Maupiti, a paradisiacal island located 280 km northwest of Tahiti: An ideal destination for a pleasant vacation. You can bask in the sun on its white sandy beaches facing the clear lagoon that merges with the blue sky. This gem of Polynesia indeed possesses unmatched charm and authenticity. And no? Nice-Première hasn’t gone to Tahiti, at least not physically!
Nice-Première stayed in Nice where it discovered Maupity, a group from Nice made up of four people in their thirties:
– Philippe (vocals/guitar)
– Nico (drums)
– Fabrice (bass)
– Cedric (guitar)
Showcase as part of “Talents from the South” or rocking at Fnac, opening for Kinito or Superbus, or participating in the “Guitar Nights” festival in Beaulieu, Maupity is a pop-rock band full of hope with influences from Luke and Melville.
But by the way, Philippe, why is your band called Maupity?
Philippe: When the band was formed, we all had the dream of permanently moving to Polynesia, and why not to Maupity, a small island near Bora Bora that remains one of the wildest and most preserved.
N-P: Your band consists of four musicians, how was it formed?
Philippe: The band was formed in 2001, initially, we were five, then after a few concerts in Nice pubs, Jérôme, one of the two guitarists, actually moved to Tahiti. I then took up the guitar and Nico our drummer joined us in 2002. We resumed concerts with a repertoire exclusively composed of covers. Very quickly genuine artistic chemistry was established within the group and our first compositions arrived very naturally. Since then, it’s been impossible to stop.
N-P: What is the originality of your music?
Philippe: We don’t pretend to think that our music is particularly original. We try to use a variety of influences to serve one single goal: to make melodies in French resonate.
N-P: Your first album is currently being mixed. Can you define it in a few words? Why have you titled it “The Time of Semaphores”?
Philippe: Defining a first album is always a delicate task. I think it closes the first chapter of the band’s life by mixing our immediate influences, our artistic naiveties, but also our ambitions. Ambition and recognition are the themes explored in the song “The Time of Semaphores” which gave the album its title. For us, writing a song is an end in itself, yet its recognition by the general public is like a second birth.
N-P: Listening to some of your songs on your website, I recognized some nuances of Luke or Melville.
Philippe: I’m very flattered. I really like Luke’s second album. He has certainly been a significant source of inspiration. I would also cite Eiffel and inevitably Noir Désir, but also artists like Calogero or Aston Villa. Our songs have a “variety” aspect that we claim.
N-P: In 2004, you found yourselves finalists at the ‘Pre-tendances Pop Rock 2004’ and this year, you won the Regional Final of the RTL2 Pop Rock Tour in Nice. Quite a rise?
Philippe: These two events essentially allowed us to move up a gear and start playing real venues.
N-P: Proud?
Philippe: Proud, yes. But more so concerned about what’s next. We remain a small local band and our desire to go further drives us to look forward rather than to rest on our laurels.
N-P: On June 23, you were supposed to open for Arthur H. Unfortunately, this concert was canceled. Too disappointed?
Philippe: A huge disappointment, opportunities to play with artists like Arthur H are rare.
N-P: Do you have other dates planned?
Philippe: Of course, but we can’t say more just now…
N-P: Have you been tempted to audition for Star Academy participation?
Philippe: We might be, the day they accept bands and the castle director is Angus Young.
