A Trio Carving Out a Dreamlike Soundscape
Step into a world of delicate magic and musical storytelling with Mae Karthauser and her acoustic trio – an atmospheric gathering of piano, cello, flute and voice, that blurs the boundaries between genre.
Mae and her bandmates are classically trained, but their sound refuses to be confined. It drifts through folk, jazz, world music, and classical traditions, creating what Mae describes as “intimate, playful, and melancholic soundscapes that invite listeners to drift into a dreamlike realm.” There’s a gentle romanticism at the heart of their music, shaped by the sweeping lyrical textures of French composers, and a deep yearning woven through the three-part harmonies and chamber-like instrumentation.
Romanticism and French Influences: Music That Evokes Nostalgia
“We have a bit of a penchant for romanticism,” Mae says. “We’re influenced by the sweeping lyrical textures of French music, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia and a raw kind of passion. Through three-part harmonies and the blending of these almost chamber-like instruments, we create haunting soundscapes that transport our audience. Each performance is an invitation to experience a moment of intimacy and connection, where the old meets the new, and the familiar dances with the unknown.”
The Thrill of Live Performance and Improvisation
For Mae, performing live is a vital part of that journey. “We love playing live. As musicians who all love improvisation and the thrill of music that unfolds in the moment, it’s really exciting for the three of us to get together in an intimate venue with a warm audience and get to immerse ourselves in the journey of each song. I’ve found that songs have a life of their own, and each night we play, we discover new unexplored corners of the songs, new possibilities, new surprising moments. We never fully know what to expect, but that’s what makes it so deeply rewarding. It’s like painting a brand new picture every time.”
Songwriting as Discovery: Where Music Unearths Itself
That sense of discovery runs right through Mae’s creative process. She describes songwriting as something mysterious and organic – as though the songs exist somewhere already, waiting to be revealed. “I write the songs to start with. They tend to write themselves, rather… they kind of tumble out of me, or become unearthed bit by bit as I sit at the piano and get really, really quiet. It’s an interesting process because I never exactly know what it is they’re saying until I reach the end and look back. It’s a very organic process.”
It’s only once a song’s essence has appeared that it begins its transformation into the textured, collaborative pieces Mae performs. “Once I see the shape of them, they’re edited and smartened up, and Ronja, Ben and I sit down and start to play with them – drawing out the stories, sculpting the arrangements, messing with textures and harmonies. It’s always so exciting to hear them come into three dimensions and fully take form.”
Musical Heroes and the Art of Honest Expression
Mae’s artistic outlook is influenced deeply by musicians who carve out their own paths. “Joni Mitchell has always been right up there for me. She is a stunning example of an artist who knows how to serve what her songs ask for. Every lyric, every swoop and slide of pitch, every rhythmic choice to me sounds like it is fully in support of the message of what it is she has to say. She paints with music; she’s not interested in the conventions but in expressing what is true with whatever she has to do it. I really admire that. People might call certain aspects of her writing quirky or experimental, but to me they’re just honest.”
Spotlight Track: The Story Behind “Ten Minutes”
One song Mae feels captures her trio’s spirit perfectly is “Ten Minutes.” She describes it as “sweet, feelingful, melancholic, slightly absurd (yes, it was written in ten minutes and it’s talking about only having ten minutes to write it) and has a dreamlike, twinkly quality. I really love how Ben and Ronja’s melodies weave in and out of the sparkling waltz of the piano in the outro section.”
While there have been standout moments on big stages – from BBC2’s The One Show to Glastonbury – it’s often the quieter triumphs that resonate most deeply. Recording their latest album August was one such moment. “Aside from the obvious BBC One Show stuff, the Glastonbury gigs and all the other fancy opportunities we’ve had over the years, recording and releasing our most recent album August was really such a massive high for us. We chose to record the whole album live – rather than meticulously overdubbing and risk polishing the music to death – and it was the best decision. Also because we were able to do the whole thing at Sorting Room Studios on the Dartington estate. This is home turf for me, having been a student of the late Dartington College of Arts back in 2009, so such a fitting location, and live performance is really our happy place. Then performing it on launch night to a packed-out Dartington Great Hall was just sublime. The whole project was such a blissfully organic, easeful and exciting one.”
What’s Next for Mae Karthauser?
As for what’s next, Mae hints at more secrets waiting to emerge. “We have some secret live recordings that have been tucked away in the vaults which we will be releasing soon – new adaptations of two songs from the third album Atlas – and also some fantastic, previously unreleased video footage from a massive gig which will be sneaking its way out very soon.”
Don’t Miss Mae Karthauser Live
In Mae’s music, every note feels deliberate yet free, and every performance is an act of exploration. For those seeking music that blurs boundaries and speaks to the heart, Mae Karthauser offers an experience both intimate and vast.
Whether you’re a devoted music lover or simply curious to discover something beautiful and new, keep an ear out for Mae’s upcoming releases – and, if you can, catch her live. Mae and her trio will be performing at 12 Bar Music & Social on 11 July, and at Buddhafield Festival on 19 July, promising more chances to step into a soundscape where music shimmers like light on water and each song leaves the air a little more charged with possibility.
