Mad Rapture

"This electro-acoustic duo from Pittsburgh combines two unlikely genres—country and electronic/dubstep—to form a distinctive sound of their own. After watching the two of them live, you’ll find yourself singing their catchy lyrics and humming their energetic beats even days after their performance." - Tinderbox Music Festival

Mad Rapture is an electroacoustic girl/guy duo proudly based in Pittsburgh, PA. Using live instrumentation and vocals fused with compelling electronic soundscapes, Mad Rapture's songs are genre-evasive but decidedly addictive. "m" (vocals and lyrics) and "p," (music) both proud native Pittsburghers, crossed paths for the first time only a little over a year ago, but fell quickly into a fruitful collaboration and close friendship. m and p bring distinct but complementary sensibilities to their musical collaboration, p creating driving beats and contagious hooks, m bringing the lyrical sensitivity and dynamic vocals that thread Mad Rapture's genre-bending tunes together. - Musikfest

Mad Rapture is an electroacoustic girl/guy duo proudly based in Pittsburgh, PA. Using live instrumentation and vocals fused with compelling electronic soundscapes, Mad Rapture's songs are genre-evasive but decidedly addictive. "m" (vocals and lyrics) and "p," (music) both proud native Pittsburghers, crossed paths for the first time only a little over a year ago, but fell quickly into a fruitful collaboration and close friendship. m and p bring distinct but complementary sensibilities to their musical collaboration, p creating driving beats and contagious hooks, m bringing the lyrical sensitivity and dynamic vocals that thread Mad Rapture's genre-bending tunes together. - Musikfest

Mad Rapture is “refuelling for an epic 2013.” Which is no surprise and exactly what you’d expect as we chat about Mad Rapture’s journey to this point.
Mad RaptureHow does Pittsburgh influence
and inspire your sound?

Mad Rapture: Some of our music is kind of dark…perhaps this is a reflection on Pittsburgh’s frequently grey skies? :)

We definitely do listen to other local artists for inspiration and just to get a sense of the scene in Pittsburgh. Kellee Maize, Rivka, and Action Camp are some pretty established electro artists from Pittsburgh, and especially earlier on, we tried to glean inspiration from them or at least get a sense of what their process was/how they got started here.

And of course, Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller are local heroes, and an influence on some level, although obviously we’re working in different genres. We just collaborated with a young hip-hop producer and rapper, Moslov, for a show, and we definitely want to get some more rap and hip hop samples going on future tracks. Our song “Heels,” from our second album, actually samples a local rapper, Choze.
Your music incorporates lots of genres
is this on purpose or a reflection of the sounds you hear in your head?

Mad Rapture: It’s mostly accidental, although we like that it’s something a lot of people notice and often like about us. We both enjoy and have played music in a variety of genres before we met up and started working together, so I suppose that all comes into play. Maia sang in classic rock and jazz bands, as well as classical/choral music, P played bass in a whole bunch of bands. Actually, P continues to play bass in a folk-rock group based in Pittsburgh, too. So maybe that’s where some of our (as one person labelled it) “bluegrass-dubstep” sound sneaks in. Yeah, we mostly just follow our instincts- if we like a sound or a melody, we follow it.
For Heavy Sugar you donated $500 to a local charity.
Is philanthropy an important aspect of Mad Rapture?

Mad Rapture: We both feel grateful for all the support we had as kids and young adults to do music, and wanted to make a small gesture for kids who don’t get those same opportunities (check out Tickets for Kids: it’s an awesome national, but Pittsburgh-based, nonprofit).

It was also a way of saying thanks to Pittsburgh for being such an awesome city and allowing us to do what we do.

We will probably continue donating some proceeds from future sales to other charities or nonprofits whose missions we like.
What are your
plans for 2013?

Mad Rapture: Bringing sexy back and/or world domination. Okay, serious answer is we’re working on our third CD, which we hope to release in maybe late spring. We’re really excited about this one, and we’re going to really take our time with it. In the meantime, we have a few more local shows.

We’re also looking forward to getting to see Austin, Texas. We’ll be playing down there in March! In June, we’re doing a live music session with radio station WYEP for their Third Thursdays program. Super pumped.

And we have a very unusual animated music video under way for our song “Sour.”
Here is the NewMusic Ten time machine…you can travel back in time to visit
with a famous Pittsburgher…who do you see?

