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We can’t stop playing Alexis Marceaux’s latest record with Sam Craft, multi-instrumentalist and Samurai. Together they are Alexis & the Samurai, a New Orleans-based indie-folk-jazz duo.
Marceaux’s voice is comparable to Adele, and Craft’s music is raw, both with just the right twist to each song. Together they create an exclusive sound and recently dropped the fresh new album ‘Move Into View.’
GroundSounds recently caught up with the pair to talk about their latest project, musical inspirations and more, check out the exclusive interview below.
For those just discovering Alexis & the Samurai, can you tell us what makes you stand out from the crowd?
We’re multi-tasking, multi-instrumentalists obsessed with vocal harmonies and ear candy.
What do you enjoy most about New Orleans?
We love the open minds and open ears of locals and visitors.
How did The Voice help shape your music and career?
It expanded our audience greatly and gave us a social media springboard. Voice fans come out of the woodwork whenever we hit the road.
Tell us about the writing and creative process involved with your latest album Move Into View.
Move Into View is the culmination of three years of writing and recording. We write as a duo, sharing lyrical, compositional, and arrangement duties. Every song is different, but often one of us will come to the other in our rehearsal studio (or sometimes in the tour vehicle) with a little seed of an idea, then the other will add something to that, and back and forth until a song is fully formed, like a game of reverse Jenga. Then, in the studio, we just record everything one instrument at a time, from the ground up, usually starting with drums and working our way up to the finest details.
How did Alexis & The Samurai come to fruition?
We started out in 2009-ish as simply The Alexis Marceaux Band, but as we were wanting to take this thing on the road and the rest of the band were working New Orleans musicians (it’s a viable career choice here), we figured out how to pare it down to two people. By about 2012, it began to look like it does today: a tightly-wrapped duo surrounded by a fortress of drums and gizmos.
What was the inspiration for your track “Parlez-Nous A Boire”?
Parlez-Nous à Boire is a traditional Cajun drinking song. Both of us having Louisiana French ancestry, we and a lot of our fanbase were familiar with the tune and we thought it would be fun to mess around with it. So we added some weird, spooky elements and a hip-hop beat and voilà. It’s one of our favorites to play live.
Are the tracks listed in any particular order on the album?
The order of tracks is designed to freak you out at first, then gradually bring you back to a place of safety.
What is your favorite song on the album and why?
Our favorite tracks are either “Swamp Fire” or “Caterpillar.” Both those songs are quite different, but they both show off the joy and energy we put into sculpting music in the studio. We’re really proud of how the whole album came out, but especially those two numbers.
What musical instruments do each of you contribute to the album?
Sam is on drums, keys, violin, and vocals. Alexis plays guitars (acoustic and electric), percussion, and is the primary singer. Our engineer, Rick Nelson, contributed acoustic bass and some cool, wacky sounds.
Where do you go and what do you do when you’re seeking inspiration and/or creativity for your music?
We get most of our inspiration goofing off in the car together when we’re on tour. Additionally, some the best ideas come in the shower. If we are feeling like we are in a creative drought, one of the most productive things we can do is listen to exciting new artists. It helps remind you how many amazing things are still possible.
What bands/musicians are you currently listening to?
The new Solange album (also recorded in large part by the guy who recorded our album Move Into View), Hiatus Kaiyote, Wye Oak (who we got to open for in September), and, for some reason, the 90’s catalog of Blur.
When not making music, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
We love the outdoors and dance parties. Outdoor dance party, anyone?
What is next for Alexis & the Samurai, and what can fans look forward to?
Move Into View is out on vinyl and will be purchasable online and at shows in the coming days, which makes us very happy.
Any upcoming tour dates planned?
We’re going to be on the road in the Gulf South for the next couple months, and the East Coast in February and March, so stay tuned!
Stay in touch with Alexis & the Samurai: FACEBOOK
