M83 collaborator Mai Lan is mainly known in France for her massive pop-folk hit Easy. Five years later, she’s back with a second electronic and sassy record Autopilote produced by Maxime Labarthe and Nick Sylvester (the founder of GODMODE label). With some good bangers like Blazed Up and Vampire, Mai Lan is a voice to follow in 2018.
Is the second record the most difficult thing to create when you’re an artist?
At the beginning when all this started I did not plan anything. For the first record it was “oh I like this song, let’s put it out!” but for the second one was more complicated as I realized that I evolved as an artist. You question yourself and your art, as well as the direction you want to follow! C’est scary you know, as you want to do your best! After touring over two years with the first record I was completely fed up and artistically empty. Since there was a lot of self-questioning, I called this album Autopilot. It’s more about my personal feelings!
There’s any pressure about putting out this album after the success of the first one?
Despite being on a quite big independent label, I need to be respectful to them and give the best of me. When it’s your job, you want to continue and do it in a proper way so people want to work on and promote your music. That was the main challenge, to do things properly!
In the meantime, you also worked with M83 on his latest record Junk, how all this happened?
I was in a writing camp in Los Angeles and he lives there. One night during a listening party, he came and loved what I composed, he told me “let’s try something together!” and the next month I was back in L.A helping him to create new music as he was always alone. We became good friends and everything matched so well and I have sung on four songs. Then after all that, I was touring with him and it was an amazing experience.
And this collaboration with M83 changed something when you were creating your new album?
Il was more about personal evolution, all my songs were completed before we worked on his record. For Autopilote I knew that wanted to go into some electronic soundscapes! We did this one with Max Labarthe and Nick Sylvester, who produced the first album of Shamir and is the founder of the label GODMODE. Nick is more into electronic aggressive sound, as you know he came from Brooklyn *laughs* and it was great because I wanted to show my aggressive side!
Despite working with them, no more vocals collaboration on the record why?
I love to collaborate with people but I don’t look for it permanently. I love the idea of being alone with my own feelings and that was the mood when I created this project.
In the video of Blazed Up your new single produced by Myd, there’s like you’re the boss of a girls gang. You feel about being a feminist is important in your music?
Yes, I really am into this perception of femininity. I don’t want to be a leader of something but I do want girls and women to be happy while listening to my music. During my last gig, several girls loved my show and it feels good when we support each other like this!
So you support which female artist actually?
In France, I’m very proud of my friend Owlle, she just released her new single and the whole record is incredible.
