Opal Mag: “When I write, it’s quite a nostalgic feeling”
The Brighton dream-pop musician talks about growing up surrounded by a musical family and big inspirations.
Photo: Jamie-Lee Culver
Having just arrived in Milton Keynes, Opal Mag sat down with us to discuss her musical influences, her latest single and what the future holds. After being in numerous bands around Brighton, the musician is now carving out her own sound on her own terms.
First of all, where did the name ‘Opal Mag’ come from?
Oh, good question. So, I basically started this project. Obviously, we didn’t have a name yet, and I’d booked a gig, and they were going to announce it in a few weeks. So I was like, ‘right, I need a name’. I was writing down loads of names and combining words I liked the sound of. And then, for some reason, I combined ‘Opal’ and ‘Mag’ together, and I showed loads of friends the list, and they kept getting drawn to that. I went with that in the end, then I actually saw a video about Mazzy Star’s origin, and it turns out their first name was Opal. I really like Mazzy Star and they’re quite an influence, so I thought, ‘I wonder why that kept coming up?’ I feel like it was meant to be.
Is there a certain artist, like Mazzy Star, that made you want to make music?
I feel like so many people have their heroes or their icons, but I had so many different places I would pull from, you know, I’d say even from Whitney Houston. I would sing Whitney Houston in my room, but then I’d also sing along to Avril Lavigne or something. So I wouldn’t say I have one icon or hero. It’s more just the culture at the time of growing up.
Do you have any relatives who were into music?
My family’s quite musical, my brother’s a musician as well. And then my dad plays piano and used to write songs when he was younger, so he’d always play music in the house, and it was a range of, I guess, ‘dad rock’, but also like classical music and then stuff like Bowie, Stevie Wonder, that kind of thing. Then my mum is fairly performative — not in a bad way — she’s Spanish, and she’s quite dramatic. So I think I got the performance side from her.
How did your single ‘Kitchen Song’ come about?
Kitchen Song I wrote in the middle of the night, maybe a year and a bit ago, I want to say? My concept of time is really bad. It was the middle of the night, my housemates were asleep, and I had to be as quiet as possible, and I think that started off the vibe of the song. It was initially quite lo-fi, which I have moments where it still is. But in the studio.
I was working with this producer called Michelle Hindriks. She’s from the band CIEL. Working with her really brought it up a notch and opened up the sounds, like with the slide guitar, working with my guitarist, who recorded on this track for the first time. She brought a new vibe as well. It just happened quite quickly. I recorded it in February, which is probably the quickest I’ve ever released something after recording it, because it can take like a year, two years. It’s just so long sometimes.
How are you finding being independent? I mean, I imagine you don’t have anything to compare it to.
Yeah. I’ve never been on a label or anything. But I like having control, you know, I just decided I wanted to put that out, and I didn’t really have to ask anyone’s permission, which was nice. But also, I think it’s nice to have support, which I have on this track. I’ve been working with the distributor who’s been really helpful, and yeah, just trying to build a network of people who can advise, but they’re still very much like, ‘it’s down to you at the end of the day’.
How do you find the work and music balance?
I work at a cafe. It’s flexible, which is good. That’s why I’m doing it, because it’s probably the most flexible, rather than a regular nine-to-five, which I’d hate anyway. I’ve done it, and I just don’t like it. I think it’s good. Obviously, it can be kind of soul-destroying when you’re like, ‘I’ve just played this big venue’, and then you’re opening the café the next day, and no one cares.
What was the first song you wrote?
I think the first song I wrote entirely on my own, I was 19. Before that, I’d just been writing in bands.
What bands have you been in?
None that are doing anything now. I’ve been in a lot of different projects, but at different levels.
What were your roles in the bands?
Always the front person but with this, because it’s my personal project and I have a say over the sound and the look and everything, I feel a lot more confident in my writing. It just feels more natural because I think I’m not trying to fit what someone else wants.
Were there a lot of differing opinions and things like that in the past?
Definitely, yeah. Which I think can stunt creativity quite a lot. So, I feel really content with the way that I write and then bring it to other people.
Do you have any music-related goals that you want to achieve? Maybe playing a big venue?
It would be great to play Brixton Academy as the headliner one day. That would be great. Or definitely play Glastonbury Festival on one of the stages because I’ve never played there before.
Have you been?
I’ve never been, so it feels like this mystical land that everyone keeps talking about. I mean, I’m not a great festival goer, but I’d love to play the festival.
Have you played many festivals?
Not really, no. We’ve played day festivals in Brighton, and we did Brighton Psych Fest last year. But, in terms of outside of Brighton, this is the first one. So yeah, I’m excited to do more. I think next year, hopefully, I’ll get to play all the festivals.
What would your dream band to support be?
Probably Wolf Alice, that would be a really good one. I’m quite inspired by them, and I feel like the music would make sense. And Ellie [Rowsell], I guess if you are talking about inspiration from people you look up to, I definitely think her. I feel like, as a vocalist and the front person, she is just great.
If you could go back and soundtrack any film, what would you choose?
That’s a good question. I think when I write, it’s quite a nostalgic feeling and films to me feel really nostalgic. I think it’s just the vibe of definitely coming-of-age movies and stuff like that. I’ve completely forgotten every movie I’ve ever watched. I’ve watched thousands and thousands of movies, and none are coming to my brain right now.
In the Brighton music scene, is there any standout artists for you?
There are really good bands. There’s a new band that I feel like are doing quite cool stuff called CARNE — it’s kind of grungy shoegaze and they’re quite new. Big Long Sun, they’re great. So many people — Hutch, obviously.
And lastly, if you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
So Tonight That I Might See by Mazzy Star.
