Ilona Mahieu (pronounced ‘i-low-nah mah-yoo’) is an indie-rock band with a dash of alt and prog. They want to offer you a taste of everything. This is a band you won’t want to miss, as it features warm, dreamy guitar sounds, lush vocals, poetic lyrics, and punchy percussion and bass patterns. Ilona, who began her career at a young age playing acoustic gigs at various UK venues, excels at creating a compelling environment, whether in your headphones or at the O2 Academy Islington.
Ilona exploded onto the scene with an original take on Indie Rock on her debut single, “Maslow,” which was accompanied by a tumultuous music video brimming with introspection and captivating images. With the release of her subsequent singles, “Criminal,” “In My Bones,” and “Stiletto,” Ilona continues to aggressively push the boundaries of her musical expression, entrancing the audience and drawing them along for the trip.
The new track “Ribcage” and official music video by Ilona Mahieu are now available. “Ribcage” is an ode to introspection and unhealthy coping strategies, revealing the darker side of female-fronted alternative rock. The mesmerizing voice of Ilona Mahieu will lead you on an intense trip of addiction and denial, supported by beautiful guitar melodies and punchy rhythm and basslines.
This song is backed by a breathtaking official music video filled with captivating scenery. This was entirely self-funded and created, with Ilona applying her own makeup and bodypaint and spray painting a full drum kit, guitar, bass, and microphone in her backyard. The narrative is told through contrasting scenes in two worlds, one evil and one light, and the conflict between an individual and his or her inner demons. The black world serves as an x-ray of what lurks beneath the surface, revealing that things are not as they appear. Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started? Why the name ‘Ilona Mahieu’?
ILONA MAHIEU: I was born in France and moved to the UK when I was 2 years old. According to my parents, I was singing even back then, performing Disney songs while sitting in the trolley at the supermarket or in the car joining in with the one Fleetwood Mac cassette tape we had playing on the stereo. I’ve been writing songs since I was really young; I have notebooks filled with lyrics I wrote as young as 8 years old. I picked up guitar at 13 and started playing acoustic shows at small local pubs and venues, but this never fully scratched the itch. As I got older and took my music more seriously, I struggled to find a name that felt right for me since every name ever seems to have already been taken. I settled on Ilona Mahieu as Mahieu is a family name, and I wanted to create a connection to my French roots. Under this alias, I started a solo project, but really, I always wanted to play with a band – I just didn’t have anyone to play with. When I reached university I made friends with a group of amazing musicians and we started reworking my old tunes together. Thanks to this I was able to evolve my music from simple acoustic guitar songs to fully fleshed-out tracks with full instrumentation. We’ve been playing and writing new material together ever since, and I’ve finally been able to perform my music as it was always intended to be.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
ILONA MAHIEU: I am almost completely self-taught, apart from having some vocal tutoring when I was 18 to improve my technique. I essentially taught myself how to sing by listening carefully to vocalists I really enjoyed and sang along, trying to copy their performances as closely as possible. By doing this I could break down exactly what I liked about their technique and figure it out by working backwards. I did have guitar lessons as a teenager but struggled with making time to practice so, unfortunately, my skills have not developed very much since then. I studied sound engineering and music production at college and university so that I could gain a more well-rounded knowledge of this area and hone my writing skills further. I think it’s so important even if you’re focused on solely being a performer or writer to educate yourself on the technical aspects of music, because of how crucial that element is to creating strong compositions and building a successful career.
3. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? Who were your first and strongest musical influences and how have these affected your own development as an artist and music maker?
