Interview: Marlon Chaplin talks latest single

Toronto based Marlon Chaplin recently shared Drain Me, the second single off of his forthcoming debut LP The Circle, which will be released via Mӧbius Recordings on August 24th.

Fresh on the heels of the anthemic track Elevation, which was released April 27th, Drain Me is a high energy, endlessly-danceable track which always proves to be a fan favourite at his live shows.

The album was produced by Chaplin, mixed by Chris Shaw (Partner, Weezer, Bob Dylan) and mastered by Joao Carvalho. It’s a ten-track strong, arena-ready rock ‘n’ roll record.

Check out Drain Me below!

We managed to catch up with Marlon as talked about his latest single and more!

How has the release of Drain Me gone down with fans so far?

Interesting. People like this one a lot. Maybe even more so than Elevation. It might be a better song, I don’t know. It’s hard to look at this song objectively because I’ve been so close to it for years.

Is this any different to Elevation at all?

Apart from it being a different song? Elevation has a video, Drain Me doesn’t (yet). That definitely helped Elevation get the attention it got. People also like firsts. It’s early days, but we’ll see if Drain Me gains the same kind of traction over the next couple months.

Can you tell something about the single no one else knows?

The spark of the song comes from the opening bass line of a Keith Richard’s tune called “Yap Yap”. I liked that quick fake out from a dark first couple of notes to a sunny resolve. I’ve always been drawn to songs that sound hard or edgy, but only use major chords. That’s always fascinated me.

So how pumped are you for the release of The Circle?

I’m pretty psyched to play the whole thing live at the release. The band’s never done that. As for the release of the record itself, it’s been a long, beautiful, highly productive trip. The strongest thing I’ve done yet.

What’s your favourite track from the album?

Take Me There. It’s one of the best tunes I’ve written. Melody, lyrics, performance, mix. It sort of all came together. It’s a 9/10 for me.

If you could work with any band or artist on a new song, who would it be and why?

Josh Homme. He’s one of the last beacons of honesty and integrity in an industry constantly/increasingly at odds with commercial interests and corporate gain. He’s mainstream, but he makes great rock ‘n’ roll records. How rare is that? Top producer, musician, songwriter, funny as fuck and who wouldn’t want to disappear to the mysterious Rancho De La Luna for a few days?

What’s the alternative scene like in Toronto at the moment?

Clique-y. A lot of artists are told by their labels or management to go “make friends” with bands that are a little farther ahead than they are, which down the line can lead to some pretty nepotistic tendencies. I’m into friendships and supporting bands I like. Some good music though. The Beaches deserve everything they’re getting.

Will you be touring at all this year?

Yes, you’ve caught my team and I at mid-booking stage. Check in soon for updates.