August | 2016 | sseennsseess

A living rock called Mara, who makes a stone sound like concrete pussy but is she really a girl or is she an Astrogirl?

This is the story of someone pushing a rough story to the MAX! A hurricane that will whirl you into space and back in a stroke of lightning.

Presenting Maria Mattila aka Mara Balls who literally came, saw and kicked yer sorry butts for the fun of it and planting, a cliché sounding, yet very important message to us all: never give up, use that music if yer feeling down, music is medicine!

An applause to Mara, she deserves every clap of it!

Mara Balls, please present yourself in your very own way?

Im a living rock.

Why Balls?

Well, Mara Balls is a word play. Maracas in Finnish are marakassit. “Kassit” is a slang word for balls. It’s just a stupid, stoned humor. And I have balls to call myself Balls. I wanna provocate, tease and confuse. My favourite stuff among playing music.

Where were you born and why?

I was born near Russia border as a result of two people in love.

Tell me a short story from your teenage days?

Short? Years of obsession, neurosis, eating disorder, anxiety, mental hospitals, inhibition, shyness, insufficiency, self-hatred. I was very introverted. The only way to escape was music and masturbation.

How is it to live where you do?

I live in an one hundred years old “castle”. There is no hot water or shower..I have to heat my water. I have a fireplace and the place is utterly beautiful. They are gonna kick everybody out in the end of this year as they’re gonna renovate the house. I don’t know where Im going next. Im thinking about Granada caves in Spain.

Who’s the spirit of the mountain, the big boss bigger than god’s and devils?

It just is. It’s nothing and everything at the same time..very difficult to explain. You have to feel it.

Are you religious?

To believe in something and to be religious are very different things. I consider myself very spiritual, but I have never understood the concept of religion. Please explain it to me if you can.

What is your drive in life?

To create and receive vibration and to create more to receive more to create more to receive… It’s my calling. When there’s vibration, I feel satisfied, happy and fullfilled.

What is your drive wearing a guitar?

My father plays guitar. When I was a kiddo, he was in jail. I wrote him a letter: “One day Im gonna be a guitarista too.” I chose my way back then. It’s weird, but a child’s mind can be very determined.

Why does a guitar look good on you?

Maybe she’s born with it? Ha ha

Although your music is more psychedelic, then one can just hear and feel an energy boost like a shaken a beer can ready to burst at anytime, what brings you to that state?

You tell me. Must be the same shit that made me so sick when I was a teenager. Unfortunately I didn know what to do with that “energy” back then. Now I put it into my music and playing.. It’s my gasoline. It’s survivalism.

You are lightning, thunder and hurricane, what happens when you are drained for energy?

I go to my grandparents place grounding. Works every time.

You decided to appear naked on the record cover of your Mara Balls debut LP, why?

Actually..It was 2014 and I was travelling in Malaga. I climbed on that mountain and made a sacrifice for the mountain. The ritual included me naked. My boyfriend took the photo. I did not know it would end up to be a cover of my LP. I did’nt even know I was gonna make an debut LP. Untill one night in 2015. Then it was all very clear. But it’s a different story.

Out of 10 songs only two are in English; “Time to Testify” and “Better Future”…have something on your heart that you would like to share with us?

Lyrics come both. I can’t control it. Some songs are born in English, some in Finnish. I just let it come.

Then I used google translator and came up with “Yellow House”…do tell about that house?

Well, you could write a book about it. Let’s put i shortly; it was a project I started in 2014. An open house for creativity, communication and colours. It was also a human experiment; how will it work if there are no rules, organisation or structure. I was the primus motor, but basically I just opened the doors for people to create culture. The city gave me a prize “The culture act of the year 2014”. It was absolutely amazing project and life changing for me in many ways.

Are you a loner?

Actually no. Usually Im surrounded by people. But often I have a weird feeling about being alone in the middle of the people.

Are you lonesome?

Everybody are sometimes.

Do you like solitude?

More than solitude or being in a crowd, I like the change from one to another.

What and where is the perfect place for you?

On a move.

I like Mara Balls without knowing her, why?

Cause I’m a transmitting the pure, primal energy.

What did life give you and what did you give life?

Vibration.

How do you remember your time spent in schools?

I remember the math teacher being very upset cause I called circle A BALL. Ha ha..

Who or what inspires you in general?

When I sense vibration and resonate. It can happen in the nature, when making music, when making love, when feeling the breathe of a wind..anywhere anyhow.

Who and what inspires you musically?

A strong feeling.

Are you a dreamer or realist?

Realistic dreamer ; If you can dream it, you can do it.

Who sucks and who rocks?

Music made just to please people or sell good suck s, putting your heart into music and letting go of the fear rocks.

Im looking for an exclusive, share a secret that no one or only a few knows about?

When I did my first gig singing in 2013, I was afraid that I might die on the stage. I even called my mom just before the show. I was really ready for the fact that I might not survive alive. I was so afraid. But here I am!!

Bad habits?

Avoiding eating. Its a ghost from the time I had an eating disorder. Alcohol used to be a bad habit, but I quit drinking some time ago for good. Im an alcoholic. It will kill me if I drink. I rather not.

Passions?

Smell of a skin and hair of my loved one.

Fave Finnish bands?

Wigwam, Apollo, Saimaa just to mention a few.