance which she is currently diving into. She also works with film and fine art to capture or unfold hidden worlds.
Which artists or genres have influenced your musical style?
As a music nerd I like to explore any music that comes on my path. I can really enjoy tapping into all these different kinds of worlds that people capture in their music or sound art creations, in such different time frames when it’s made, cultures, backgrounds, interests in approach, practice and stories. If it either creates a lot of imagination, or brings me to the space where I am at the moment, it all inspires me in their own way.
Other than composed music I get inspired by the uncontrollable sounds that surround us everyday from nature and daily life. Spaces with different sound qualities and atmospheres who reflect different frequencies, but also sounds of objects, noise of machines and ventilation systems.
What was the inspiration behind your album and what the album is about?
The textural sound world that surrounds us everyday, every space, scenery or landscape tells a different story or provokes a feeling due to our own interpretation at that moment.
Alongside with layers of meanings, words, intentions, happenings. It all seems to surround itself with their own web, and range of significance. Dreams and real life past events, or future thoughts seem to create meaning in our own head, or blend into each other, fantasy.
Sometimes I can’t keep it apart if I was dreaming or that it really happened. By how places and spaces can give a certain feeling and atmosphere. By patterns of nature and mind patterns. By intense connections between people and happenings in my past and present.
Can you share a bit about your musical journey and how it led to this particular album?
Once I started composing I felt so free to explore this empty platform that I had to fill in. I felt possibilities to make the visuals and colors in my head hearable, by experimenting with any idea that came up, using objects around me, making recordings of electronic machines at home, that led to making field recordings wherever I go, and collecting interesting sounding objects to use as instruments in thrift stores, my grandpa’s basement or wherever I walked by. I began to listen differently to everything that surrounds me everyday, started to hear it as a musical piece on itself or something to capture for my music. This is sometimes combined with effects or leaving it as it is, or playing with the natural reverb and reflective sound of spaces. This combined with songwriting where I wanted to do just what I wanted, no guidelines, expectations or genre idea behind it, except experimentation.
This album was actually finished in 2021, due to covid, it took me a few years to be able to release this album on vinyl.
“My shadow was a nun“
Which tools and equipment used in the production process of this album?
I recorded the whole album with an usb mic, iphone and cassette recorder. I made use of digital effects and natural reverb of the spaces I was in. I played guitar, piano, bass, synth and I sing.
A small description of what objects and machines I recorded are a washing machine, necklace and ventilator as noise, iron candle holder as percussion, window as kick, my desk as snare, and much more, I liked to move around the room and create impulsive sound idea’s while making music, grabbing the objects around me.
The violin in the song ‘Roots’ is recorded in Raiko Records studio by Stijn Donders. I mixed my songs at home.
What were the challenges or interesting aspects of the production?
In every song (part) I tried to challenge myself to make something different or unexpected. It was an impulsive journey and I had to create this space for myself to feel free to just explore and experiment. I was looking for new sounds and approaches every time, exploring to unfold hidden worlds.
Any collaborations that took part and you would like to highlight?
By making this album, I got to know my interest for spatial sound, field recording, and sound art, that I then did not know existed, and started to investigate. I started to play around with the sounds of the different (bed)rooms I was recording in, using distance, blankets over my head while recording vocals, or using rooms with a lot of reflection to create natural, spatial effects that surely made the vibe in the sound and overall feeling of this album. (Then if I would’ve only used digital effects). It made my compositions sound organic and mystical.
The violin in the song ‘Roots’ is played and recorded by Stijn Donders aka Raiko Records.
What are the vinyl specifications you decided to press your album?
The album was pressed on 140 gr transparent violet vinyl with black marble effect and it contains 12 tracks.
I made the artwork out of different materials such as pictures of wrinkled human skin, dried tangerine peel, dark corners of rooms, smashed stone, cat nails, fake fur, I wanted to work with textures and pictures that give me a strange feeling…
In the inside of the case u find a dark red see through vinyl, and a piece of paper with all the information about the album, hand drawn by me.
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All tracks written, composed, played, recorded, produced, and mixed by Maj Rachel.
Violin played by Stijn Donders – Raiko Records.
Mastering by Budy Mokoginta – Mokosound.
Art by Maj Rachel.
Photography by Mike Redman.
Thanks to Neels Smeekens and Mike Redman
Released by Fremdtunes/Redrum recordz 2024
How does the experience of listening to your music on vinyl differ from other formats?
I think the beautiful thing about vinyl is that your attention can, for a moment, only go to the album you chose to listen to, instead of one click with your finger, changing the music, and maybe losing interest faster. Because there is so much out there. I think people who listen to vinyl, have more patience to keep interest in a whole album.
Where fans can find and purchase the album, including online platforms and physical stores?
The vinyl can be purchased online at:
Bandcamp.com
Deejay.de
Decks.de
Wordandsound.net Juno.co.uk
Hhv.de
Or physically at Demonfuzz records Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Are there any exclusive releases, limited editions, or promotions related to the vinyl pressing?
There are also CD’s available from this album on Bandcamp, both CD and vinyl is limited edition.
How do you envision your audience connecting with this album?
Once the album is out there, it’s for everyone to interpret in their own way.
Are there any messages or emotions you hope listeners will take away?
I like to hear the different associations and perspectives that people may get from listening to
my album. That interests me more than what I try to provoke in them, and what I felt myself
when I made it.
Do you want to know more about Maj Rachel?
Click on the below links to stay connected and support her music!
Vinyl pressing by Mind The Wax
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