Q&A: Maribou State: Exploring Resilience and Creativity with ‘Hallucinating Love’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
MARIBOU STATE HAS BEEN A FORCE IN THE ELECTRONIC MUSIC for over a decade, blending lush soundscapes, soulful melodies, and inventive production. Formed in the wake of a previous band's end, the duo embraced the chance to explore new creative directions, developing a unique sonic identity that continues to evolve. Their collaborative spirit and passion for experimentation remain at the heart of their music, guiding their journey through the highs and challenges of their career.
Their latest album, Hallucinating Love, is a deeply personal exploration of resilience, hope, and transformation. Born from a time of significant personal and artistic struggle, the project became both a catharsis and a celebration of endurance. With its rich textures and introspective themes, the album captures the duo's ability to channel adversity into a hopeful and forward-looking body of work.
As Maribou State embarks on their next chapter, they reflect on their creative process, the inspirations behind Hallucinating Love, and the road ahead. From returning to live performances to pushing their sound in new directions, the duo is ready to continue shaping their legacy while staying true to the vision that brought them together.
Hallucinating Love it out January 31st.
LUNA: Can you share how Maribou State was formed and how you’ve evolved as a duo since its beginning?
IVORY: The project was formed in the aftermath of a previous band coming to an end - one that we both were part of but musically had fallen out of love with. Things with the old band drew to a natural conclusion of sorts and we started making music in a new direction. This was nearly 15 years ago so the individual growth we both have encountered is profound. Over the years our approach to creating music has evolved alongside our experiences and influences but the core of our collaboration— shared vision and a passion for experimentation—has remained constant.
LUNA: Can you share some of the inspiration behind the new LP?
IVORY: The name Hallucinating Love began as a lyric Chris penned for an early demo, but it wasn’t until a serendipitous moment during a flight to New York for a writing session that it truly cemented itself as the album’s title. We were both unknowingly crafting arguments to pitch it as the title, each reflecting on how it encapsulated the themes and emotions emerging in the record. That shared epiphany set the tone for the rest of the process—it became a banner under which all the demos, lyrics, and ideas began to align.
The album itself was born out of a time of personal and artistic struggle. Both of us were navigating challenges with our mental and physical health, and the studio became asanctuary—a space to process our experiences and transform them into something meaningful. The looming deadlines, though stressful, provided structure and a sense of purpose, anchoring us amidst the turbulence of our lives.
At its core, Hallucinating Love is about resilience and hope. It reflects the power of imagining a better reality, even in the darkest moments. The writing process was cathartic, allowing us to materialise our feelings and push forward. It’s a deeply personal record, one that channels the hardships we faced into something optimistic and forward-looking.
LUNA: Any favorite tracks or lyrics on ‘Hallucinating Love?’
IVORY: For me, Peace Talk has become a favorite from the record (I think also one of Chris’ favorites). It also showcases some very strong lyrics by Holly Walker. She’s a fantastic lyricist and really exemplifies herself on this track. It was one of the last songs written for the album and actually the original demo was a sketch Chris made when we were writing Kingdoms In Colour, but it never made the cut. It’s a real shame when good ideas go to waste so it was very satisfying to give the old demo a reboot and finally get it placed on the album, especially so late in the day.
LUNA: Being producers yourselves, what is your process for the production of a song from start to finish?
IVORY: Our process doesn’t follow a strict formula—each song we’ve worked on has its own unique journey. That said, certain patterns in our workflow tend to emerge from album to album. A distinct aspect of how we work is that we produce and engineer the record as we write it. We’re very particular about how things sound, often not moving forward with a song until certainelements feel sonically right. This focus on sound design sometimes leads us down rabbit holes, spending hours experimenting with improvisations on various instruments, running them through outboard gear and guitar pedals to sculpt the right tone and texture. While this can slow down the writing process, for us, the tonal character of a song is just as crucial as its notes and chords.
For Hallucinating Love, we intentionally tried to break away from this approach, focusing on writing demos without obsessing over their sonic details. However, this brought its own challenges—we found ourselves battling “demo-itis,” where we became too attached to the raw demos. Re-recording and reproducing parts often felt like they lacked the essence of the original. It was a valuable lesson in finding balance, as we learned to navigate the tension between preserving the spontaneity of a demo and refining it into a polished track.
