Merival

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For lovers of good music.
This artist will enchant you in the magical sense of the word. Anna Horvath aka Merival is a Canadian singer-songwriter who has recently released an impressive collection of songs under the name ‘Panelling’. ‘Panelling’ is the kind of album that one does not tire listening to. You can download it on her bandcamp for free. I don’t understand why she isn’t signed by a label yet. Anna Horvath is also involved in another great musical project called ‘Kildear’. Spread the word about this amazingly talented folk singer :)

Which ice cream flavor(s) do you like the most?

I really like strawberry ice cream. It’s pretty standard, but I never got to have it much as a kid because my family always bought stuff like triple chocolate brownie and black cherry… I’m making up for lost time now.

What is your last or upcoming project about?

I don’t really have an upcoming project, just ideas floating around.
My last (and only, really) release was a collection of tracks I’d done from last September to this May, and there wasn’t really a purpose or idea to it – I just wanted to organize things a bit better, so I arranged them into an album of sorts.
I’d like to do an actual album and be able to add that sense of purpose to the creative process, you know, work on a handful of songs that are meant to be associated and listened to together. I’d love to do a concept album sometime! although it seems like a difficult prospect.

How do you make music? Any specific workflow or methods?

I make my music alone. I have a really hard time coming up with ideas/being creative in front of others, probably because I’m shy and music is pretty close to the inside of me – the only person I can write with or in front of is my bandmate/best friend from my duo Kildear, and it took us years to get to that point. I like to be alone, doors closed, in my own space, and with lots of quiet.

How do you make a living?

Well… I don’t, really. At the moment I’m 100% broke and living with some friends in a cottage.
I went to university for a year and am taking an indefinite leave, so I guess I’ll be supporting myself with whatever jobs I can get, full-time or a combination of part-times.
I actually have a job at a little pizza place but so far I haven’t gotten any hours, I guess cause beach season hasn’t really started yet. It’s pretty frustrating.

How do you feel about people sharing your music?

I feel great about it. I love stumbling across free downloads, so I try to make those available. If I ever end up releasing music with a price, I have no qualms about it being lent and borrowed and burned and shared as much as anyone would like. All I’d ask is that if you’re going to take my music, tell everyone you can about it, haha.

Who was your musical hero[in]s when you were a kid?

Oh dear… um… well, I had two favourite tapes when I was a kid; one of them was North Country by The Rankin Family, so lots of East Coast harmonies and fiddle medleys and singing in Gaelic. I used to sing along to all the Gaelic songs, just mimicking sounds because of course I had no idea what the words were.
My other favourite tape (and still one of my favourites – I just found it again the other day) was Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s So Far. That album is great. I’ve listened to it so much that I’m pretty sure there are grooves in my brain that the songs fit into perfectly. They definitely had a very large influence on me in terms of harmony.

What musical genre do you love but would never make yourself?

Most musical genres I would never make would be because I don’t like the music (ahem, country)… I guess rap. I really like some rap but I don’t think I’d ever have the guts/talent/desire to rap.
I would REALLY like to get into making more electronic-based music, but don’t have the resources at this point, and maybe not the talent to make it as complex as I’d like. We’ll see.
I also still love the lofi/glo-fi/chillwave genre that came out about two summers ago – I kinda hope that’s still going somewhere, I want to make music like that (Washed Out, Small Black, Neon Indian, etc.)

Which artists are you following at the moment?

I really really really really like the new Fleet Foxes album. It’s SO good. There are so many treats on that album, it just keeps getting better every time I listen to it.
As far as more unknown stuff goes, there’s a duo called Starfish – one of the members is a friend of a friend of mine – and for about 3 days I listened to nothing but their song Goodbye on repeat. It’s on their bandcamp – seriously, really good. More chillwavey stuff.
I have a lot of very musical friends with the talent and the connections to be going places with their music, so I’m always keeping an eye on them.
LUM (Liam Sanagan) is good at pretty much everything, from folky acoustic jams to R&B to sick beats, and Hayden Stewart, aka Loko, has a great EP available for download on his bandcamp.
So much good music… so much.

download track A Better Deal

*A Better Deal*

if I go, would you follow, would you leave all you know?
run through woods and the forest and the trees and the snow?
I could never reason anyway with you, each piece
of every puzzle always seems to
fall into place exactly in the way you want it to

to tell you I’m cold wouldn’t get me far
cause that’s the way things usually are
this time of year
in a little while you can see me and I’ll feel better then
with my fingers crossed for a better deal
and something sure

sink or swim, for I have been
the sweet one down the line
tearing up tones, and cracking all my bones
for something that is mine alone

four times round and I carry by the pound every word
and I sleep in the sunshine for hours and hours,
can you tell me, is it true, have you heard?
that you can get lost in a place you know
like the back of your hand while the sirens grow
in the front of your mind, do you ever unwind?
is it all for show?

sink or swim, for I have been
the sweet one down the line
holding out, and half past doubt
that someday you’ll be mine alone

download track Calendar

*Calendar*

all eyes on the time
where did you go?
I could take a ruler to the things you give, my love

seven months ago
looking only on
I was all above
I was one
but one is not enough against you

up from the woods and down into the city I go
with you
tease and teach me how to be a lady, I know
I’m not
and I can’t get a measure of the things you took, my love
my love

couldn’t keep you back
couldn’t give you that
if I could take a ruler to how much of you has passed