ILONA MAHIEU: As a band, we have a huge range of influences as we pull inspiration from various genres – e.g. prog, rock, indie, pop, even soul. We all come from slightly different musical backgrounds, but ultimately share a love of rock music, and simply enjoy experimenting with different ideas and finding inspiration from particular songs and artists rather than any specific genre as a whole. I grew up loving bands like Fleetwood Mac and My Chemical Romance, which I think can be heard in our music, and being raised on artists from the 90s and 00s has definitely snuck its way into our sound. I love the theatrics and powerful vocal performances, as well as the gritty instrumentation and production. As a vocalist and lyricist, I am influenced by a rather eclectic range of artists as I’m drawn in by amazing writing and performance above all else. Particular favourites of mine are Watsky and Hozier, who could not be more different in style, and yet share an incredible talent for unique, clever, and introspective songwriting. I’ve always tried to emulate their approach without directly copying – it’s important to me to avoid overused tropes and phrases, but rather create my own spin and demonstrate a different perspective. I’m not interested in just repeating what’s been said before; if I have a creative voice and platform, I want to say something new.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how does this affect your sound?
ILONA MAHIEU: I’m sure every member hopes that listeners will resonate with their individual contributions along with the music as a whole, so in line with that I hope that they connect to the lyrics the most. I put a lot of effort and thought into this element and love to accompany my songs with detailed music videos which reflect the themes being discussed. I hope to really draw people into my world and tell a captivating story. When writing the music and melodies, as a band we take into consideration the mood of the track and try to reflect the lyrics in the instrumentation itself. This doesn’t stop with production either – our engineer/producer Ryan Wood (105mm Studios) works hard to ensure that everything he does elevates the track thematically. I love dreamy soundscapes dripping in ambience and building layers and textures, creating atmospheres you can get completely lost in. All the elements of the track – the instruments, lyrics, and production – are designed to compliment each other and take the listener on an emotional journey.
5. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
ILONA MAHIEU:
I believe both approaches are completely valid and have equal value and purpose. People listen to music for a variety of reasons, including all of those and much more, and no motivation is more important than another. For me personally, writing music has always been a form of self-expression, a way to process events and experiences and share them with others. As I’m currently early in my career, I’m still finding my footing and trying to hone my skills all the time, so it feels safer to write from a personal perspective as I develop as a writer, performer and entertainer. However, in the future, I would love to branch out more and explore different topics and approaches, as I am very passionate about various political, cultural, spiritual, and social subjects. I’ve always held back from discussing these as I don’t always feel like I’m educated enough on the topic, or have a right to speak on it when there are others whose voices are far more relevant and deserve to be heard. In time, I hope to build my confidence and draw from genuine experience before commenting on others.
6. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
ILONA MAHIEU:
I think it’s true for most artists that you never get back 100% of what you put in because of how much blood, sweat, tears, time, and money gets poured into your work. That being said, I am endlessly grateful for anyone who does support what we do by coming to our shows and buying our merch – they have no obligation whatsoever and owe us nothing, so it means the world that they still choose to. I’m hoping to grow my audience to a point where the project can sustain itself, but until that point I intend to keep working, growing, and improving what I do. I find music to be an activity I almost don’t just want to do, but need to for my own sanity – the fulfillment and satisfaction that I get from finishing a new song or completing a music video project is like absolutely nothing else. As long as there is someone to listen, I’m always going to keep making noise.
7. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
ILONA MAHIEU:
We have approached writing from many start points, but typically I start with lyrics or a melody. This could be just one line, a verse, a chorus, even a whole song. I bring this to the band and we jam and play around with the idea until we figure out what kind of direction feels right. However we don’t always do it this way – more often than not everyone brings ideas separately and we find a way to marry them together and develop from there. For example, our latest single ‘Ribcage’started with the bassline, and I had some lyrics that rhythmically fit really nicely so I came up with a melody that complimented what Mark (our bassist) had written. Emma (drums)is amazing at changing up ideas on the fly to match whatever idea we’re experimenting with. Sometimes I have a really clear idea of what I want the song to be about, and sometimes I just have a certain line or concept I want to include and build around it. Ideas can be incredibly versatile; we could start with something melancholy and relaxed, and it can transform into a punk track, or vice-versa. You have to stay open minded to the potential and aim to make choices which serve the song best.
8. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
ILONA MAHIEU:
While I do love when listeners understand the real story and message, I’m always fascinated by people’s interpretations that I’ve been told in the past, and how wildly different they can be. Anyone listening to any music will always inject their own meaning into what they’re listening to, and connect with it in their own way, and this should definitely be encouraged. I would never tell someone that they were wrong for listening to one of my songs and understanding it from their own unique perspective – that’s what this is all about, at the end of the day. We take our personal experiences and create art as an outlet, then release it into the world for others to absorb and express themselves in their own way. This point is very relevant to the message behind ‘Ribcage’. I wrote the lyrics during a time when I was really struggling with my mental health after the breakdown of a relationship, and the physical response my body seems to always fall back on is a completely depleted appetite due to nausea from relentless anxiety. This becomes a vicious cycle that feels impossible to break, because the longer I go without eating, the less I feel able to. This would cause me to lose weight incredibly quickly, and as a woman growing up in a patriarchal society and surrounded by media that celebrates thinness, this is a breeding ground for toxic mindsets. I became torn between fighting against this voice in my head and embracing it. Ultimately, this song is an ode to introspection, harmful coping mechanisms, addiction, and denial. This story is told in the music video visually through contrasted scenes in two worlds, one dark, one light, and the struggle between a person and their inner demons. The dark world acts as an x-ray of what truly lies underneath the surface, and shows you that things aren’t always what they seem. The strength of the story behind ‘Ribcage’ is that it’s versatile – everyone at some point has experienced a similar internal battle, no matter which form that may take. Mental and physical health, gender identity, sexuality, religion, race, sexism – you name it, someone somewhere has struggled with it. I hope this song can act as a catharsis for anyone struggling with themselves and know that they are seen, and absolutely not alone. I’m sure anyone could listen to the track and connect to the message in their own personal way.
9. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
ILONA MAHIEU: This is a really tricky question, because they’re actually so different to the point where I couldn’t compare. Jamming and coming up with just an idea can be really exciting, particularly after a period of writers block or if we haven’t been able to meet as a band for a while. The buzz that comes from writing a new song, recording the parts, and slowly but surely colouring in the track, is amazing – I get a nice little confidence boost and become almost obsessive by listening to the demo or recording over and over, picking it apart and committing it to memory. Live performance is a whole different beast. I’ve always suffered from stage fright/performance anxiety, and even now at every show I get paranoid about forgetting the words, despite knowing them like the back of my hand. I love when I get to play a show to an audience who’s really receptive to my performance and giving back tons of energy to bounce off; this just makes the whole experience so much easier and I allow myself to let go and enjoy myself a lot more. This also really helps to alleviate imposter syndrome, which I am constantly at the mercy of (again, I think most artists can relate to that), as it helps confirm that yes! People like what we do!! We don’t suck!!! Which is always exciting. I remember, in particular, during the final encore song of our set at the ‘Ribcage’ release show, I felt such a wave of euphoria and gratitude being surrounded by amazing friends and musicians, and singing back to a room full of beautiful people dancing and singing even louder than me. I wish I could bottle that feeling; I’d be an addict.
10. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far? On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
ILONA MAHIEU: The answer to both of these questions are coincidentally the same. I absolutely love making my music videos, but I’m a control freak so I insist on doing everything myself. As you can imagine this leads to chronic burnout and stress due to the immense pressure I put on myself, creatively and financially. During the planning process for every video project I have done, ‘Maslow’ and ‘Ribcage’ in particular, I’ve hit walls and obstacles and had so many moments of doubt in my ability to pull off the ideas I have in my head. The final few months and weeks leading up to shoot days, and then the following post production processes have been so difficult, physically and emotionally, because of the nagging voice in the back of my head telling me it’s going to look and sound terrible and I would have wasted all that time and energy and money for nothing. However, when the project is finally finished, and an idea that has lived in my head alone for years being brought to life and fruition is the most AMAZING payoff. I can be proud of working so hard and creating something professional completely independently and without a massive budget or label behind me. When they’re finally released and I get to see the wonderful response from my audience, I feel so vindicated and relieved that it was all worth it. Every piece of the project has come from me or my amazing team, and that’s something I can be proud of the rest of my life.
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Photo credits: Amber O’Rourke