LUNA: Do you need specific things in place to be creative, and when approaching songwriting?
IVORY: Our creative needs tend to evolve as we grow and change, but one constant has been the importance of isolation. We’ve often found it helpful to take writing trips where we relocate our studio to the countryside—typically to an old cottage or farmhouse with plenty of character. Immersing ourselves in nature and cutting off from the outside world gives us the laser focus we need to avoid distractions. Like most people, we’re natural procrastinators and can easily spend hours chatting over cups of tea instead of getting to work, so this kind of environment really helps keep us on track.
We’ve also discovered that being around trusted collaborators can be incredibly inspiring. Again, it’s all about balance—sometimes we crave the simplicity of just the two of us working together, but the right energy from others can bring a fresh perspective and make the process more fun.After years of making music together, Chris and I can sometimes fall into the habit of treating it too much like work, especially under the cold light of deadlines. Having collaborators helps break up that intensity and keeps things feeling fresh and dynamic. Simplifying our setup is another key factor. Over the years, we’ve collected a lot of amazing gear, but too many options can feel overwhelming. Stripping things back and reducing our choices often helps refine our creative process and allows us to focus on what truly matters in the music.
LUNA: Do you write collaboratively as a group, or how do you both bring something unique to your sound?
IVORY: Our creative process is highly collaborative, but the dynamic shifts depending on the project. Often, Chris will take the lead on writing the core ideas, crafting the initial framework or melody that forms the backbone of a track. From there, the process becomes fully collaborative, with us both shaping the structure, refining the sonic details and ensuring everything sits just right. Other times, we’ll start entirely from scratch together, experimenting with sounds, improvising, and building layers until something cohesive emerges.
When we work with other artists or producers, the approach naturally changes, bringing in fresh perspectives and creative ideas that push us in new directions. As mentioned, writing trips in remote locations have also become a key part of our process. These trips allow us to isolate ourselves with other creative minds and share sketches, samples, and inspirations; sparking ideas in a more immersive environment.
LUNA: What is your favorite venue to perform at these days? Any recent standout/memorable performances?
IVORY: We haven’t played live much recently, as we’ve been focused on writing the new album. However, our return to the stage last year was pretty memorable! We did three live shows in November which were significant not only because they marked our comeback after such a long hiatus, but also because they came after such a challenging period, including Chris’ recovery and other struggles we both faced.
We started with a run of smaller record store gigs as part of the album promotion. These intimate shows were a way to ease back into playing but they didn’t come without their challenges—namely because the whole band was really sick! Despite this the shows far exceeded our expectations, filling us with a lot of confidence to be back on stage. The third show of that run was particularly special. It was a slightly larger venue and being back in London came with its own anxieties. It was the culmination of months of preparation and hard work, and it felt incredible to see everything come together - it felt like we had never stopped playing.
After such a long time away from the stage, being back felt like stepping into a new chapter whilst also feeling completely familiar at the same time. That London show especially gave us a renewed sense of excitement and motivation for playing live. It’s a moment we’ll carry with us as we gear up to tour properly in 2025 and 2026.
LUNA: Do you have any rituals as a group for celebrating milestones?In the past, our celebrations tended to be pretty intense—late nights, little sleep, and not much thought about the aftermath. Over time, though, our priorities have shifted. Half the band has kids now, and we’re generally more aware of taking care of ourselves. We’ve actually been talking a lot about how we’ll celebrate going forward, especially as we gear up for bigger shows and milestones. Our last gig was our first in years, but we were all so unwell, so it was home to bed. Looking ahead, I really don’t know yet what a sensible celebration will look like, or even if there is such a thing? That said, I’m sure there will still be the odd blowout—some moments call for it—but we’re more conscious of not wanting to wake up the next day feeling depleted or like we missed the chance to fully live in the accomplishment.
LUNA: What’s next? Any shows or upcoming projects that you’re excited about?
IVORY: Right now, touring is the main focus. We’re set to be on the road for the next two years, and the live show is something we’re constantly evolving. A big milestone for us is coming up with three nights at Alexandra Palace, which will be our biggest headline. shows to date. We had only ever considered the possibility of playing 1 night there so to sell 3 is mind blowing. Beyond that, we’re excited to see how the experiences over the next couple of years shape the future of the project. There’s a lot to look forward to, and we’re eager to see where it all leads.
