Maryann Cotton Interviewed

Upon the release of the debut album by Maryann Cotton Planetmosh caught up with the enigmatic front man to discuss his influences, his sounds, the King Diamond connection and much more.

This is Lee Walker from Planet Mosh meeting up with Maryann Cotton

LW – Thanks for taking the time out to discuss things Maryann Cotton related for the Planetmosh readers.

MC – You’re welcome.

LW – For the people out there just discovering Maryann Cotton as a result of this interview how did the band come together?

MC – Well I started my own band back in 2007, and we played a few gigs together in Denmark, but after a little while I found out that my ambitions was much bigger than theirs. So I called them up and told them that I was leaving the band, and I think they fell apart just right after that.

So the following year, I spent a lot of time trying to find myself and my own style and began slowly to write some material for a possible upcoming album in the future.

Then in 2009, my dad contacted the old King Diamond line-up from 1990, and asked them to play on my album. They all said yes and then we got together and started slowly to work on the album.

After some time in the studio everything sounded so great! So I asked Hal, Pete, and Snowy whether they would join the band, or play some shows with me live and they all said yes, which was so cool ! So here we are, and we’re ready to give everyone an orgasm!

By the way, we did an audition for a second guitarist to take over for Andy LaRocque, and 20 year old Sebastian Sly was a perfect fit! So today he’s also a regular part of the band!

LW – With three members of the band previously featuring in King Diamond, as well as your own success in “Scenen Er Din”, do you feel you are under extra pressure for the band to be successful?

MC – You know, it’s my band and therefore it’s up to me all the way. I will never ever accept any compromises, I will always be myself and do what I like, whether people like it or not! But of course it’s always a nice feeling if people understand what you are doing, and if you can make some music that people will like and support.

LW – Keeping with the King Diamond connection. Do you feel that the inclusion of so many members from that band have influenced the “sounds” of  Maryann Cotton?

MC – Well my music is totally different from King Diamonds, but if you are into his stuff you can definitely hear that it is the old King musicians who plays on the album. They really have their own style and signature. So that’s really cool!

LW – Why did you choose the stage name “Maryann Cotton” for yourself, and what made you choose the name Maryann Cotton for the band?

MC – I’ve always looked up to the phenomenon of Shock Rock such as Alice Cooper, King Diamond, Kiss, and Marilyn Manson. So I created this character ”Maryann Cotton”, and back when I started my band it was always me who was mentioned when we were playing our shows, and it got quickly related to me. So I thought, ”Okay.. This is my thing and my band, and it should be called… MARYANN COTTON! 

LW – What bands/artists have influenced you over the years?

MC – I grew up to King Diamond because of my dad, so King has always been a huge inspiration for me. But I remember I saw Alice Cooper perform live on one of my dad’s old VHS video tapes, it was on his Billion Dollar Babies tour that he did back in 1973, and that was really the biggest thing that I ever had seen! I must have been 3 years old or something, but I understood the whole thing you know, the way he sang the way moved on the stage and everything. So from that day, I already knew that I wanted to make music.

LW – In terms of the album what are your favourite songs from it?

MC – It’s hard to say which song is my favourite, but there will always be some songs which personally means more to you than others, like ”Heaven Send For Me”, ”Die In Britain”, ”Shock Me”, and ”Maryann”. Especially ”Maryann” it’s really one of those songs that has been changed 500 times until the right feeling was there, you know all the orchestra arrangements, and generally just to make the story to shine throughout the song! So that song will always mean a lot to me, and I’m really proud of the final result!

LW – How would you describe Maryann Cotton’s sounds?

MC – I think we have a very personal and unique sound, and the album ”Free Falling Angels” is a very acoustic album combined with a modern production.

We have not tried to compare our sound with any other bands out there. So the sound you hear on the album is 100% real, and the music is played straight from the heart, and as we wanted it sound! 

LW – If you had to pick one song to sum up Maryann Cotton right now what would it be?

MC – Hmm… I think I would be “Die In Britain”. There are many nuances in the song, the rhythm sections (bass & drums) are hard-hitting, it has some really good song lines, and a very catchy chorus! 

LW – Besides the album release what do you have planned for the rest of 2012?

MC – We have been organising a lot of things in the last 6 – 7 weeks, and right now we’re working on doing a full European tour in the end of this year… So there’s a lot of things going on right now.

LW – Are there any bands out there you would recommend keeping an eye on right now?

MC – I’ve been so focused and so preoccupied with my new album in the last few months, so I don’t really know what’s moving right now, but I saw King Diamond’s comeback show in Sweden a couple of weeks ago and I must say that he’s really in good shape now, and the future looks really good for him. So I think that people should keep an eye on the King Diamond band right now!

LW -Are there any messages that you would like to pass on to your fans?

MC – Thanks to all of you, who have supported me & the band! You are the best! And stay tuned, because we’re coming…

Die young and have fun! Ha ha 

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For more information please check out Maryann Cotton’s Official Facebook Page HERE