[INTERVIEW] ATTLAS, Mango, And MAYLYN Dive Into Their Latest Anthem, ‘The One,’ And More

Discover the creative synergy behind the latest single “The One” as electronic music maestros ATTLAS and Mango reunite with vocalist MAYLYN. Following the success of their previous collaboration, “Over The Water,” which garnered millions of streams and critical acclaim, this trio returns with a captivating blend of pop sensibilities and melodic house vibes.

This exclusive joint interview delves into their collaborative process, individual backgrounds, and the unique elements that shape their distinctive soundscapes. Get ready to uncover the magic behind the music as these artists share their insights and experiences in crafting their latest chart-topping hit.

“The One” follows the success of “Over The Water,” your debut collaborative single. What inspired the continuation of this creative partnership, and how does “The One” build upon your previous work together?

ATTLAS: So on my side, the project comes from a few different places. Going back ages ago, both MAYLYN and myself shared our first writing session in Nashville. From there, I have always felt a level of trust and respect between us on any creative collaborations.

In February 2023, I had an idea for a more live-feeling record, with guitars, sax, piano and live drum kit. I built the demo out with a few versions and approached MAYLYN to see if it inspired her creatively at all. It did, and she quickly sent back vocal takes. The track was sounding solid, but I could never figure out just how to finish it.

Then, on August 9 of 2023, I wrote an instrumental demo called “Follow.” With the success of “Over The Water,” I had always been hoping there would be another demo of mine that would fit seamlessly into Mango’s sensibilities and strengths. After passing him a folder of a few ideas, “Follow” jumped out as a project he wanted to be involved with.

As I dove into the work he was sending over, I started producing MAYLYN’s earlier February vocal takes into the session, and it sounded like such a natural fit. As we started workshopping the final direction together, we and Monstercat Silk realized it was going to all coalesce in a lovely way to a really strong final project.

MAYLYN: Lyrically and melodically, my goal was to stay in the same headspace for “The One” as I was in when I wrote the topline for “Over The Water.” For both songs, I went with my first melodic instincts and pressed myself to not overthink it. I wanted the topline to feel effortless. The lyrics of both songs are personally spiritual, but I hoped to craft them in a way that anyone could assign their own meaning.

Mango: I very much enjoyed working with ATTLAS on our first collab, the work process was so smooth and satisfying. When MAYLYN joined and perfectly captured the vibe of our track, it seemed like we had done dozens of such projects together before.

As soon as “Over The Water” was out, we knew we wanted to continue the story, so we started “The One.” I wanted both tracks to be connected, so when I was working on my part, I kept some small bits and pieces from “Over The Water” in “The One,” and did some things in a similar way.

Mango, you mentioned the seamless collaboration process between you, ATTLAS, and MAYLYN. Could you elaborate on how your individual sound styles come together harmoniously in “The One”?

Mango: I believe some artists have similar visions about how a track or a song should sound. For example, we have got a perfect synergy with Cloudcage. ATTLAS and MAYLYN are exactly these type of artists too. We never had any arguments about how this or that should be done. We never had to redo anything several times.

Each of us does his or her part literally from the first take, and each of us feels what to add to make the track complete. I know it is a bold saying, but this is really a match made in heaven, and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to work with the guys!

Mango, as the first artist ever signed to Monstercat Silk, you have greatly influenced the label’s sonic direction. How does “The One” reflect your evolution as an artist and your relationship with this label?

Mango: I would say it’s a bit different. The evolution of my sound is what I produce for Mango Alley, and other progressive and organic house labels. What I do for Monstercat Silk is the sound I started with, the sound Silk fans love and admire. It is my “cozy heaven.” Of course my production quality and style have evolved, but when I work on Monstercat Silk releases, my main goal is to preserve that melodic and melancholic vibe that takes its roots from my early works.

MAYLYN, you have collaborated with a diverse range of artists, such as Martin Jentsen and Heyz. What unique elements do you think you bring to “The One,” and how does it differ from your previous collaborative experiences?

MAYLYN: What makes “The One” special is the combination of all of our influences and past work!

MAYLYN, your music career spans across a variety of mediums, including pop, dance music, film, and television. How does your experience in these different areas influence your approach to crafting the narrative and emotion in songs like “The One”?

MAYLYN: Depending on what project I am working on, whether that be film, TV, or an artist project, I so often feel the need to fit a certain mold. This is not a bad thing! I actually love the challenge. But in the case of this song, I was able to throw any song structure or guidelines out of the window and write whatever felt natural to me in that moment.

ATTLAS, your releases on labels like mau5trap and Monstercat have garnered significant attention. How do you leverage your experience from these platforms to elevate the visibility and impact of projects like “The One”?

ATTLAS: In all honesty, that is probably the area I have the most opportunity for growth. I am comfortable, maybe too comfortable, writing away in my own little corner of the world, tucking ideas into folders and sketching out musical moments.

Music marketing, social media, branding — these areas evolve almost quicker than I have a chance to learn them. Getting a bit more comfortable in front of the camera, getting some guts about being proud of my work, and not feeling guilty really pushing it into peoples faces and ears will go a long way.