Mad Rapture: Andy Warhol would’ve been an interesting character to meet. And Rachel Carson was probably a cool cat. - NewMusic Ten

The classes researched the bands and listened to their music online to decide who they thought would be the best fit. They chose a range of performers, including the hip-hop duo Ground Up, the family modern pop rock group Bonner Band, electronic duo Mad Rapture and honky-tonk band Fox Street Allstars, which it turns out was also booked by ArtsQuest to play its Musikfest Cafe on Aug. 10.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/musikfest/mc-bethlehem-schools-present-at-musikfest-20130728,0,4740188.story#ixzz2ae7qsxaq
Follow us: @mcall on Twitter | mcall.lv on Facebook - The Morning Call

Skope: What are two goals for you in 2013?
MR: At the moment we’re working on our third CD, so finishing that and making it something we’re really proud to release is one goal. Another is revamping our live show a bit- incorporating more live instrumentation, doing more acoustic versions of our stuff. We’d also like to get more videos up online.

Skope: How did music go from being a passion/hobby to a livelihood for you?
MR: It’s just the two of us (Maia and Patrick) in the group, and I think finding someone that we work so well with has been a major factor in being able to do so much musically in a short time. We complement each other in that Patrick is really great at tackling certain things, and Maia has strengths in different areas; we’re a good team.

Skope: What are you currently promoting the most?
MR: Once our third CD comes out that will be our biggest promotional push. In March, we’re also going to be playing Austin during Music Week so we’re definitely going to be doing some promotion for that.

Skope: What do you enjoy when you’re not playing music?
MR: Good food, good company, booze. We’re hedonists.

Skope: Do you have any youtube videos or soundcloud singles we should hear?
MR: We have both of our albums up on soundcloud as well as a “sneak peek” of a song that will likely be on our next CD. They’re all available on http://soundcloud.com/MadRapture

Skope: What is coming up for you and where are you available online?
MR: CD 3, our show in Austin in March, and a live performance on WYEP 91.3 in June are just a couple of things we’re looking forward to in the next few months. You can find more online at www.MadRapture.com. Cheers! - Skopemag.com

Skope: What are two goals for you in 2013?
MR: At the moment we’re working on our third CD, so finishing that and making it something we’re really proud to release is one goal. Another is revamping our live show a bit- incorporating more live instrumentation, doing more acoustic versions of our stuff. We’d also like to get more videos up online.

Skope: How did music go from being a passion/hobby to a livelihood for you?
MR: It’s just the two of us (Maia and Patrick) in the group, and I think finding someone that we work so well with has been a major factor in being able to do so much musically in a short time. We complement each other in that Patrick is really great at tackling certain things, and Maia has strengths in different areas; we’re a good team.

Skope: What are you currently promoting the most?
MR: Once our third CD comes out that will be our biggest promotional push. In March, we’re also going to be playing Austin during Music Week so we’re definitely going to be doing some promotion for that.

Skope: What do you enjoy when you’re not playing music?
MR: Good food, good company, booze. We’re hedonists.

Skope: Do you have any youtube videos or soundcloud singles we should hear?
MR: We have both of our albums up on soundcloud as well as a “sneak peek” of a song that will likely be on our next CD. They’re all available on http://soundcloud.com/MadRapture

Skope: What is coming up for you and where are you available online?
MR: CD 3, our show in Austin in March, and a live performance on WYEP 91.3 in June are just a couple of things we’re looking forward to in the next few months. You can find more online at www.MadRapture.com. Cheers! - Skopemag.com

Indie Group Mad Rapture is certainly creating the buzz they deserve in the Indie Music Industry. Their music is refreshing, fun, and creative that successfully mixes several genres into one fantastic sound. Music fans will fall in love with this group’s tunes as much as this publication has. Check out this recent spotlight we had with Maia and P of Mad Rapture who share their wonderful story with us. Enjoy!

Isaac: Thank you for being a part of our weekly music interview spotlights. Let’s get started. The Indie Music Industry is an amazing beast. Many music critics have stated that Indie Music is on the rise with many new performers being discovered each day. Do you believe that indie music artists can rise to the level of stardom that their major music studio counterparts are able to now?

Maia: I think we've already seen that trend happening, with musicians like Adele and Gotye and Foster the People unexpectedly having these huge radio hits with songs that sound nothing like what you would expect to hear on Top 40 Radio. I think access to things like YouTube and Pandora have made it far more feasible for unsigned artists to get major play. Listeners play a much more active role now in what gets airplay, which is great. The other things is independent musicians now have access to such amazing tools, like Ableton, the program Patrick uses to create most of our songs and add effects.

P: Simply put, it’s never been easier for indie musicians to pursue music as a career and passion but, ironically, that’s not to say it is an easy task by any means. It still takes heaps of dedication it’s just that more opportunities are accessible to us.

