This weekend I got to see Maila and Ben perform at Kincaids where she debuted two songs featured here from her upcoming cd "More". Maila performed Say What You Want and I Love You.
Maila has to be one of the hardest working entertainers I know. Even after a grueling 6 days of nonstop vocal performances, traveling between islands for gigs and feeling a tad under the weather, she still put her heart and soul into every note she sang. You and Ben did great! Always an entertaining show, you all should check them out. See the latest show schedule here.
Today Maila shares some influences and talks about the song Behind.
"Behind" has a great Contemporary Country feel to it, theres a hint of Shania in your voice. How much has country music and singers influenced your style?
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Maila:� Country music has been a huge influence to me.� Country singers like Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Martina McBride,�Faith Hill,�and of course, Shania Twain are among the ones I enjoy the most.� I grew up in Missouri, thus the country influence.� When I was very little, I enjoyed Crystal Gayle, Lorretta Lynn, Alabama, Olivia Newton-John, and the Carpenters.� However, throughout my early adolescence, I was very resistant to country music because I was living in Hawaii and country just wasn't cool enough.�That enabled me to be exposed to other types of music including rock, reggae, Hawaiian, and R&B.� However, country has remained the music of my heart.
Another reason I say "Country feel" is the classic love triangle situation in the lyrics which many country songs are based on. I take it you had or knew of an experience like the one you sing of?
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Maila:�One of my favorite attributes of country music is the passion and truth of�the lyrics.� "Behind" definitely sounds like a classic "cry in your beer" type of song about love gone wrong.� The minute I got the�idea for the song, I thought of Deanna Carter's "Strawberry Wine."� That song also has a 6/8 feel, which gives it that obvious country flavor.��"Behind" was the first song I ever wrote on my guitar.� Of course, Ben helped me with the bridge because my knowledge of guitar chords is very basic.��Once again, this song was written from a very real situation.� I�had just gotten into a huge disagreement with my boyfriend and I couldn't sleep.� At 2 in the morning, I�got out a piece of scratch paper and a pen and wrote down everything I was feeling.
Click here to download a sneak peak of Behind
Behind (Maila Gibson, Ben Vegas)
� 2003 Mailani Music Publishing. All rights reserved. BMI.
Wow this song is so pretty =) I've told people to come and check out your song clips on your site and they like you =) Some of them have never heard of you, and after they heard your song clips they all want to pick up a copy of your cd. My Friends Abigail and Katrina are helping in promoting your album also. Keep up the good work and take care.
Posted by: Jane at August 10, 2003 9:59 PMi love reading and hearing all about the new songs on the cd!
Posted by: marissa at August 11, 2003 2:55 PMI'm loving it all. We're gonna keep promoting.
Posted by: Abigail at August 16, 2003 7:28 PM