Louis Perritt of Maverick
– email Interview October 2016

Since before hitting his teens, Louis Perrit has been turning heads with his well crafted, hard hitting songs. First brought to R*E*P*E*A*T's attention via a Youtube video of him busking with a friend when he was 13, he and his fast evolving band Maverick have since been a staple of our Young Performers' gigs. His songwriting is mature, his guitar playing incredible and his voice evocative and powerful. At the grand old age of 15, as he approaches the imminent release of his debut 'grown up' ep provisionally entitled 'Chains in the System', he looks all set to leap on to bigger things. Rosey R*E*P*E*A*T thought he'd better ask him the score before he leaves us all behind...

Maverick – who, what and why?

We are four 15 year olds that are mostly focused on our music…I think I can speak for everyone in saying that. We like playing together and performing as much as possible.

Describe your sound to a hard of hearing alien.

Guitar-driven dark and heavy alternative rock, with heavy piano rock ballads.

Is it true that you began as a busking band? Can you tell us a bit about how you first got into music?

I started performing at a folk club when I was 8 and started writing my own songs when I was 10. I got together with my bass player Adam Pollard when we were 13 and we started busking in town, got spotted by R*E*P*E*A*T and asked to perform at the Portland Arms. Then we got to see loads of other young bands and there was a kind of comeraderie where we were getting to know each other and supporting each other.

And that was how I met Adam Vining, lead and we eventually started jamming together and James D'Alessandro, our drummer…I met him at my school.

What are the best and worst things about being in Maverick?

The best is being together as a band and sharing the feeling of hitting the high with the music, hearing it get better and feeling it…and the buzz of playing live. The worst, well for me, is when I get a new song in my head and don’t get it down fast enough and it’s gone.

We are often told that guitar music is dead, yet then we saw swarms of kids coming to watch bands such as Slaves, Matty and the Bullsharks and Deep City. Is there much interest in guitar music amongst your friends?

Nah, They're all wet and listen to grime which sounds like shit. There are a few who like guitar music though which is good to see.

What has the highlight of your career to date been?

Cambridge Rock and following on with the PledgeMusic campaign, planning to record and feeling like we’re getting tighter as a band and getting some momentum.

If you could play a festival with 4 other bands, living or dead, who would you chose?

The Beatles, Bowie, Pink Floyd and Nick Cave.

Do you find it easy to write your lyrics?

Yeh it kind of comes to me – I can’t really explain the process. Sometimes I scribble down in an exercise book next to my bed to use later. I usually start with the music and then do the lyrics, but not always.

You seem to be quite socially aware of issues such as racism - what sort of things inspire you?

I’ve never grown up looking at other people as different. I’m lucky in that respect. Cambridge being quite a liberal place, I don’t know any friends that are racist. Music is a great way to bring people together.

I am quite interested in politics, I didn’t think I was but I am.

What can you tell us about the track 'Chains in the System'?

People are struggling with the system hypnotising people to leave college get a job in a factory. Bread and circuses to keep the people entertained and working for them whilst they get richer and we get poorer cause we’re too dumb to stand up and do anything about it everything seems a bit fake.

My Dad worked with the homeless for 10 years and I’m aware of how hard it is for some people that don’t have a good start in life. I met some really interesting people.

You are currently crowd funding to be able to record some tracks. Tell us about this and what you hope to achieve with it.

We didn’t know whether it would work but we thought we’d try it. It was really stressful at first and it gets inside your brain – you wake up every morning and your whole mood depends on what percentage it’s on…but in the end everyone started helping big-time and we hit 100% at the end of the first week. We’re stoked and super thankful.

Who 'Sleeps in their Daydreams'?

That’ll probably be me. It’s about isolation and losing your grip on reality and battling with your sanity!

How can people get hold of your music?

We’ll have CDs and we’ll do downloads, and we’ll put something on Spotify and Soundcloud.

What's next for Maverick?

Recording with Chris at Bluebarn. I liked recording with him for my Rough Seas EP when I was 13. He’s very chilled and involves you in the whole process. We were also impressed with his CD for The Abstracts.

Most importantly, what's best, chips or cream buns?

I don't eat food.

And with that typically unique answer (the first person who's said that in 22 years of asking), off Louis runs to write a song, record an ep or compose some lyrics. Be sure, you've not heard the last of this talented, creative, thoughtful and hardworking young musician! Keep up with him via his Facebook page and support his Pledge Campaign here so he can get some chips and buns in...

To find out more about Louis Perritt, to see some live footage from Cambridge Rock Festival and a personal video message from Louis, click on this link for his Pledge Campaign here

Words and live pix : Rosey R*E*P*E*A*T
Other pix : Chrissie