Spotlight: Mae
Mae drummer (and band intellectual) Jacob Marshall offers this: "The Study looks at how our senses interact and perceive information and then attempts to translate that information into terms the other senses can comprehend…"
"The Study" that Marshall speaks of is--in simpler terms--the moniker for his band Mae, an acronym for "Multisensory Aesthetic Experience."

He elaborates:, "What would music look like if you could see it? What would it feel like and how would it taste? When building this record, Mae wanted to present the concept in as unified a form as possible."

Explanations and five-syllable words aside, one thing is certain amongst the five members of Mae, their new Tooth & Nail release The Everglow basks in the beauty of the quintet's solitary vision.

Although The Everglow is Mae's sophomore full-length, the band feels differently. Their debut effort, 2003's Destination: Beautiful, was more of a studio project than a collective band effort, and "after two years of touring and camaraderie, this band is now a completely unified front," says lead vocalist Dave Elkins. "These songs and this effort are no less important to any one of us, and seems to really be the first Mae record."

With Destination: Beautiful sales topping over 70,000 copies, and amid tours with everyone from Simple Plan to Brand New and Something Corporate, more than just Mae's musical talent has been growing. "With every show, with every interview, every overnight driving shift and every rehearsal back home, we have matured both individually and collectively," says Elkins, adding, "so much of what we've learned is evident in the lyrical content of The Everglow."

 

Proof can be found in the album's infectious first single, "Suspension." Elkins says, "as I wrote the lyrics for 'Suspension,' I compared the pursuit of this band to a relationship in its infant stage where everything is new--being caught in suspension, letting each new moment take over. [That] can sometimes be one of the most beautiful things we experience."

Conceptually speaking, The Everglow digs even deeper. "This record is almost like a puzzle because we have so many hidden details that connect the music and the visual artwork," Marshall explains. "Our fans tend to appreciate that attention to detail, so we are excited to see people discover those connections for themselves."

"The record is a story about love and striving and failure and reward," Elkins concludes. "But most importantly it is about being true to yourself, finding your passions, and making them your reason for living, and living fulfilled."


 
 *All songs on Artist Site.
Tracks from "Mae"
Mae
Mae
This month, Jacob of mae.
How are you doing?
I'm doing good. I'm actually doing really good. I'm walking the streets of my favorite city on the planet.
What is the best and worst thing about touring?
The best thing about touring is also the worst thing about touring (Laughs), it's just being away. Being away allows you to experience the world which is awesome and that's why we do what we do. Touring also keeps you away from stability and family. At the same time, you get to meet people all over the world that become part of like your extended family…emotionally being able to connect with people all over the world. Some of the people on staff at our record label here in Seattle are like family so we can come out and see them on a regular basis. So it really just extends the concept of home, but keeps you away from your immediate family and loved ones.

Did you guys perform tonight or not yet?

We do perform tonight, but we haven't yet. We are in that sacred time between sound check and performing so we are wandering and exploring.