Tell us about your album?
Two Worlds is my debut solo effort after many years of writing, arranging and touring nationally and abroad with other australian musical outfits. It is a reflection on two sonic worlds converging. Also a musical metaphor for two people breaking away from one another, the end of a past life and beginning of a new journey. The album explores acoustics and orchestral instruments, blended with synthesisers, layered vocals and electronic programming. It was a great challenge, taking many moons to complete, spanning across several sydney-based studios. Two Worlds is due for release on October 23rd, 2015 through my label Dream Gold Records, and MGM distribution.
How would you describe your sound in food form and why?
Well, perhaps a deconstructed Magnum. There are many textures and tone colours being explored. It can be dark, and light. Its early influences permeating a modern mode.
Which song resonates most strongly and why?
A song of my own that most resonates would be; Be Free (Two Worlds). This song, which is the opening track of Two Worlds captures the essence of my sound. Its cinematic, yet ambient with a folk-pop drive embedded on pulsating synth bass.
A song that is not my own, that most resonates is Hangin On, by Active Child. Lyrically and sonically, it captures the fragility of an artists life. The challenges one must face everyday to have the courage to create.
Any on the road anecdotes?
There are just too many that come to mind, after years of touring…standing backstage with Leslie Feist watching Sally Seltmann play her Canadian Music Week show was kinda surreal….playing in Frente and supporting them last year on their Marvin tour was a pretty massive thrill for me…
Where do you draw inspiration from?
My environment and surroundings, my community, other musicians.
What’s next for you?
Once I release this album I’m heading straight back in to writing for the next one. I’m going to record over the summer, and release something quite quickly. I plan to head abroad, hopefully back to Canada.
What’s your scene?
Newtown. A community where all art, all culture, religion and gender converge into one colourful tapestry. Its an environment where artists feel safe to flourish. A scene where artists rub shoulders, support and inspire one another.
About Maples
“What Gabby makes is pop music, of vision and honesty. The latter, often the hardest thing to achieve” (Ross Clelland, themusic.com.au)
‘Whimsical, and polished’ (themusic.com.au).
‘A superlative level of control and awareness of space and timing in her music’ (hhhhappy.com).
Sydney-based songstress Gabby Huber is well known to Australia’s larger music community for her previous endeavours as a band member, touring and playing abroad as a keyboardist and vocalist. Now, after spending several years quietly and carefully crafting her solo sound, she is stepping into the world as MAPLES. Producing a sound that occupies the sonic world where acoustics and electronics meet, Huber’s debut album, Two Worlds will be due for release in October, 2015.
MAPLES captures the marriage between two sounds in Two Worlds. Her Acoustic, folk, band roots converging with an electronic, independent, solo world. In and out of eight studios, spanning over one year, capturing real acoustics from pianos, marimbas, vibraphones, drums, percussion, guitars, and blending them with synths, layered vocals and programming inspired by new-age 80’s electronica. MAPLES focused on culminating a sound ambient yet pop driven. Teaming up with Julian Hamilton (The Presets) to co-write three songs on the ten-track album, and self-producing alongside arranger Dave Symes (Sarah Blasko,
Boy&Bear) MAPLES has set out to create a sound that is of this world and the next. Mixed by the one and only Timothy Whitten (Powderfinger, Lanie Lane, Youthgroup) MAPLES has drawn some of the strongest personalities from all corners of the Australian music industry.
Two Worlds is available worldwide through Huber’s label Dream Gold Records, and MGM distribution on 23rd October, 2015.
MAPLES launches Two Worlds at Newtown Social Club on the 17th November, 2015. Tickets available through ticketscout:
MAPLES will showcase at Australian Music Week 2015, 18th-22nd November, 2015.
