We had a chat with emerging folk artist Maria Mihailik about her sound, her new single ‘What I Mean’, and her plans for the future
An artist who possesses an arresting, DIY folk sound that is packed full of immersive songwriting and a resonating rawness that really strikes a chord with you as a listener, Maria Mihailik is a Ukraine born and UK based artist who has the ability to pull listeners into these nostalgic and captivating worlds through her stripped-back sound and the emotion of her vocals.
The artist’s latest single ‘What I Mean’ is just the latest showcase of the powerful nature of her sound as she gears up to the release of her debut album, with the artist leaving herself vulnerable and bare as she opens up about her feelings and the ways that her relationship has made her feel. It is a really interesting track that does a masterful job of creating a sense of mood and atmospheric tension, and it’s made us want to have a chat with Maria to find out a bit more about the artist and her future plans.
Who TF is Maria Mihailik?
I’m a 21 year old folk musician from South East London!
How long have you been making music?
I was singing in choirs for many years since I was really young and like many chronically online girls my age, I picked up the ukulele when I was about 12 and played it religiously. A bit further down the line I transitioned to guitar and started writing songs.
Why do you make music?
I think mostly just because it’s so much fun. I think everyone should be making music. When it comes to writing, it’s a way I process my thoughts and feelings that feels intuitive and explorative. Writing a song I like feels similar to listening to music I really connect with.
What are your biggest influences?
I think my biggest influences are artists who are songwriters first- storytelling is at the centre of their music. I would never dream of comparing myself to them but I take a lot of inspiration from classic singer-songwriters like Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan. When I was writing my upcoming project I was also taking some guitar lessons from a good friend Duncan McTaggart who’s a brilliant trad guitarist and almost all of my guitar arrangements came about through that.
I also absolutely love and take a lot from Fiona Apple, Joni Mitchell and Amy Winehouse, and just any women who write very personal confessional songs.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
Getting to record this album was amazing and something that I’m not sure anything else has really topped, it felt like a dream come true to be able to bring songs I’d freshly written into the studio and have them become realised- it might have been the most exciting thing I’ve ever done.
I also had a release concert at Green Note for the first single of the project called ‘Mary’, which loads of my family and friends came to and it was just the best energy. I don’t feel completely locked in every time I play a gig but at this one I felt really in my element and like the whole room was electric.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
I suppose it’s quite stripped back indie folk music, it sits in that niche quite well.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
Success with independent music feels quite non-linear, I’m not sure I even have a big end goal of what I want my music career to look like, so I think it’s comprised in loads of smaller ‘I made it’ moments- headlining a venue I really like, opening for artists I’m a fan of, having people listen to the album and get what I was trying to make, or someone I look up to liking the music. Whenever things like that have happened before it’s felt really surreal.
We love your new single ‘What I Mean’, what more can you tell us about it?
What I Mean was one of the first songs I wrote for the project and in many ways cemented its sound and character. I wrote it in a tongue in cheek, almost melodramatic way around the themes of power, deception and relationships, and I think echoes through the rest of the storytelling in the album.
Me and my producer Cameron J Niven crafted this one meticulously, we took inspirations from artists like Juni Habel to create a delicate soundscape, with subtle textural elements from the keyboard, clarinet and tape machine weaving in and out of the song.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
The rest of the album should be coming out in the next couple of months and I’m going on a small tour in May which will be really exciting!
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
Probably my flatmates or one of the kitchen porters at my job.