Isaac: What do you feel has been your biggest contribution you have made to Indie Music Industry thus far in your career?

Maia: We're still quite new as a group, we've only been together a little over a year, but I'm very proud that both of our first EPs were entirely self-produced and self-released. Also, as much as it would be nice to be making more money on our music, I'm really happy with our choice to release our music for free to anyone who likes it. At this point at least, I'm just thrilled that people are listening to our music.

P: My favorite contribution is a bit of a personal win, and less so than a ‘big’ win in terms of numbers or sales. We were asked by our favorite indie Pittsburgh-based radio station (WYEP) to work with a teen musician, and mentor and help write a tune together. At the end, there is a great event with other teens and local band mentors. We are in the process of doing that now and it’s quite fulfilling to know that you can make an impact on not just the ambiguous music biz bubble, but in people’s lives – isn’t that what music is about? (queue Disney music).

Isaac: I am interested to know if you could go back and change anything about your own musical career, what would it be and why?

Maia: I would have dedicated even more time and energy to writing and recording original music in my teens and during college, and I would've done so with less concern for what other people think about my music. I think I was scared to devote myself to it fully because there's no certainty in the music business. But now, I definitely feel that putting everything I have into our music is really something that brings me happiness, and life's short, so that's worth it!



P: I can’t say that I have regretted or wish I changed anything, as of yet. One could say they wish they were more serious with it earlier/tried harder/etc. But that’s a trade off because you would be losing a bit of whom you are and the experiences that have brought you to this point. To me, those characteristics and experiences are what make your art worth the attention – whether it’s music, painting, or LARPing in the back yard with a foam sword.

Isaac: I am curious to know do you feel that the music industry as a whole is surrounded by an endless pool of undiscovered talents or overcrowded with mediocre performers.

Maia: Again, I think things like YouTube have made it clear that there are a truly staggering number of talented "amateur" musicians out there. It's actually a little scary how much talent is out there. I do think that one thing that's a bit rarer is really excellent songwriting. There are thousands of highly capable instrumentalists and vocalists but not nearly as many people who have a gift for storytelling or for putting a new spin on a very old concept, like love... I still have a lot to improve, but I like to think that Patrick and I bring pretty well-crafted songs and lyrics to the table.

We’re going to be even more focused on the overall arc of our songs on the next CD. P: I don’t really feel any emotion towards those two statements. I do agree that the landscape of the music business can be a bit uneven in certain territories, and it’s shitty to see great musicians not quite fulfilling their dreams – in fact it’s horrible because I sit there i - Junior's Cave Online Magazine

Indie Group Mad Rapture is certainly creating the buzz they deserve in the Indie Music Industry. Their music is refreshing, fun, and creative that successfully mixes several genres into one fantastic sound. Music fans will fall in love with this group’s tunes as much as this publication has. Check out this recent spotlight we had with Maia and P of Mad Rapture who share their wonderful story with us. Enjoy!

Isaac: Thank you for being a part of our weekly music interview spotlights. Let’s get started. The Indie Music Industry is an amazing beast. Many music critics have stated that Indie Music is on the rise with many new performers being discovered each day. Do you believe that indie music artists can rise to the level of stardom that their major music studio counterparts are able to now?

Maia: I think we've already seen that trend happening, with musicians like Adele and Gotye and Foster the People unexpectedly having these huge radio hits with songs that sound nothing like what you would expect to hear on Top 40 Radio. I think access to things like YouTube and Pandora have made it far more feasible for unsigned artists to get major play. Listeners play a much more active role now in what gets airplay, which is great. The other things is independent musicians now have access to such amazing tools, like Ableton, the program Patrick uses to create most of our songs and add effects.

P: Simply put, it’s never been easier for indie musicians to pursue music as a career and passion but, ironically, that’s not to say it is an easy task by any means. It still takes heaps of dedication it’s just that more opportunities are accessible to us.

Isaac: What do you feel has been your biggest contribution you have made to Indie Music Industry thus far in your career?

Maia: We're still quite new as a group, we've only been together a little over a year, but I'm very proud that both of our first EPs were entirely self-produced and self-released. Also, as much as it would be nice to be making more money on our music, I'm really happy with our choice to release our music for free to anyone who likes it. At this point at least, I'm just thrilled that people are listening to our music.

P: My favorite contribution is a bit of a personal win, and less so than a ‘big’ win in terms of numbers or sales. We were asked by our favorite indie Pittsburgh-based radio station (WYEP) to work with a teen musician, and mentor and help write a tune together. At the end, there is a great event with other teens and local band mentors. We are in the process of doing that now and it’s quite fulfilling to know that you can make an impact on not just the ambiguous music biz bubble, but in people’s lives – isn’t that what music is about? (queue Disney music).

