We caught up with Rhode Island-born, Swedish-based singer / rapper Mapei, to give her a New Noise grilling.
Making music from the tender of age of 12, Mapei has garnered quite the musical CV.
With her debut EP ‘Cocoa Butter Diaries’ blowing up the blogosphere and catching the ear of every tastemaker on the internet, she’s returning with her goals set on the global stage and about to take the reigns of 2014 with a track proving difficult not to fall in love with- the perfectly crafted pop-sound of ‘Don’t Wait.
Are there any other emerging musicians coming from Sweden that you love that we might not be aware of yet?
A DJ / producer called DJ Nevadeelay! She does dreamy ambient electronic music.I also think Young Lean is fun but maybe you know about him
When did you first start making music and writing songs?
I wrote a song in class when I was 12 and put together fake CDs when I was 15.
What kinds of music did you listen too as you were growing up?
I grew up slamming Cadillac doors listening to Mary J Blige.
How do you feel singing such personal lyrics to crowds of strangers? Do you ever feel vulnerable?
Yes I feel vulnerable because people don’t know what you have been through and can be judgementa. All I want is some understanding.
Would you say that songwriting is escapism? Were you ever interested in spoken word or poetry before you began making music?
I saw the Saul Williams movie Slam and use to hang out at the Nuyorican cafe I’m really intrigued by spoken word as a means of escapism. I love to flee the world a little bit to much.
How does your newer material differ or progress on from your earlier recordings?
The music from my upcoming album has more light and love more positivity and hope and it’s more pop oriented
We love ‘Don’t Wait’, both visually and musically. Is it important that you have full creative control over everything that you do?
Yes but working with Magnus Lidehall on my album has made me more open to share ideas rather than the project being a one-man show.
You used to live with Lykke Li. Are you guys still friends and would you ever collaborate?
Yeah we’re cool. I was on her Youth Novels album doing back up on the song My Love Will Come.
What other artists are you really enjoying right now?
MF doom, always and forever.
If you could collaborate with any other artist – either dead or alive, who would be the first choice?
King Krule, for sure.
How does a city like New York compare to Swede for creativity and inspiration?
New York has more Hip-Hop so that’s really inspiring.
Tell us more about Don’t Wait – how was the track born?
I wanted to make a snap song with singing vocals on it so me and Magnus started with a guitar then we put a beat to it.
You seem pretty fashion-savvy. What labels or brands are you a fan of?
I’d say i’m a ‘norm-core’ chick. I’m really not into brands.
Words: Shane Hawkins.