Q + A with Maeve Munro and Zina Gladiadis of Cat Venom. Part of a special feature on MUZAI Records.
Been around since?
In theory we started in late January of this year.
Current line up?
Zina and Maeve
Where are you based?
Somewhere in-between Symonds Street and “K” Rd, Auckland City
What got you into music?
Maeve: “The Beauty and The Beast” soundtrack.
Zina: Singing karaoke at Xmas with my cousins when I was 8
How did you get together?
Zina:I first met Maeve after a show. I was outside smoking and her phone played the Twin Peaks theme song...i knew it was meant to be.
How would you describe your sound?
Maeve: dark, gothic, lo-fi, pop, etc.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Zina: I'm listening to Radiohead, The Cure, Placebo and a little bit of the “Marie Antoinette” soundtrack.
Maeve: The Cramps, Nirvana, Crime, Slayer, Nice Birds stuff that's about to come out.
What is your writing/recording process?
Maeve: We write and practice in my lounge - Zina plays somthing, I play something, then we write words. We never have to leave the house really.
Zina: It goes something like this: I say "hey what if i go "lalalalal laaa laa?" and Maeve's like "yeah !" Then we drink some Chardon.
Your Dream Collaboration?
Zina: Phoar......
Maeve: I wanna say Morrissey, but I'm far too shy.
Do you have any releases our or on the way?
Maeve: We have an EP that will be coming out early next year. We're recording with my flatmate "Yorkshire" Dan in his bedroom/studio.
What do you enjoy most about music?
Maeve: The fact you can do pretty much what you want is pretty neat.
Zina: The feeling a song can give you.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learnt musically in the last year?
Zina: Keep it simple.
Maeve: That you can actually get away with play two chords per song.
What’s the best concert you have ever been to?
Both: The Cure
Best or most memorable gig you have played?
Maeve: Ee havent played any shows yet.
Zina: The one where Dan and Benjii came up the stairs and caught us playing the lounge.
If you could share the stage with anyone (band or person) who would it be?
Both : We reckon a supergroup that consists of us, Nick Cave, Morrisey, Robert Smith and Poison Ivy from The Cramps. That would be the sex.
Most overrated band at the moment?
Maeve: ....they know who they are.
Zina: It's hard to name names. I think that theres a lot of NZ music that gets far more attention than some pretty wicked little bands that are around.
Most underrated band at the moment?
Zina: I reckon Sherpa.<3
Maeve: Yeah, Sherpa are pretty rad.
The future holds…?
Maeve: Lots of shows
Zina : A secret side project involving liquor ,bitches and prosthetic limbs.In the more near future...my birthday.
The state of music in NZ is….
Maeve: I'd say its starting to come alive againZina: I agree wih Maeve. I think in the last year even I can see a light at the end of a dark musical tunnel.
