Music to soundtrack a Texas road trip.
A quick glance at the tracklist of the latest Theory Therapy mix is enough to pique the interest of any music fan. Seeing Cocteau Twins, Burial, Vegyn, Pub, Jens Lekman and a recording from a Wim Wender’s film alongside one another, you might not be entirely sure what to expect, but if you’re familiar with the Texas-based musician more eaze, you basically know that it’s going to be really great and completely unique.
Mari Maurice is one of those rare artists who manages to pull things off that just shouldn’t work on paper. Whether that means releasing autotuned emo ambient or mixing Jens Lekman with IDM icons Pub, Mari makes everything she does sound so good you can’t believe nobody has thought to do it already. That ceaseless creativity and clear passion for music seems to be the driving force behind everything she does, from her label with Claire Rousay and solo releases to her forthcoming collaborative project with New York artist Mister Lies. It's also probably what makes her mix one of the most engrossing and enjoyable I’ve heard in ages.
How are you today?
I am fine — I’m a little bit sleepy but also feeling generally excited about a lot right now.
Can you tell us a little bit about the mix? What were you feeling when you made it?
I made this mix the day after my first show in public since March of 2020. For a while, I truly believed i would never get to perform live again, so I was feeling very sentimental and grateful. I am also crushing very hard on someone I’ve been seeing so, I am feeling a lot of big swooning feelings too.
Over the past year I’ve made several seasonal playlists that consist of tracks that capture that time of the year for me personally. They’re usually equal parts nostalgic and full of songs/sounds of all sorts that are currently inspiring or moving to me. I usually hit shuffle and will listen to them socially or on long drives. I wanted to capture some of that intimacy with this mix. Some of my favorite songs of all time are included here as are tunes that I put on when I am feeling stuck creatively or emotionally.
Where did you record the mix?
I recorded the mix sitting on my primary partner and I’s new bright pink couch in our living room. I wanted to work on headphones and away from my studio space.
Where would you recommend listening to it?
I would recommend listening to this mix while driving with friends to go swimming. I also think it would be ideal to listen to on a beach or while on a long walk.
Are there any tracks you’ve used in the mix that are special or significant to you?
“Maple Leaves” by Jens Lekman has been one of my favorite songs since I was 16 years old and I literally took the audio from the same CD I’ve owned since high school. The case is completely shattered but I’m so happy the disc itself was intact because the record has disappeared from almost all streaming services (I imagine due to sample issues). I remember listening to that song on the bus ride to school almost every day and my friend Alicia explaining the brilliance of the lyrics to me. They completely went over my head until I was well into my 20s. It is such a perfectly funny and sad song full of longing.
I have lots of vivid memories associated with the other songs here: sitting on the beach alone listening to “World” by Visible Cloaks as the sun set, a car full of friends dancing to “Vibe” by Holly Waxwing upon hearing it for the first time, “Debold” by Vegyn playing on the way to see some friends while feeling comfortable in my body for the first time, etc…
I’ll also just say that “Rinse Spin Cycle/Nicholas Cage” by Pickle Darling is one of those songs I wish would never end and everyone I’ve shown it to has had a similar reaction to it. I heard it during a time in my life when I really needed to hear it.
Theory Therapy mixes are about sharing the music that you personally find therapeutic and restorative. What does that mean for you?
For me, that is work that I find inspiring, grounding, and comforting. Things that make me feel euphoric and simultaneously nostalgic and excited for the future.
Is there a particular album or piece of music that you find yourself returning to for tranquillity?
Recently, I’ve really found a lot of pleasure in revisiting releases from the PLZ Make It Ruins catalog. All of their releases lie at this perfect intersection of so many things I love and they really make me feel rejuvenated with every listen.
Last year I suffered from some extreme insomnia and the only record that would continually comfort me or help with relaxing at night was “Make You Love Me Sweet” by Pendant. That album grew to have an almost spiritual significance for me and in general I find everything from the West Mineral ltd., Motion Ward, Sferic, etc world to be music that I come back to over and over when I want to feel a sort of a blurry euphoric calm.
What do you have planned for the second half of the year?
I have collaborative releases with Claire Rousay, Seth Graham, and Nick Zanca on the horizon over the next few months. I also have a couple of solo releases that are wrapped and I’m sure at least one of those will be out in the fall. I’ve also been working with the bands alexalone and Slomo Drags who both have records coming out this year.
Tracklist:
Field Recording Of Park
DJ Python - Te Conoci
Burial - Dolphinz
Cocteau Twins - Lazy Calm
TIBSLC - Beach Life
Georgia - Mental Arena Mode
Pickle Darling- Rinse Spin Cycle/Nicholas Cage
Vegyn - Debold
Holly Waxwing - Vibe
Easyfun - Blink
Jens Lekman - Maple Leaves
Pub - Summer
Merely - Sick Heart River
Yawning Portal - Make You Happy Housefire
Visible Cloaks - World
Bianca Scout - Foreather
Mica Levi - Wave
Maria Somerville - Brighter Days
DJ Lostboi - All The Clouds Disturbed
Infinite Body - Clemency
“Until The End Of The World” Payphone Scene
Gibi ASMR Youtube - Close-Up Ear-to-Ear Positive Affirmations