Joseph and Maia give a living room concert in Eorupe. Photo/supplied
Mount duo home from Europe tour.
Joseph and Maia are coming to a living room near you. Prior to departing for a European odyssey in June, the Mount duo, Joseph Thompson and Maia Potier, spoke to the Bay News about their fan-funded recording Sorrento and what they expected from their trip.
Next month they will play an intimate gig somewhere in Mount Maunganui, embracing the concept of the "living room concert" introduced to them while overseas.
"Since the article was written we have been non-stop touring. We did a run of five shows in New Zealand just before we left home in June and have played shows at least three times a week since then," says Joseph from Brighton, on England's south coast.
Joseph and Maia have never been ones to rest in their comfort zone, and have delighted in the learning experience of touring and playing in Europe. "We have grown and matured, but this side of the world has also taught us to not take things too seriously," he says.
"This industry is like no other and you really just have to take opportunities as they come - you can't plan for them. "We always talk about this lifestyle giving us higher highs and lower lows than ever before.
Some days we think that we are totally beating life and then there are other days where everything falls apart and you wonder what the heck you are doing."
Booking shows is something that has required a scattergun approach and any successes have determined their next move.
"For every thousand emails we send out, we maybe get 10 replies. Festivals, promoters, venues, other artists - booking itself is like a full time job and we're always looking ahead to the next few months. Then we just go where the shows are," Joseph says.
"Last year we literally took everything that came our way. We drove some ridiculous routes to get from one show to the next but that's just part of the job. "This year we are trying to plan our routes a little better and being a little more picky with the types of shows we'll play.
"There's an organisation called Sofar Sounds that has been a huge help to us. They introduced us to the living room concert idea and they have been some of the best shows that we've played."
They have had support from friends in the UK and have toured through Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. "Last year we didn't spend more than three days in one spot before we moved on to play our next show. It's exhausting but a fun way to see the world and meet the best people."
Last weekend they played a sold-out show in Amsterdam before returning to New Zealand to visit friends and family and play a few shows. The duo will then return to Germany in March.
"We've missed home, but for the first time in our lives we are able to be full-time, professional musicians over here. London alone is double the population of the whole of New Zealand, so it just makes sense to us to be over here and establish ourselves," he says.
"Everyone in the music industry in New Zealand knows everyone and sometimes it can be hard to shake off preconceived ideas of who you are or where your music fits in to the scene," Joseph says.
"Over here, people are hearing of us for the first time with no clouded judgement and meeting us as the people that we are right now, not who we were five years ago."
Joseph and Maia will play a living room concert at a yet to be disclosed venue in Mount Maunganui on February 25.
The tickets are 'Pay What You Want' and limited to a very small number. Go to www.jandmnzmtm.eventbrite.co.nz for ticket details.
They will also be playing at the Welcome Bay Family Music Festival on February 20.