MARIS – Photo by Greg Wong

It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane, it’s not even Superman… it’s MARIS. Intoxicatingly energetic, her website describes her as having “first discovered planet Earth in 1999 while traveling through the endless vacuum of space on an expedition for life, love, and adventure… hitching a ride on a comet to Los Angeles in 2021, she decided to stay and become a pop music sensation.” No matter the method of transport or extra-terrestrial means that it took to get here, we’re just glad she decided to stay. Stopping by Boston Calling for her first ever large-scale festival performance, the Montana-born “Voicemail” singer dominated the Blue Stage early on Friday afternoon with a frantically fun set. Powering through her catalog in a tear-away jumpsuit, flanked by two dancers and a live band, the show moved along swimmingly, with lyrics scrolling across the back screen so even first-time listeners could get in on the fun. Following her set, we got to sit down with MARIS to discuss vocal remedies, rabid fans and tacos.

Allston Pudding: Thank you for taking some time to chat with us!

MARIS – Photo by Greg Wong

MARIS: I’m grateful that people wanna talk to ME!

AP: After the performance you gave yesterday, I think it’s clear why people want to follow up with you.

M: No, I had a 10 piece band. I had nothing to do with that.

AP: Oooh sure, sure. So, how are you feeling after yesterday? 

M: I feel good. I’m sad it’s over. There’s so much buildup, and we were prepping for so long. I’m an Indie artist and I do a lot of the stuff myself like the visuals…

AP: Made on CapCut.

M: On CapCut yup! I tried to get them to sponsor me, but they did not respond to my DMs, maybe someday. But it’s just so much buildup and it’s like we prepped for so long. I was going on singing hikes through the mountains to kinda make sure..

AP: To get the songs into your body and everything?

M: Exactly! I didn’t drink or smoke. I’m a stoner & a bud-tender at my day job so I sell weed, but I took a break for a long time. It feels great to be back in a more casual state of mind, but there was so much buildup that it’s hard not to have a comedown after.

AP: There’s always the next show! 

M: Yeah, no I’m excited for the next one. I hope there’s a ‘next one’, more shows!

MARIS – Photo by Greg Wong

AP: What’s your vocal remedy like? You hit some pretty impressive notes and on top of that you have crazy stamina running around the stage.

M: I’m a little dance monkey when I get on stage, I go a little ham. I get energized by making people smile!

AP: Sometimes with an upbeat energetic artist, they don’t always match that same feeling live as they do on the recording, but you absolutely do, while still sounding great. What do you do to prepare? 

M: My team was yelling at me in rehearsal about actually warming up because I can be quite lazy about that stuff but I was doing a lot of lip trills. I get really tense in my neck so I roll that out. I carry a lot of tension in my body in general, so I have to stretch. *quickly cracks their back* I got a long torso so we gotta crack that thing sometimes. Everyone was telling me to ‘shut the fuck up’ because I talk too much and I was losing my voice because I was yapping so much. I do a lot of throat coat. Honestly throughout the set I’m just trying to pace myself, so I can continue to put on a good show and hit those crazy high notes. I focus on controlling breathing into my ribs. But, I’m still learning, I have the opportunity to work with this amazing vocal coach and I asked her questions. My vocal remedy will continue improving over the years. The next time we talk, I’ll have a more distinct routine.

MARIS interviewed by Andrew Bourque – Photo by Greg Wong

AP: What’s your favorite song to perform?

M: ‘False Idol’ was so much fun because of the dancers. They were amazing! They’re students at Berklee College . They were the most respectful, talented… *quickly interrupted by a taco delivery from MARIS’ team; leans into microphone* Sorry, Sarah and Maya have brought me tacos…

AP: Courtesy of El Jefe’s by the way… but back to False Idols.

M: Yes! False Idols was so much fun. The whole thing flew by. Also, getting to do [my new single] “Julia Roberts” was really fun. We quickly choreographed the dance to it. The whole set was so insane. I also performed two unreleased songs, “Chameleon” is one of them, that one comes out in September. It’s the only ballad in my whole set, the joke is that the audience can sit they’re ass down for one song at least [laughs].

AP: What else are you excited for this weekend now that you’re on relaxation

MARIS – Photo by Greg Wong

time?

M: Oh I’m a Huge Chappell Roan fan *starts singing ‘HOT TO GO’* I love her. Love that whole project. I really enjoyed Reneé Rapp. I saw Ed Sheeran in the artist area and his bodyguard said “No”. I’m like “Okay! I’ll go fuck my self then”. But I get it, he’s Ed Sheeran. I’m looking forward to Megan Thee Stallion, I’m a huge fan of the Killers. I’m just excited to see the other artists. I’ve never really been to a music festival of this size. Seeing so many people come together for music and it’s also my first time being in a media tent, it’s kinda like I’m losing my virginity in a lot of ways. It’s very fresh and new and I’m still processing. I was up late in the bath last night like “what the fuck just happened?”

AP: While you’re here, you also got a chance to work with some cool organizations.

M: I got to work with the Boston Music Project, which helps give access to music education. Growing up in Montana, I had some access to music lessons, but it was never as easily accessible or as celebrated as I think it should be. In every city I perform in, I always wanna be a part of bringing music to the community. If I didn’t have that as a kid, I don’t know what I would’ve done.

AP: What’s next for you? 

M: Some unannounced shows coming up, some meet & greets which are going to be amazing! We’re gonna try to do some more limited merch drops because we had so much fun doing those. I also want to continue to find what the show’s spine is, you know what I mean? I have so much more new music too and also I think I might start working on an album? I’m thinking about it.

AP: That was the next question so it’s good you mention that.

M: Albums are hard. It’s an amazing idea but unless you have a ton of money and resources and also the listener base… like, when I put out an album, I want people to be foaming at the mouth for it. The second it’s out it’s like *insert rabid dog noises* …are you recording this? Can’t wait to see that transcribed *more rabid noises*.

MARIS – Photo by Greg Wong

For more information on MARIS, follow their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and visit their website here!