Although, it is a fine line because being myself got me to this point, and I do not want to risk undoing the good-will by trying a quick pivot. But maybe it is not changing who I am, just sharing more of it. No one is going to know I have a new project out if I do not shout it loudly, especially these days.

ATTLAS, your nominations for Juno Awards highlight your excellence in electronic music. What does this level of recognition mean to you? Speaking to your dynamic skill set, how do you maintain innovation in sound design while also meeting the expectations of your audience, especially in collaborative endeavors like “The One”?

ATTLAS: Those two nominations, especially since they are for long-form album work, felt like lifetime achievements for me. Especially in Canada, as a Canadian, to be recognized as one of the best in the country at what you strive to be good at was like being lost on the trail and seeing a sign-post saying ‘you are on the right path.’

But at the same time, that is in the past. I would hate for my most proud musical moments to have already happened. I try to learn from how those works connected to people. Yet, I was not trying to write Juno nominated albums or reverse engineer specific success with them. I was writing from the heart about what life was at the time.

Meeting the expectations of audiences, whether that audience is a label or an agency trying to get you booked, or fans that were there for the first remixes or EPs, can in many ways be a double-edged sword. It can feel like “be yourself! But be the version of yourself WE like!”

If you go back to my first EP, it had downtempo, ambient piano, and heavy stuff that got me booked into clubs and opening for electro-heavy acts. However, the more intimate stuff that feels closer to singer-songwriter than EDM streams well. I feel a bit caught between a few worlds.

The solution is to write and write and write, then find a small but trusted circle of opinions you can rely on to give feedback. No matter what you like about ATTLAS, if you just hang on, you will get those records coming down the chute eventually.

Whether writer’s block, communication difficulties, or something else, what obstacles did you face throughout bringing “The One” to life and how were you able to overcome them?

ATTLAS: As I touched upon earlier, the whole project evolved over many sessions of different work for me. From giving MAYLYN a completely different record to demo on in February, to writing a new demo “Follow” in August, to then having Mango come back with ideas on “Follow.” This sparked a motivation to revisit MAYLYN’s initial ideas and give her the new project to sing to

It truly felt like nothing was forced. When it felt right, it was right. You cannot fly a kite in the opposite direction of the wind. Maybe it is a ‘trust your gut’ thing, or maybe it is a procrastination thing (the perfect is the enemy of the finished) and then you get a little help from your friends on the final push.

MAYLYN: This session came together very naturally for me! Personally, I did not have any writer’s block or other stumbling blocks. The trick with this style of song is to follow your first instinct, which I tried to do as I wrote the topline.

Mango: Great question, but a boring answer from me – I was in the flow from the very first session with this project, so it all went smoothly for me. BUT I do face writer’s block from time to time, and the best advice I can give is to stop all the efforts, put music aside for some time (at least for a week), and get busy with something else. It will let your brain and your mind “reboot” and gain that “thirst” for music back.

When listening back to “The One,” what layer of production, lyrical phrase, specific soundscape or section of the track stands out to you the most and why?

ATTLAS: I love MAYLYN’s octave jump at 1:07: “whereEVER the time goes.” It floats so gently just the right amount above the track, like a bird popping its head briefly above the clouds.

MAYLYN: I absolutely love the piano part in the intro! I was instantly inspired to write to this track within just a few seconds because of it. There is something so classic and beautiful about it.

Mango: The part where MAYLYN says “You” at the drop right after the breakdown. I feel like it is so short, yet it has so much meaning. It does not continue with other lyrics, leaving only instrumentals playing and letting a listener concentrate on feelings and emotions.

What do you hope listeners will take away from “The One,” in regard to its sonic experience, emotional resonance, and overall message?

ATTLAS: There is so much music out there. If someone comes across the record by accident or seeks it out on purpose, I hope the time they spend with it is worth it. It is a crowded marketplace and they could be listening to anything else in recorded history, so spending these few minutes with our creativity will be a shared act between us all. That kind of connection has always been my favorite part about releasing music — shrinking the distances between us all.

MAYLYN: I hope it makes the listener think of the one person in their life that persistently stays by their side through all the ups, downs, and lulls in between, whether that be your sibling, your mom, your friend, your partner, or God.

Mango: “And through all the changes All that remains is You.” Love “The Ones” and remember most things in our life come and go, so focus on what really matters and take everything else easy.

Related or unrelated to your music careers, what are each of your biggest goals to achieve by the end of 2024?

ATTLAS: In all areas of my life, just being a bit ballsier and throwing myself into the uncertainty and excitement of life. I am a big runner and after tackling a few 80 km races last year, I have got a mammoth sized 130 km endeavor lined up.

On the music front, I have been extremely focused on making sure there is a very impactful onslaught of my most bold and bookable music of my career. There is a reason I have been quiet. This is the time for me to get everything right before I stand up and shout.

Mango: I do not like setting goals publicly, but how about a third track with ATTLAS and MAYLYN to go along with “Over The Water” and “The One”?

MAYLYN: I love Mango’s answer, I second that! Also, I would love one of my songs to be synched in a major brand’s national Ad campaign (a Target commercial would be amazing) and just in general, I hope to continue to grow in the film and TV space.

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