Maika Makovski Debuts "Bunker Rococó," Plays Canary Islands

Maika Makovski, a major talent on the Spanish music scene, is back with a new album, "Bunker Rococó." This album feels like a high point in her career, showing her at her most mature and accomplished.

To celebrate the release, this Friday, October 24th, she'll be performing at the Teatro El Sauzal at 8:00 p.m., with Simón Salinas opening the show. You can buy tickets on www.tickety.es. The next day, she'll be at the Teatro Juan Ramón Jiménez in Telde.

Here's what Maika had to say about the album:

"Bunker Rococó" is described as both raw and rich. How did you balance these two sides when you made the album?

"For me, it always starts with instinct and just playing around, where almost anything is possible. Then, I analyze things and refine what I want to do. The album is a delicate balance of opposites, both in the sound and in the lyrics."

You've included Macedonian rhythms in this album, which connects to your family history. How does this cultural connection influence you as an artist?

"It's only in two songs, but it's been amazing to bring a rhythm that's so much a part of me, something my ancestors have listened to for centuries, into my own music. It makes the music feel like more than just me."

The title, "Bunker Rococó," suggests a contrast between shelter and imagination. What does that mean to you personally?

"Going inward, spending time in your own head, is where imagination comes from. It's like building a nest where you can create and bring new things to life. The album is about humans, with all the love you'd have for something as amazing as we are, but also with a bit of sadness for our constant urge to hurt ourselves."

You recorded the album in Bristol with Ali Chant, who you've worked with before. How has your working relationship changed over the years?

"He was the sound engineer when John Parish was the producer. We always got along really well. It was almost a surprise that he produced this album. I contacted him to come to Spain to record me while I was producing it myself, but I ended up going there to work with him directly."

You've been in music for over 20 years, always changing and trying new things. What new paths or discoveries did this project lead you to?

"One thing I wanted to do with this album was to make epic music. I always thought it was a bit cheesy, but I wondered, 'How can I make epic music that feels like me?' It was an exciting challenge."

You're going to be performing the album live in the Canary Islands. What are you expecting from the audience there, and how does it feel to be back on stage with this new material?

"I just hope they're as warm as they always are. The audience has so much power over the artist. They can make you so much better if they're supportive, or they can make you shrink away if they're cold. So, I'm just hoping for that wonderful Canarian warmth for two incredible nights, because the concert is worth it."

In a time of quick and fleeting music, "Bunker Rococó" aims for depth and lasting impact. Do you think this is also a form of artistic resistance?

"Yes, I think the public deserves to have artistic options that don't treat them like they're stupid or incapable. The best albums aren't just background music. They're the ones that ask you to engage a little more, where you feel like you've been taken on a journey to unexpected places."