Isaac: I am interested to know if you could go back and change anything about your own musical career, what would it be and why?

Maia: I would have dedicated even more time and energy to writing and recording original music in my teens and during college, and I would've done so with less concern for what other people think about my music. I think I was scared to devote myself to it fully because there's no certainty in the music business. But now, I definitely feel that putting everything I have into our music is really something that brings me happiness, and life's short, so that's worth it!



P: I can’t say that I have regretted or wish I changed anything, as of yet. One could say they wish they were more serious with it earlier/tried harder/etc. But that’s a trade off because you would be losing a bit of whom you are and the experiences that have brought you to this point. To me, those characteristics and experiences are what make your art worth the attention – whether it’s music, painting, or LARPing in the back yard with a foam sword.

Isaac: I am curious to know do you feel that the music industry as a whole is surrounded by an endless pool of undiscovered talents or overcrowded with mediocre performers.

Maia: Again, I think things like YouTube have made it clear that there are a truly staggering number of talented "amateur" musicians out there. It's actually a little scary how much talent is out there. I do think that one thing that's a bit rarer is really excellent songwriting. There are thousands of highly capable instrumentalists and vocalists but not nearly as many people who have a gift for storytelling or for putting a new spin on a very old concept, like love... I still have a lot to improve, but I like to think that Patrick and I bring pretty well-crafted songs and lyrics to the table.

We’re going to be even more focused on the overall arc of our songs on the next CD. P: I don’t really feel any emotion towards those two statements. I do agree that the landscape of the music business can be a bit uneven in certain territories, and it’s shitty to see great musicians not quite fulfilling their dreams – in fact it’s horrible because I sit there i - Junior's Cave Online Magazine

Indie Group Mad Rapture is certainly creating the buzz they deserve in the Indie Music Industry. Their music is refreshing, fun, and creative that successfully mixes several genres into one fantastic sound. Music fans will fall in love with this group’s tunes as much as this publication has. Check out this recent spotlight we had with Maia and P of Mad Rapture who share their wonderful story with us. Enjoy!

Isaac: Thank you for being a part of our weekly music interview spotlights. Let’s get started. The Indie Music Industry is an amazing beast. Many music critics have stated that Indie Music is on the rise with many new performers being discovered each day. Do you believe that indie music artists can rise to the level of stardom that their major music studio counterparts are able to now?

Maia: I think we've already seen that trend happening, with musicians like Adele and Gotye and Foster the People unexpectedly having these huge radio hits with songs that sound nothing like what you would expect to hear on Top 40 Radio. I think access to things like YouTube and Pandora have made it far more feasible for unsigned artists to get major play. Listeners play a much more active role now in what gets airplay, which is great. The other things is independent musicians now have access to such amazing tools, like Ableton, the program Patrick uses to create most of our songs and add effects.

P: Simply put, it’s never been easier for indie musicians to pursue music as a career and passion but, ironically, that’s not to say it is an easy task by any means. It still takes heaps of dedication it’s just that more opportunities are accessible to us.

Isaac: What do you feel has been your biggest contribution you have made to Indie Music Industry thus far in your career?

Maia: We're still quite new as a group, we've only been together a little over a year, but I'm very proud that both of our first EPs were entirely self-produced and self-released. Also, as much as it would be nice to be making more money on our music, I'm really happy with our choice to release our music for free to anyone who likes it. At this point at least, I'm just thrilled that people are listening to our music.

P: My favorite contribution is a bit of a personal win, and less so than a ‘big’ win in terms of numbers or sales. We were asked by our favorite indie Pittsburgh-based radio station (WYEP) to work with a teen musician, and mentor and help write a tune together. At the end, there is a great event with other teens and local band mentors. We are in the process of doing that now and it’s quite fulfilling to know that you can make an impact on not just the ambiguous music biz bubble, but in people’s lives – isn’t that what music is about? (queue Disney music).

Isaac: I am interested to know if you could go back and change anything about your own musical career, what would it be and why?

Maia: I would have dedicated even more time and energy to writing and recording original music in my teens and during college, and I would've done so with less concern for what other people think about my music. I think I was scared to devote myself to it fully because there's no certainty in the music business. But now, I definitely feel that putting everything I have into our music is really something that brings me happiness, and life's short, so that's worth it!



P: I can’t say that I have regretted or wish I changed anything, as of yet. One could say they wish they were more serious with it earlier/tried harder/etc. But that’s a trade off because you would be losing a bit of whom you are and the experiences that have brought you to this point. To me, those characteristics and experiences are what make your art worth the attention – whether it’s music, painting, or LARPing in the back yard with a foam sword.

