Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/788859
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2017 15 ers. People who are interested in literature, the visual arts... Every- thing that goes on in the artistic world. Sometimes I find that po- tentially great Maltese artists are divorced from other aspects that should be informing their work. What are your own formative influences? What were you brought up listening to? I'm a late-comer at practically everything in life. But the first time I really paid attention, seri- ous attention, to music was when I got hold of the first Bruce Spring- steen albums that an old friend of mine had lent me. It was the first time I really paid attention to what was sung as well as what was being played. Obviously I was curious enough to inform myself more, read... and to this day I still try, as much as possible to keep in touch with new musical trends. At the time we're talking about, were you singing? No Were you thinking of singing? I always had this urge to per- form. At the time I didn't have perhaps enough confidence. I was too scared of failing. And I think it's important to fail, multiple times if need be, before achiev- ing something substantial. If you'll ever achieve anything substantial; because at the end of the day it's the listener that has to determine that. If you had to fill in the blank: 'I make music because...' I make music because... I'm go- ing to tell you this, and people may laugh at me. But ask any songwrit- er, and if he had to be 100% hon- est with you, [he'll say]: we make music because we want women to love us. Then there's all the other stuff about insecurity that is thrown into the mix. But mainly we make music for women. Let's be honest about it. I was having this conversation last Saturday with Mark 'Iz-Zizza' of Brodu – a magnificent songwriter – and we both agreed. [Laughing] We make music for girls, basically... Perhaps, but with 'Rub Al Khali' you seem to have put a lot more of yourself into the writing than just that. Doesn't the more sombre, contemplative mood of the new album also negate the 'rock star' image of writing songs to get the chicks? But it's a boring image to carry all your life. And I think there are different hues to different people. People are idiosyncratic in nature. Hell, I am idiosyncratic in nature. So I'll try as much as possible to tackle both aspects of such a per- sonality. Is it ever a problem to put so much of yourself out there? Not just through music, but also in your outspoken public persona as a social commentator. Does it have an impact on your private life? It would probably have an im- pact if I were a private person. But I'm not a private person at all. I don't value my privacy very much... Does your outspokenness outside the band have any impact on Brikkuni itself, though? It probably overshadows the work most of the time. But I'm a firm believer that in due course, and in time, that will be forgot- ten and only the music will be the lasting legacy. At least I certainly hope so... One example would be the controversy over the Michelle Muscat comment, which cost Brikkuni a live slot in the Farsons beer festival. Has any of that had any lasting effects? It could have, but to be perfectly honest with you I don't know. I don't think it was counterproduc- tive at the end of the day. And an- yway, I think we're living in an age when local artists hold back way too much. I think they're putting themselves in a corner and spell- ing their own death... Yet it didn't use to be that way. Maltese rock used to be quite outspoken... there was a trend to be very vocal on social issues (Norm Rejection springs to mind, but there are others...) I have my reservations about this, because I feel bands which are regarded as more 'in your face' locally, display that particular trait ONLY through their music. When it comes to being outspoken, or when the need arises to actually own up to what you deliver in your music, I think most of them are found lacking. That's my hum- ble opinion. I try as much as I can – and I'm not saying I succeed, I fail miserably on occasion – but I try to be as truthful as I can be to what I try to convey through my music. Obviously, if you're out- spoken you tend to make more mistakes than most.... Coming back to Rub Al Khali: whether or not it can be described as a departure, it suggests a development over previous records. Is there an overall direction you're steering the band in? How do you see future Brikkuni music shaping up? I can tell you where I'd like to go, but I don't know where we'll end up. I've always nurtured this ambition to produce a great 80s- inspired pop album. I don't know if I'll ever manage... getting it done at 50 might be a bit awkward, but I'm not all about ageing gracefully so I might do it. 'Rub Al Khali' is available for download through Bandcamp on Brikkuni's facebook page: htt- ps:/bandcamp/com.releases Interview 'Rub Al Khali', Brikkuni's third studio album, has been described as a stark departure from earlier releases in tone and style. Main songwriter MARIO VELLA on how much of his own (very public) persona went into the finished product ake music for women PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS MANGION