David Mauer: Transforming Personal Struggles into Universal Music
David Mauer, a multifaceted U.K. songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, introduces his deeply personal debut single, "One More Day." Born to an Austrian mother and a Nigerian father in Essex, England, David's music is a poignant reflection of his life experiences, marked by family death, illness, and isolation. His songwriting, influenced by the likes of John Mayer, Dermot Kennedy, Ed Sheeran, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, blends heartfelt lyrics with a unique fusion of guitar styles and hip-hop/pop production. "One More Day" is not just a song; it's a therapeutic tribute, encapsulating the complex emotions of love and grief.
*INTERVIEW*
Emotional Songwriting: "One More Day" was written as a tribute to a loved one. How did the process of writing this song help you cope with your loss?
I was never really taught how to process emotions in a healthy way, especially grief. So when it happened, like with most things, I just closed myself off. I didn’t talk about it, and just pretended it didn’t happen. So when the idea for the song came to me, I think it naturally forced me to confront all the mix of things I was feeling. The song helped me to truly internalize and accept the situation, and ultimately just made me grateful to have had such a good friend.
Musical Influences: You've mentioned a diverse range of influences from John Mayer to Red Hot Chili Peppers. How do these artists shape your musical style?
There’s certain elements of the artists that just speak to me for whatever reason, I often get a visceral reaction from John Mayer’s or John Fusciante’s guitar playing and try to write music that could create that same effect, to create a feeling. The guitar playing and the vocals these two provide are embedded deep in my own style and is something that seems to just be the default when the music calls for it.
Journey to Solo Artistry: Having worked in various bands, what motivated you to embark on a solo career, and how has that transition been?
I’d always wanted to release my own stuff but just never had the access to doing it. I’ve written many songs over the years but only gained access to a studio a couple of years ago so have spent a lot of time teaching myself how to produce. Working on your own is definitely different to in a band as ultimately everything comes down to me and nobody else really has an input, but that’s something that works for me very well.
Songwriting Process: Can you describe your process for creating music, especially blending different genres and influences?
Honestly the process can completely differ. Most of my songs I tend to write, whilst at work. I currently work in a cafe as a barista, something I’ve been doing for years so it doesn’t take any real thought, and I’ll often get song ideas in my head whilst working. Melodies, chord progressions, beats or lyric ideas and then I’ll excuse myself 20 times a day to go to the bathroom to record them into my phone. Other times I’ll just pick up a guitar or sit at the piano and write stuff normally. When it comes to blending styles, it’s not really something I actively think about but happens during the producing process. I just write whatever makes the music feel good, regardless of whether it’s something that should be expected with that particular type of music.
Personal Experiences in Lyrics: Your lyrics reflect a wide spectrum of human experiences. How do you draw from personal experiences to create universal themes in your music?
I think the beauty in lyricism is that you can take one event and create 30 different things from it. I’m just a guy who had a bit of a crap and painful upbringing but that upbringing brought me a deep sense of understanding about the world now that I’m a little older and I can see how everything connects to everything else, both within my own life and other people’s. It’s very easy for me to see things from somebody else’s perspective and so I can write from both my experience, somebody else’s or even blend the two. That’s when I’m really happy, when I feel like I’ve closed the bridge between myself and somebody else or have written something that’s so universally felt.
Production Skills: As a self-producing artist, what challenges and rewards do you find in this aspect of your music creation?
I like producing things myself as it allows me complete control over what goes where and it means I can push myself with each new track I start. I am however limited by my own abilities as an instrumentalist, I can only play instruments so well, so if I write a part that is too complex, I either have to learn how to play that part myself or replace it with something else, but to me, that’s all part of the process and now that I’m no longer in a band, gives me a reason to continue to push myself on different instruments and see that I’m not only progressing as a songwriter and producer but as an overall musician. There’s no better feeling than when I’ve written a part that was hard, practiced it and got it down and ended up with a good take.
Connecting with Listeners: What do you hope listeners take away from your music, particularly your debut single?
I hope it helps them relate to their own experiences with loss and grief. I know I’m not the only one who struggles with dealing with feelings, especially ones so strong. So I can only hope it may help someone when they’re feeling down to not feel so isolated or like how they feel isn’t valid or they’re not processing things in ‘the right way’.
Future Music Plans: You've mentioned having a lot of music scheduled. Can you give us a glimpse into what's next for you?
I aim to release 10-12 singles next year, roughly once a month and start building up my catalog for people to be able to dive into. There will be a lot of different things, subjects and styles explored so I’m incredibly excited! I also have a lot of plans for social media content as it’s another way it allows me to get creative with the music.
Overcoming Challenges: Can you share how you've overcome the challenges in your personal life and how they've influenced your music?
I grew up very poor, in a loving but often destructive family with a lot of turmoil, shouting and violence. I wasn’t great or happy at school or have good friends either and so nowhere really felt like a safe place for me. So I locked myself away in my room and learnt about music. Although this helped me cope in my teenage years, it also made me very introverted and eventually the time came when I was an adult. So I essentially had to teach myself how to communicate with other people properly, love a person in a healthy way, love myself properly and overcome any fears I may have to achieve things and just live life in a way that isn’t destructive. Luckily I now have a wonderful partner who has helped me a lot over the years and I’m truly thankful for her. These experiences influence everything that I do and goes into every song I make, whether it’s written about one of those times or not. I am the product of all of those things, the good and the bad.
Message to Aspiring Artists: As someone who has polished their craft over time, what advice would you give to aspiring songwriters and musicians?
Practice, practice and practice. Whatever it is you’re trying to get good at, and learn to love different styles of music as it all enters into that big melting pot that is your brain. With social media, it’s very easy to get discouraged when you see 10 year olds playing ridiculous things and that definitely makes it hard but always try to focus on what you are doing, and only compare yourself to the person you were yesterday. Open yourself to as many potential musical experiences as possible.
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