Dooley first came across John Maus’ music while browsing records at a car boot sale. “It was at a time when I was really getting into synth-pop type stuff,” she says over e-mail. Simultaneously, she has developed an interest and, as she puts it herself, a “slight fascination with synesthesia, and similarly, how certain hues and imagery can visually translate in an abstract form whilst listening to a piece of music.” In an attempt to explore this further, Dooley has depicted some of Maus’ tracks that resonated with her. “As a series, the tracks chosen evoke various emotions which I’ve portrayed through watercolors.” You’ll find the results below alongside further context.
“Sensitive Recollections” taken from Screen Memories (Ribbon Music, 2017):
“The simplistic, almost rudimentary structure of this song reminds me of a lullaby. The majority of the colors used suggest a pureness, and I wanted the hazy purple and blue tones to reflect the pacifying vocals. I enjoyed exploring maternal imagery in this piece, an obvious theme within the track. There’s a womb-like structure and also a mother- and child-like composition there.”
“My Whole World Is Coming Apart” taken from Love Is Real (Upset! The Rhythm, 2007):
“This track really sparks some emotion in me. It reminds me of some kind of combustible object spiralling upwards to the sky in circular motions. I wanted the boldness of the colors to evoke the same kind of feeling in the viewer as what I felt when I first heard the track.”
“Touchdown” taken from Screen Memories (Ribbon Music, 2017):
“I feel a sense of serenity and contentment in the mood of this song. Words which came to mind upon listening were ‘nebulous,’ ‘celestial’ and sometimes ‘ethereal.’ I like the double time switch-up half way through, I displayed this through the brightest yellow hues, cutting through the landscape of the other colors and shapes.”
John Maus was interviewed for the 17th issue of our print magazine. Grab a copy over at Präsens Editionen: praesenseditionen.ch