In this interview, Maybe Human dives into Early Man—a concept EP fusing primal consciousness, myth, and minimalist soundscapes—exploring how ancient memory and modern artistry collide through story, sound, and spirit.
1. Your
new EP Early Man feels like a deep dive into ancient consciousness. What
sparked the idea to explore themes of primal survival and ancestral memory
through music?
Music is an excellent medium to explore these themes, because these themes are
most effectively absorbed in an experiential way. Modern people have access to
the same consciousness as Early Man, only we are more separated from it. One of
the aims of this project is to bridge that cognitive gap.
2. You’ve cited C.K. Kadrell as a major influence on this release. What
specifically about Kadrell’s work resonates with Maybe Human, and how did you
twist that influence into your own psychedelic vision?
C.K. hit on making very short musical pieces centered around his “Conscious”
and thought provoking messages. You can listen to the short songs over and over
because they are smart and up lifting. C.K. has a strong voice. The influence
is there in that the tracks are short and meant to support the meaning behind
"Early Man.” I think the music and the lyrics together create a psyche
element.
3. John Elkin’s storytelling adds a rich, almost mythological layer to the
music. How did the collaboration between you and John come about, and what was
the creative process like between the two of you?
I had heard one of the pieces Chris had posted on social media from
"Waiting for Wolves" and it immediately struck me as something that
wasn't trying to be anything other than itself--it was radically authentic.
Chris and I knew each other from working together, but before that I had no
idea what kind of witches brew he had been cooking up musically!
4. There’s a blend of prog guitar riffs, minimalist production, and hip-hop-inspired beats throughout the EP. How did you arrive at this particular sonic palette for Early Man?
Production wise, it was a challenge to break things down to be certain the music would be simple enough for John’s ancient lyrics and stories. The finished tracks are meant to sound like musical poems.
5. Each track feels like a chapter in an ancient tale. Could you walk us through one or two songs—like “Crushing and Grinding” or “Aurochs Bull”—and share the story or imagery behind them?
My goal for Early Man was to bridge the modern mind with the ancient mind. Archaeology can tell us that rituals and hunts occurred during the stone age, but it can't tell us, on a human level, much beyond that. But it's the "beyond that" which interests me the most! So I imagined what the "beyond that" could have been. What was early man FEELING while he was doing these things.
6. You recorded the EP at Garden Ave Studios in Los Angeles, while John handled vocals remotely. How did this hybrid production method affect the final outcome? Any unexpected challenges or surprising benefits?
There was a freedom to the process of recording remotely that was generative to creativity. It was a pleasure to get a track of music from Chris to sit with and absorb until I felt like I had words to match the mood, then record and send it off. Then hearing it at the end, after Chris completed the song's magical transformation, was the best part of the whole process.
7. You’ve mentioned the possibility of live performances in record stores and even a living art installation. What can fans expect from these shows? Are you aiming to recreate the atmosphere of Early Man in a visual or interactive way?
John has a fantastic “Shaman” costume that we’d like to showcase in some sort of live art installation, featuring the “Shaman” trapped inside a modern structure. Corporate Metal and Glass.
8. The phrase “If you stare into the bottom of the Abyss, you'll come to realize there is nothing staring back” stands out. How does this reflect your philosophy as an artist—or the message of this EP?
Maybe Human is heavy. The phrase is “Heavy” as you know sometimes intense thoughts can be. I can’t remember where I heard it, but it hit me like a bag of bricks. If you want to get low, you really want to get down, it’s all on you because there is simply nothing else there.
9. Mysticism, ancient wisdom, and survival are major threads in this project. Do these themes reflect your personal beliefs or are they more of a creative lens through which you tell stories?
Storytelling, history, poetry, music and myth are all profound ways to connect with the deepest part of your soul. I think it would be an error to separate them each into separate buckets.
10. The EP feels both timeless and timely. Were there any modern events, philosophical questions, or spiritual ideas that influenced the direction of this work?
Thank you for saying that. I think there are times, either individually or societally, where people lose touch with what is profound and become separated from it. I'm only into art that reminds me that life is mythological.
11. Music videos for two tracks are in the works—can you give us a sneak peek into what visual worlds you're building to accompany the songs?
Chris and I are both filmmakers as well, so the music videos we create will be imbued with all of the same themes and aims as the album, from a different dimension.
12. Finally, how do you see Early Man fitting into the broader Maybe Human discography? Is this a one-off exploration, or the start of a deeper journey into concept-driven, story-laced releases?
Maybe Human, as a whole, is Chris's project that I recognized right away complemented my sensibilities. As for our collaboration, yes. I intend to explore all of these themes a lot deeper. We have only scratched the surface. A second EP "Future History" is more dystopian and explores the futuristic ideals of humanity. 2026 Release.
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