Following their latest single release ‘Achilles’, we had the pleasure of catching up with MURMAN’s drummer Abbi Knell, discussing creativity, gigging, and her experiences working as a female drummer.
First things first, how are you? How has your 2021 been so far?
I’m good thanks, 2021 has been weird so far, I’ve been keeping busy with lots of cycling and walking, but I’m just desperate to get back to gigging. I actually can’t believe it’s been over a year since we last played and I last went to a gig!
What best describes MURMAN’s sound?
Ha, this is really tricky – I’d say it’s a mix of heavy indie with catchy pop. It’s quite hard to place the sound but there’s a strong 80s influence in our guitar patterns and 00s indie in our drumming styles.
Who are your biggest musical influences? Are there any artists who inspired you to make music?
There’s quite a few for me personally, I loved watching Anna Prior from Metronomy, or Stella Mozgawa from Warpaint growing up. Watching Stella definitely encouraged me to be more experimental in my own drumming, and I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from her use of fills and off-beat patterns when creating the percussion elements for MURMAN. Aside from my drumming influences, I think we’re influenced by almost anything, from Devo to Idles. Regardless of genre, we love artists who are able to create catchy hooks and lyrics. It definitely drives us to hone our sound and try to make memorable songs.
How has it been creating music during a pandemic?
It’s been super tough! If I’m honest we’ve really struggled to be creative this year, and it was strange releasing our latest single ‘Achilles’ a few weeks ago without being able to do a proper single launch. The next time we’re in the studio, it’ll almost feel like we’re starting again, but in a good way. We have a few ideas and old songs to try and rework, which I think we actually needed some time away from and approach with fresh ears, so fingers crossed we’re able to be hyper-creative when we’re back to some kind of normal.
So, you met your band member David through a Gumtree ad? How have you overcome being separated during this past year?
I did! That was about three years ago now, which is really strange. David has actually moved to Brighton over the pandemic, but we talk often and fortunately, we managed to have a few practice sessions back in September when we were able to. I don’t think either of us has lost the fire to keep gigging and creating music, so the thought of getting back on stage again really drives us both at the minute.
What has your experience been like as a female drummer in the alt-rock scene?
It’s unfortunately just as I expected: 90% of the time I’m the only female musician in the line-up, and 99% of the time I’m the only female drummer. Sometimes it’s nice to be unique and for people to be surprised when they see you behind the kit on stage, but that’s only as a result of the massive underrepresentation of female percussionists, so it’s bittersweet. I remember playing at The Amersham Arms a few years ago where another female drummer was in the line-up. I think we were both equally as shocked to see each other there!
What do you think are the biggest obstacles for women in the music industry right now?
Honestly, I think there’s a massive pressure for anything female musicians put out to be perfect. If you’re a band of four guys who play mediocre music, you’re one hundred times more likely to be on a bill than a female band of a higher calibre. I think that’s the same for many industries like comedy, sport and music, it’s a consistent expectation. I think that’s why bands like The Big Moon, Warpaint and Dream Wife have grown such cult fan bases, because they’re 100% themselves and are making the music they want to make, and are unapologetic about it. People really respect that.
You’ve performed at some iconic venues including Scala and The Windmill Brixton. Can you share any challenges you have faced as a female performer in the London scene?
Thankfully it’s largely been challenge-free, and when we played Scala, we were fortunate enough to play alongside female-fronted bands like Lucia and the Best Boys and Estrons. That definitely took the pressure away a little, because as I said before there’s definitely an extra layer of expectation for women in music. There have been a few occasions where I’m mistaken for being the girlfriend of another band member or just a friend of the band. It’s pretty frustrating, but I usually channel that frustration into my performance on stage. Fortunately, the venues themselves do seem to be changing a little, I think there’s a growing recognition of the lack of diversity in line-ups. I mean, it’s bad for women, but for people of colour, the underrepresentation is even more stark. I hope when things start to open up again that venues and promoters will have used this opportunity to consider elevating more underrepresented voices on stage.
Many venues, like Brixton’s Windmill, are currently at risk of imminent closure, because of the lack of government funding. What impact do you think this will have on the future of music consumption?
This year has definitely forced everyone to consume music differently, but if anything, I think there’s now a greater hunger for live shows. Arts and culture contribute an incredible amount to communities, both economically and socially, so I really hope that many are able to bounce back when things start to re-open. We’ve depended on the creative industries so much over the pandemic, so I think many have a newfound appreciation for those behind the scenes. I hope this will stick over the long term.
What advice would you give to women starting out in the music industry?
Be unapologetic in your approach and play what you want to play. Try to gig as much as possible, because stage presence and confidence really helps you feel assured in creating new songs and having an authentic voice. Also, once you’re confident in your live performance and have honed in on your sound, be really proactive in getting the message out about your music. We’re really shameless when it comes to messaging, tagging, emailing etc, and sometimes it pays off!
And finally, what can we expect to come from MURMAN this year?
We’re really hoping to hit the ground running with gigs in the summer and definitely head beyond the M25, so a mini-tour may be on the cards. We’ll also be heading back into the studio later in the year, so definitely planning for another single launch in the next six months or so. Our latest singles ‘Panama‘ and ‘Achilles‘ show the direction we’re headed in with tone and style, so watch this space!
