Maeven Interview

(Left to right Becca - Vox, Scarlet Viper - guitar, Sally Sexx Saunders - guitar, Mel - drums and Hannah B - bass)

Referring to themselves as “Motley Crüe beating Guns n Roses round the head with Angus Young. Plus five pairs of boobs” peaked our interests so we had to check them out. The Sheffield based all girl rockers (guitarist Scarlet Viper, guitarist Sally Sexx Saunders and bassist Hannah B) and took a few minutes out to talk to Chris Toxic about who they are, where it started and why the world should stand up and pay attention to Maeven.

CT: How are you/ All today ?
All: We're good, cheers

CT: Who plays what in the band?
Hannah B - I play bass!
Scarlet Viper - Me and Sally share guitar duties, Mel Nolan is on the drums, and the new voice of Maeven is BECCA TOWLER!

CT: What personalities would you each say you have like who the joker who the quiet one and so on?
SV: Well me and Mel tend to be the drunkest ones, Sally is as well when she comes out! Becca's a right laugh as well, get a few drinks in her and she dances like Debbie Harry.
HB: I like presents....
SS: Me and Mel are the party people, really loud and like... weird really haha. Alicia tends to get wasted and laughs A LOT. Becca laughs more then everyone at everything haha, and she has a good like 'logical' head, she can sort stuffs out well! Hannah is sexy.

CT: How did you come up with the name and what does it mean?
SV: It's a really shit story, Mel spelt a word wrong, so it said Maeven. That's actually the truth like.
SS: truthfully, I typed in 'cool words' on Google and 'Maven' came up, then Mel spelt it wrong, and it became 'Maeven'. aaaace!

CT: Describe Maeven to anyone who hasn’t heard of you?
SV: We're right good! haha
HB: YEAH we are!
SS: Loud, 'ballsy', punky rock n roll - I guess.
Sv: No seriously, we're a weird mix of influences, kinda sleazy 80s rock with female vocals....it's strange, it can't really be categorised! Just have a listen!

CT: Do you find it difficult being an all girl band in the rock world?
HB: No
SV: Some people are sceptical when they see you first get onstage and they've never seen you before, but we don't fit the "Girl band" stereotype, we have metaphorical BALLS or something.
SS: Not really, we can kick a lot of ass, so it doesn’t really matter. we don’t tend to bother about people who have a problem with us cos we're girls. Just cos we got tits doesn’t make us shit!
HB: Some people are jealous....
SV: Yeah, that too

CT: The last time I saw Maeven you had a different lead singer How has that changed the band?
HB: Ding dong the witch is dead!
SS: Everything has changed so much, and we are all a lot happier! Becca just fits better then Nina did, I don’t know why and she has a totally amazing voice!
SV: Haha! Yeah it has definitely changed the band for the better! Everyone feels better onstage and off, Becca's just amazing, it's insane how much better we suddenly are because of getting rid of the only weak link.

CT: You have had gigs with some great bands one of my faves being Kid Ego(also interviewed on pure rawk) whos your fave band to have played with?
SV: Dogs D'Amour, the second time were amazing to play with, they got me SO wasted after the show as well. And Kid Ego are always a laugh. But I'm really looking forward to playing with Red Star Rebels next month, they're awesome guys and a great band.
HB: The Wombles....oh wait, no.
SS: I seem biassed cos my boyfriend's in it, but definitely Disarm. It is ALWAYS a great laugh playing with them, and they have such stage presence and charisma that they’re all round just a great band to watch!

CT: What was your best gig and why?
SV: Dogs D'Amour last week! First gig with Becca so far and it was ace! Roll on the 21st!
SS: I enjoyed the Boardwalk in Sheffield with Ten Foot Dolls, Disarm, Violent Sisters and Flatline on the 21st. because we knew everyone it was more like a party then an actual gig, and even though we fucked up a lot and had a short set, it was fun performing and people seemed to get into it!
HB: I thought Newcastle was good. Legends is a great venue to play and we gave em all we got.

CT: And your worst?
HB: Every gig at The Grapes ever
SV: HAHA you hate The Grapes! But yeah our worst gig ever was actually there, can't remember when. OH WAIT NO! That punk gig when we were all FUCKIN TRASHED haha and Mel forgot the song! That was bad, but it was Christmas so....
SS: One at the boardwalk when I was crying haha what a fuck up that was! Every time I opened my mouth to do backing vox, I had tears streaming down my face haha!

CT: What do you think of rock music at the moment?
HB: Rockin!
SS: It's getting a lot better! for a small period of time, it seemed everyone who was into rock n roll was really stuck in the 80s haha, but now its like more the style that was started in the 80s, improved with a modern twist!
SV: I think it's pretty good, real rock n roll is coming back and it's exciting! Some great bands are starting to get some exposure.

CT: Do you think Sheffield has a Good rock scene.
SS: Urrrrrrrm.... not really, haha.
SV: I do yeah, now we have some good bands starting up! Last year it was well indie, now it's more rock orientated.

CT: What’s Next for Maeven I’ve heard talks of America?
HB: Yeah we're supposed to be going over in September, it's just real expensive!
SV: Yeah that's the only problem, we have a US manager and stuff who's got gigs lined up he just needs us to confirm that we can get there! So yeah, it's all happening Stateside!
SS: Fuck yeah! touring the states in September should be a blast, we really can't wait!
and I finally get to find out what salt water taffy is!

CT: You have a MySpace site do you think that has helped Maeven?
SV: Definitely! Loads, we wouldn't have had as many gigs if we didn’t have one
SS: Oh god yeah, MySpace is like life on a computer screen haha!. Yeah its helped.
HB: Yeah, it's true

CT: Is there an album on its way?
HB: Yes.
SV: Yup!
SS: There will be once we have enough money to pay for the production etc!

CT: If you could rock out with anyone alive or dead who would it be?
SV: DOLLY PARTON! And Slash, and Lita Ford....and NIGEL TUFNEL from Spinal Tap!
HB: Bonnie Tyler, for sure
SS: Urrrrm.... fucking Dregen of the Backyard mother fucking Babies!

CT: Last question and thanks very much for your time What would you like to say to all of your fans?
SS: We have fans?
HB: Buy me gifts
Sv: HA Yeah what she said!

Interview by Chris Toxic, images by Clarence (2006)
Check out some of Maeven’s stuff on www.myspace.com/maevenmusic.

© Pure Rawk 2006