Reykjavík Grapevine - 18.05.2012, Blaðsíða 23

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Island
• History, art and nature
• Restaurant / Café
• Horse rental
• Tel. (+354) 533 5055
Full programm on www.videy.com
Viðey is an island situated just few minutes from Reykjavík city by ferry.
The island is the perfect place for individuals, friends and families wanting
to enjoy a relaxing but also adventurous getaway from the city life.
Only 7 minutes away from the city
From Skarfabakki to Viðey
From Viðey to Skarfabakki
13:15 14:15 15:15
13:30 14:30 15:30 16:30
11:15 12:15 13:15 14:15 15:15 16:15 17:15
11:30 12:30 13:30 14:30 15:30 16:30 17:30 18:30
12:00
15:30
From Skarfabakki to Viðey
From Viðey to Skarfabakki
From Reykjavík Old Harbour to Viðey
From Viðey to Reykjavík Old Harbour
Winter (on Sat. and Sun. from 16 Sept. to 14 May)
Summer (daily from 15 May to 15 Sept.)
Ferry schedule
Niles Marr, who performs under the
moniker Man Made, is one of the
foreign acts appearing at this year’s
Reykjavík Music Mess. Born into a
heady rock pedigree (his father is gui-
tarist Johnny Marr of The Smiths and
Modest Mouse), he’s performed with
the likes of Broken Social Scene and
Bright Eyes. With one EP under his
belt, he’s looking to see if 2012 will be
his year.
So Niles, there may be some people
out there who aren’t sure who you are,
so this is the moment for you to shine
and tell us a bit about yourself. don’t
be shy now...
Well I’m Nile, and I’m from Manchester,
and I write songs and perform as Man
Made. I’m not sure how to answer this one
really. It feels like I should say something
like, ‘and I like long walks on the beach’…
Now we can’t get away from saying
that you have a famous dad in the form
of all ‘round guitar god Johnny Marr.
That must have been useful for guitar
lessons. How helpful has he been in
realising what you want to do musi-
cally?
We don’t actually play together that much
at all. Both of us are so busy, so I really
taught myself how to play. Though my dad
joining Modest Mouse was a pretty impor-
tant event for me. I think being a teenager
growing up in that American scene made
me who I am today. I think it especially
shaped my music tastes, and what I like to
play. So I think that ultimately was the main
influence for me musically.
You’ve managed to play with the likes
of Broken Social Scene and Bright
Eyes. How did that all come about?
One of the best things about being part of
the ‘music biz’ is that it makes the world a
very small place. Any time Bright Eyes play
it’s like a family reunion. So it was really
just a bit of fun, everyone’s hanging out
and catching up and that kind of thing just
happens. It’s a really cool trait of American
bands I think.
With Broken Social Scene, they’re one
of my favourite bands. I was going to their
shows when they were on tour; I’d turn up
early to make sure I was around to hang
out and I snuck backstage and introduced
myself. It was a trip. I kept doing that for
a few shows of the tour and on the last
day, I’d gone down early to see them play
in London, and Kevin Drew was talking to
me about their song, “Anthems for a Sev-
enteen Year Old Girl,” my favourite song of
ALL TIME. Anyway, he knew that I liked it,
and he just asked me if I wanted to play it
with them that night.
Your debut EP last year was composed,
performed and recorded entirely by
yourself. Was this a case of necessity,
or were others unable to provide what
you wanted musically?
I don’t think it was that considered at all,
really. I write all the songs, and at that
point had only played gigs on my own; it
just seemed like the right idea at the time.
I wrote the songs with a full band set up in
mind anyway, and doing it on my own just
saved me explaining things more than any-
thing. When I get back from Iceland, I’m
finally getting around to making another
EP, and I’m doing that with some friends
of mine, so I’m really looking forward to
that.

The International
Up-And-Comer:
Man Made
BOB CLUNESS
dANIEL ROBSON
Music | Interview