Sad and hopeful, vulnerable and tough: Inside Mainard Larkin’s Rattlesnake Boy

Once known as the rap artist Randa, Mainard Larkin's path hasn't always been clear cut. Recently emerging with an unexpected new direction... it seems everyone is making country music nowadays.

But this is so much more than that.

These songs have depth and a level of glorious emotional complexity that can stem only from messy lived experience. A sentiment that runs deeper than melody or the rhythm behind a song. It's giving Neil Young meets Kurt Vile at a 10am diner for pancakes. Deeply curious, we got the inside scoop .

It's been a complete evolution from your time making hip hop as Randa to alt-country as Mainard Larkin. First of all, what inspired the shift to country music?

I think it was a few different factors which inspired the shift. I was listening to a lot more country music for the first time, learning about the genre. In 2019, I really appreciated the emphasis on storytelling and the way humour could be weaved throughout even the heaviest of songs. Orville Peck’s Pony was a big album for me, I would drive around in my Demio listening to that cd from start to finish. Towards the end of 2021, I was writing a lot of poetry at the time, my writing still had a playful nature to it at times but I was kind of digging into some heavier subjects like grief for instance. I remember having a desire to sing and get out of my comfort zone musically, although I didn't yet believe in my ability to use my voice in such a different way. It wasn't until I started working with Shannon Fowler aka. Tom Lark again that I developed the confidence to do so.

In your own words how would you describe the music you've made on this album?

Rattlesnake Boy is a loose concept album about the life of a professional wrestler in the 80s/90s. A number of the songs are honest reflections, and often explorations of faith and doubt - whether that’s in regards to the main character’s psyche (the wrestler’s view of himself) or more of an interpretation of the universe around him. To put it more simply, the music on this album is both sad and hopeful, vulnerable, tough and there is a degree of humour at times.

How is your journey as an individual embodied into your music at various stages throughout your career?

Whatever phase I’m going through as a person is usually reflected in my music. For example, the year leading up to making Rattlesnake Boy I was sort of keeping life really simple, meditating, working 9 to 5, watching films, drawing and writing a lot of earnest poetry while reflecting a whole bunch on themes of grief, hope, and peace. 

Musically, who are your biggest influences right now?

Gregg Allman, Paul Cauthen, LCD Soundsystem, Stephen Wilson Jr, Loretta Lynn. And like pretty much everyone(!?) I've been obsessively listening to Geese albums and Cameron Winter's solo work.

You've worked extensively with Tom Lark on the album. How did this collaboration come about and describe the way you work together...

Shannon and I had become pals and made some singles together back when I was doing Randa stuff a number of years back. In December 2022 Shannon sent me an instrumental track I really liked. We linked up for a session and ended up writing a really fun tune called Gossip (track 6 on the album). The sound felt super fresh to anything we had made in the past so we decided to keep going and see what else we could come up with. I had just turned thirty at the time also and felt ready to commit to an album length project. A typical studio day throughout the writing and recording process would usually involve meeting up for coffee, going to the studio, sharing what new ideas we each had and any references which were inspiring us. Each song came about quite differently serving as a reminder to stay open minded and not stick to any method of sorts.

Starting out, did you have a creative vision for this record? Or did it materialise as the songs emerged...

In the beginning, there was no super distinct vision, I guess a shared goal between Shannon and I was to create work which felt fun and interesting to us, to create the kind of work we would enjoy listening to.

At this point, how do you define success as an artist?

At present, I define success as an artist as being psyched on the process and the fun which comes along with creating and collaborating with other artists... whether that be while crafting the songs, making videos or figuring out the album art direction. I’m also really looking forward to playing live sets this year, I’ve got a band together with some lovely people and I think getting to perform as part of a group and really bring the songs to life in front of a live audience will feel really joyful. As I get older, the way I define success is becoming pretty wholesome. I hope that as long as I’m creating and sharing work, I’m constantly wanting to learn and challenge myself in various ways. I think as long as there’s a fire in the belly type feeling, that’s a sign of success.

What's next for Mainard Larkin?

Live shows, live sessions, fun merch. Hopefully I’ll just continue to work with others and create interesting work which feels authentic to wherever I’m at. I’m really excited about writing and coming up with ideas for a second album. I loved being in the studio and bringing ideas to life with Shannon. In the meantime though, I’ll make sure to enjoy all that comes with the release of Rattlesnake Boy! And yeah, excited and nervous to start sharing the live set!