Today we’d like to introduce you to Piper Durabo AKA Maraschino.
Hi Piper, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Maraschino was born in 2017 shortly after my former band Puro Instinct broke up. I moved to New York and started working on an album with one of my best friends Sam Mehran who was meant to produce it, but relatively early on in the process, he passed away and it took me a while to get back into a place where I could function on a basic level, let alone focus on music. Later I linked up with Chris Coady on some tracks and that was really fun. He’s one of my favorite people in LA to work and hang with. He also has some of the craziest gear of anyone I know. Christine McVie’s Korg M1 is all over my record as well as Prince’s reverb unit from 1999 and Purple Rain thanks to Chris. Pretty sure some of Madonna’s 80’s DX7 drum samples made the cut too. When the pandemic hit it kinda derailed our workflow and I ended up producing the rest of the record, which ended up working out really well because it’s been something I’ve been meaning to do for a while. My friend and collaborator Luke Darger helped me flesh out arrangements on a lot of the songs, Jorge Elbrecht mixed it and Daddy Kev mastered it. I just dropped a couple of singles called “Smoke & Mirrors” and “Hi Desire”, as well as accompanying videos. The album “Hollywood Piano” comes out in the Spring of 2023 and I’m stoked.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I mean, I think for most people in general it’s been a little bit of a rough road for the last few years! I’m pretty used to things being up and down, but in early 2021 I had a little cancer scare and some related surgeries to recover from, so that was pretty freaky. Health-wise things have been fine since then. Focusing on the album and other projects kept me motivated and inspired throughout my recovery.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I dabble in a little bit of everything, but my primary medium is music. I love synths and I love making worlds with them. I also host a show on NTS Radio called “Kiss Cafe”, have been reading tarot for the last 15 years, and practice reiki and sound healing. I’m a mom to a three year old Shih Tzu rescue named Froggy which is my favorite thing that I do.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
It’s hard to say. There is a lot of dysfunction in the music industry but I’m optimistic. I’d love to see more multidisciplinary events in LA. There are so many brilliant artists from different backgrounds making incredible work and a lot of it just needs context, ya know? Little Secret, SADE and the Philosophical Research Society do a good job of uniting the LA art community in that way, I think. On February 9th, I have an event planned at the Philosophical Research Society with Syd Botanica, an alchemist and perfumist also based in LA. We’re collaborating on a fragrance for my next single “Angelface”, and thought it would be rad to make a party out of it. The show is called “Angelface: A Celebration of Mysticism and Love” and will involve a very special Maraschino performance, fragrance launch, more musical guests, love tarot readings, and aphrodisiacs in various forms. So excited about it, especially that it will be held at the PRS which has been a pillar of hope and sanity in my life for years now. Hoping to do a lot more shows like this in 2023.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/maraschinoxo
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/maraschinoxo
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@maraschinoxo
- Other: https://maraschinoxo.bandcamp.com/album/hollywood-piano
Image Credits
Main photo – Anders Larsen, Additional photos: Photo 1 – Stephanie Nicole Smith, Photo 2 – Drew Bienemann, Photo 3 – Stephanie Nicole Smith, Photo 4- Stephanie Nicole Smith, Photo 5 – Laura Moreau, Photo 6 – Unknown