Isaac: I am curious to know do you feel that the music industry as a whole is surrounded by an endless pool of undiscovered talents or overcrowded with mediocre performers.

Maia: Again, I think things like YouTube have made it clear that there are a truly staggering number of talented "amateur" musicians out there. It's actually a little scary how much talent is out there. I do think that one thing that's a bit rarer is really excellent songwriting. There are thousands of highly capable instrumentalists and vocalists but not nearly as many people who have a gift for storytelling or for putting a new spin on a very old concept, like love... I still have a lot to improve, but I like to think that Patrick and I bring pretty well-crafted songs and lyrics to the table.

We’re going to be even more focused on the overall arc of our songs on the next CD. P: I don’t really feel any emotion towards those two statements. I do agree that the landscape of the music business can be a bit uneven in certain territories, and it’s shitty to see great musicians not quite fulfilling their dreams – in fact it’s horrible because I sit there i - Junior's Cave Online Magazine

ElectroAcoustic group Mad Rapture won a spot at the Tinderbox Music Festival.
“ReverbNation has been tremendously helpful to us in getting gigs, gaining exposure, and making connections in our first year as a band. Recently we were accepted to perform at the Tinderbox Music Festival at Webster Hall in New York, an all-day annual event featuring up-and-coming female fronted bands. We submitted to play at the festival thinking it was probably a long shot, and were absolutely thrilled when we were selected. This will undoubtedly be our biggest show yet!”
-Mad Rapture - Reverbnation.com

From The Curator: Confession: I’ve no clue what’s going on here…but I wish I had a shovel because I dig it. There’s like thick beats, country-ish elements and pop all mixed into some strange sharp sonic package. How did they do that? These songs are distinct and demand you listen. Or else. There isn’t much else I can say…listen for yourself and lemme know what you think. Makes an ideal Christmas gift for individuals who enjoy smoothies as this music deftly blends all kinds of musical elements. ~Sammy - NewMusic Ten

From The Curator: Confession: I’ve no clue what’s going on here…but I wish I had a shovel because I dig it. There’s like thick beats, country-ish elements and pop all mixed into some strange sharp sonic package. How did they do that? These songs are distinct and demand you listen. Or else. There isn’t much else I can say…listen for yourself and lemme know what you think. Makes an ideal Christmas gift for individuals who enjoy smoothies as this music deftly blends all kinds of musical elements. ~Sammy - NewMusic Ten

Anyone at all acquainted with today’s music scene would hard pressed to try to avoid the sound and influence of electronic music: Gaga, DeadMau5, David Guetta, Girl Talk, almost all of hip hop, and that’s still just scratching the surface (for a slightly more comprehensive list check out this Rolling Stone photo feature). Electronic music has been around for, depending on how you define it (in this case I’ll go with something along the lines of “electronically produced or manipulated sounds recorded in some fixed format”), since the 1940’s, starting with a 1944 piece titled The Expression of Zaar by Halim El-Dabh1. In the decades that followed, it progressed through experimental development in the hands of composers like Pierre Schaeffer, Edgard Varèse, and Karlheinz Stockhausen, to name just a few, along with countless lesser-known pioneers. By the 1970s, the music began to emerge and flourish in the public sphere in the hands of DJs and electronic artists who made the obscure and experimental (not a value judgement) accessible, making it the almost inescapable soundscape of much of modern music.

I can’t help but find it close to impossible to imagine that there’s still an unturned stone in that stream, let alone space for something tried and true.

There’s a band that proves me wrong on both counts, Mad Rapture.

Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mad Rapture describe themselves as an acoustronic duo that “pays homage to no genres” while simultaneously “tearing down old walls and building new bridges”. They create music that is catchy and accessible, yet wonderfully complex, delivering just the right amount of madness to induce rapture. In one word, fresh. Impressive.

Earlier this month, they released their second EP, The Remedy, an ambitious follow up to their first EP, Heavy Sugar. Like its predecessor, The Remedy is filled with tracks that go far beyond great hooks, which are certainly present, to explore the limits of the musical material through a combination of traditional songwriting and technological manipulation. Though both are strong, it is their symbiotic relationship that makes the music so interesting. It is not electro-acoustic music; it is music that has to be electro-acoustic. Impressive indeed--and the band is still in its infancy. - Arguably Unfocused

DJ Herdis Marie Ruud Hansen talks about new electropop duo Mad Rapture on Oslo University radio. - Radio Nova, Oslo, Norway