A Ripple Conversation With Mango In Euphoria

What have been your musical epiphany moments?

When I saw Gaga's Bad Romance music video and when I saw Miley Cyrus with my own eyes riding a hot dog on tour. Additionally, The Struts energy on stage blew me away.

Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?

It depends. Usually when I come up with melodies it's a chorus first. But I have ton shit of notes everywhere too.

Who has influenced you the most?

Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey. Gaga for the performance, Miley was my first idol, and Lana inspired me to write deep stuff about my life experience and myself.

Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?

It just comes with the sound. The sound creates an image with certain palettes of colors in my head. But these images come from somewhere and most of the time the aesthetic is more or less related to movies I've seen with a personal touch, and my own life is mixed with it.

We're all a product of our environment. Tell us about the band's hometown and how that reflects in the music?

I'm a solo artist, and I'm from France. But my live members are from Italy and Hungary. We're typically immigrants making it on the London scene. There's a lot of things to say about experiences as a foreign person especially when you come from nothing. I didn't get to go to any music school, I didn't have the privilege to be born in a family that supported this kind of future or studies, so I have to show what I'm coming from. My first job in London was being a cleaner in a hostel even though I'm a business graduate. I just had in mind to build an exciting life for myself. And now I can speak about everything I've been through and had to do, but that's a common thing to any person coming to a big city like London. But at the moment, in my artistry, I like to explore the fact that we are going through some dystopian times. The difference is that on top of this dark edge I'm adding a glittery aesthetic to show that we still have a chance to shine even though life can be hard.

Where'd the band name come from?

Magic candies.

You have one chance, what movie are you going to write the soundtrack for?

The upcoming Joker movie Folie a Deux with Gaga, but I'm sure they don't need me. Any big box office movie would be amazing. A sci-fi or fantastic one please!

You now write for a music publication (The Ripple Effect?). You're going to write a 1,000 word essay on one song. Which would it be and why?

Tango In The Night, Fleetwood Mac. Just because it's an incredible journey that made me feel feelings that probably belong to the outerspace.

Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?

First time I performed with my band, my guitarist was additionally the keys player for one song. He fucked up and instead of pretending I didn't notice I stomped and looked at him on stage and it was loud because I was wearing heels and it was a wooden stage. Truth is... Nobody would have noticed if I didn't stomp.

Tell us about playing live and the live experience for you and for your fans?

It's just crazy. If you're coming to hear my songs just like the record you're gonna be disappointed. My concerts are a different experience. It's down and dirty. It's raw. You're not on Spotify or Instagram. You're probably gonna see the lipstick all over my face and you will see me cry... like I'm having a therapy session but in a nightclub. I don't know, man. I just let go, it's not controlled.

What makes a great song?

Authenticity. When you're doing things for yourself. Not trying to surf on the wave. Something that comes from the deepest part of your soul. Just not a pretty title track. But admitting you don't wanna be vulnerable, you can still create a great piece of art if it talks to you. If you just try to be something you're not, or try so hard to be perfect, people will never identify to what you're doing.

What one single album do you wish that you'd written or performed on, and why?

Too many to just pick one, sorry.

What piece of your music are particularly proud of?

Goddess is my first single but I created such a catchy chorus that I think it's really, really great.

Who today, writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?

I'm working on kicking my own ass at the moment.

Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?

Digital. That's just the world we live in now. Although I still think CD's are a vibe, with the little book inside.

Whiskey or beer? And defend your choice

Vodka. Doesn't make me puke and doesn't make me burp. Just my spirit of choice if I wanna get fucked you know. But Tea is nice as well. Not the Breakfast one, the three mints one from Pukka is banging.

We, at the Ripple Effect, are constantly looking for new music. What's your home town, and when we get there, what's the best record store to lose ourselves in?

I live in London and you should go to Flashback Records.

What's next for the band?

A busy summer. I can't say more.

Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?

Stream Hollywood motherfuckers!

linktr.ee/mangoineuphoria