Diandra Interviews Mamalarky: Best Friends Make The Best Songs

Can I be honest? I always found friendships equal to or even more important than relationships? Maybe, it is because I am young and don’t have “the one,” but, all my life, my best friends have been people I could laugh with. They were persons that were smart, creative, and used those qualities to create a sense of light in others. My one regret in life is that I couldn’t always hold on to those people, but Mamalarky did it right. Livvy, Dylan, Noor, and Michael created a band; one that tours the world to crack jokes with each other while delivering positive, sonic message to you. In our interview, I discuss with Livvy what made them like each other enough to do what they most love together, music, and create their new, self-titled album: Out November 20. 

Diandra: What are the qualities you found in each other’s persons that made you decide to make art together?

Livvy: I think we’re all outward, goof heads with the exception of Michael who likes to deliver dry one liners. We have a penchant for weirdo artists that use atypical sounds. We’re all very driven to make music together, which is probably the most important one.
Mamalarky – How to Say (Official Music Video)

Diandra: You’ve described yourselves as a little family. What are the most family-esque things you do as past-times together, beyond music? 

Livvy: It starts with brekkie: skillet potatoes, tofu scramble, fresh fruit, hot coffee, and then we put on a reccy. Some yoga. Some instrument playing, discussing, dorking about. Then maybe a nature outing! Sounds ideal and how a lot of our weekends go anyway.

Diandra: You have said you are determined to stay at a haunted house. What are your favorite ghost stories and movies?

Livvy: Yesterday, a light in our basement, that we’ve never been able to find a light switch for, turned on when Noor was looking around. Couldn’t find any explanation. Then, at night, we heard and felt a massive bang reverberate through our house. We scrambled together trying to figure out what it was. It took some spooky attic and spooky basement investigation until we figured out it was a big pole on our porch falling…we all thought someone or something was inside for a second there. 

Diandra: What are 5 facts about Mamalarky that you say, “If you don’t know this, you don’t know us.”

Livvy: We all love animals. 2. We get shit done 3. We’re all the kind of people to encourage the dorkiest or shyest person in a circle to speak; we prioritize helping people feel included. Most of the time, we are the dorkiest, shyest people also. 4. We are from yeehaw states but have leftist ideals.

Diandra: If you could relate each member to the character of some fantasy/ comic book or movie, which characters would you pick for them and why?

Livvy: Noor is the Hulk, not only because she got a children’s hulk costume for Halloween, but also because she is extremely strong and impressive and intimidating due to her physical stature. Dylan. honestly I don’t know why I’m just now realizing this, but he would be a really good Sully from Monsters Inc. Michael can be the smart blue guy from Watchmen; I don’t know if that adds up. Livvy’s down to be Galadriel from LOTR because I was her in a play in middle school and I got the hair.
Mamalarky – Schism Trek (Official Video)

Diandra: What is the nerdiest thing you feel each member does?

Livvy: Dylan owns an Iguana. Noor does Pokemon Go. Michael-repairs furniture found on the side of the road. Livvy freaks out when discovering a new weird chord.

Diandra: Playing psychedelia, what is your dream psychedelic trip? Where would you go, who would you meet and what would happen?

Livvy: You know, you can’t really plan a psychedelic trip. You can try, surround yourself with people you trust and an environment you love, but I think the best trip is one that surprises you with an experience that you never could have planned for.

I think the best experiences are, like you said, are kind of spur of the moment. I don’t know if I could even come up with a ‘dream trip’. Picking up your instrument is the best thing you can do. I don’t know, if I’ve been known to want to decide to trip at the most random times that don’t make sense, I almost always enjoy myself even if the setting seems unintuitive. Like during the filming of our upcoming music video ‘You Make Me Smile.’

Diandra: Releasing your first album, what are the core messages you want to send to listeners and what are 3 attributes of your personality you definitely want them to capture?

Livvy: I hope the album captures our curiosity and playfulness and love. Generally, I don’t write music with core messaging in mind, I kind of wish I did though because a lot of times I look back at my lyrics and I’m like… you could have thought about what you’re saying a bit more. I guess a message would be write music about your dumb life and see what it sounds like, the world’s better with more songs in it.  

Diandra: You have said the world has been running on unsustainable practices for a while. What are the sustainable practices you take up to keep your mind/ body/ and soul in check?

Livvy: We bury our food waste in our back yard to save the whales and feed the snails. We keep reusable bags handy and buy used furniture and clothes too!

Diandra: What is the best life advice you have ever been given and how would you turn it into a lyric?

Livvy: “Love whoever is around to be loved”
Mamalarky – Fury (Official Video)

Diandra: Your songs carry an optimism for the future. How do you feel 2020 oddly brings hope for what is to come ?

Livvy: Trump needs soup right now, and I’m not mad about the possibilities that brings.

Diandra: With Noor making such good sweet potato sandwiches, who are the people in this world, from activists to artists, that you would send a sandwich to with love? Why?

Livvy: We’d bring our sandwiches to you! Thank you for interviewing us. Don’t forget to support your community with regular food donations to a local food bank or community fridge or mutual aid! 

Awwww!!!! Livvy!!!!!!!!! THANKS! In all honesty, I was totally charmed by Mamalarky’s interview. I have been on some great adventures with some great people, and I wish they would have lasted FOREVER! That is why I wish them so much success; so that they can have the road, their great songs, and each other for even longer. Click Here For More Information On Mamalarky.