rockyourlyricsMYJA, the Los Angeles, CA-based side project of A Bad Think mastermind Michael Marquart, and Jacob Bunton (Lynam, Adler) released their debut self-titled album on January 12th, 2018.
The first single “Flood” is impacting radio now.
Formed in 2016, Myja has crafted a somber sound reflective of the personal experiences that define the band’s core.
With roots firmly planted in all things traditional rock, Myja’s self-titled debut album, is a carefully constructed, innovative mix of rock and modern pop sensibilities
Produced, engineered and mixed by Jason Elgin (Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster, Collective Soul), at The Barn, Marquart’s studio in Malibu, CA, the 10 songs that make up Myja’s debut album encompass the sound of a band that is not afraid to take chances yet display a remarkable consistency in the storytelling.
Can you tell us more about your new album that has just been released? How long did it take to write all the songs?
The album came out a couple of weeks ago and we are thrilled with how it came out.
We wrote and recorded a song a day and just had fun with it.
The music is a mixture between Indie rock and Americana with a very organic feel.
How do you usually write the lyrics of your songs?
We usually start with a melody or a concept. The music usually comes first and then the lyrics. The melody usually dictates the lyrics. For instance if we come up with a happy, poppy melody, the lyrics will usually be bright. If the melody is haunting, the lyrics will be more dark.
What is the best verse you ever wrote?
That’s a tough one, I’ve written thousands of songs.
What was the soundtrack to your childhood?
Heavy Metal, Bluegrass, New Wave.
Actually, I was raised by the radio, so everything that was on the radio. Growing up in Alabama, we had fantastic radio stations that would play everything from Bon Jovi to Outcast to Korn.
How did you first get your foot into the music industry?
When I was a kid, I recorded demos of songs that I wrote and sent them out everywhere.
I met an artist named Poe when I was a kid and she helped me tremendously.
What has the journey been like up to now?
The journey has been amazing! I never know what I’m going to be working on from day to day. That’s extremely exciting to me.
What inspired “Flood”?
Michael and I met through a mutual friend a few years ago and instantly hit it off. We started writing songs at his studio in Malibu and it became obvious that we had to record an album.
The song “Flood” came from a riff that Michael was playing. I loved the way the intro and verses were tight but had the big hits at the end of the phrasing.
We started singing different melody ideas into our phones and then took the best ones and made the verses. We kept the verses tight with a single voice and then made the chorus huge.
The lyrical content of the song is about just trying to keep your head above water. Everyone alive has their own set of struggles regardless of their background or where they come from. Rich, poor, black, white, it doesn’t matter, we are all on a journey and with any journey there are bumps in the road
And “Breath”?
“Breathe” is just about trying to get through a tough time in a relationship. Whether it’s with a best friend or a lover, everybody goes through ups and downs.
Are you ever scared of revealing, aspects of your personal experience, to strangers through your music? Not at all. I used to be scared, but now I just write from the heart and I don’t care.
I think it’s tougher when you’re a kid to because you’re scared that people won’t accept you or like you.
You get over that.
Do you remember the day you wrote “Just One Kiss”?
Yes, we were sitting at Michaels studio and just started vining on a 60’s sounding chord progression. It reminded me of that movie “That Thing You Do”.
I always wanted to write a song like that.
What is the best show you ever played?
Hmm, probably in Tokyo Japan at Duo Music Exchange. The energy of the crowd was amazing!
What are you planning for 2018?
More writing, more recording, more creating! More is more!!
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