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WORDS MAISIE JANE DANIELS - PHOTOGRAPHY AMY LAUFFER NEFF
From one Maisie to another, F Word’s Maisie Daniels sits down with Queen Cult's Maisie Johnson for an in-depth chat. Fresh off their performances at Brighton Pride Rock and YNOT Festival, and with the release of their electrifying new track "To Be A Boy" and their EP "Be Better," there’s plenty to discuss!
"To Be A Boy" delves into the often-overlooked struggles of growing up AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth) and the complex questions that arise from wanting to be a boy versus simply wanting the freedoms that come with being treated like one. It’s a track that not only makes you think but also gets you dancing with your arms in the air.
The "Be Better" EP is a deeply reflective project, born from Maisie’s personal experiences over the past year. It explores themes of setting boundaries, embracing honesty, and the importance of communication. As Maisie puts it, it’s like an internal journal brought to life.
Dive into our conversation to uncover the ethos behind the EP, discuss the evolving music landscape in terms of representation and inclusivity, and enjoy a thought-provoking quote from Sylvia Plath...
Maisie Daniels: Hey Maisie, it's Maisie! Welcome to F Word mag! How has your week been so far? What have been the highs and lows?
Maisie Johnson: Hello! Not often I meet another Maisie. What a week to ask me, where do I begin! We’ve just come back from playing Brighton pride rock and YNOT festival, so I'm feeling a bit weathered [laughs]. But all in all we had a great time.
MD: Let's dive into the story behind the name Queen Cult. How did you choose it, and how did the band come together?
MJ: At the very start it was me and my friend Leila back in 2018 wanting to see more AFAB bands so we were constantly generating band names that felt good, and we eventually came up with Queen Cult.
MD: Your new single, “To Be A Boy,” is out now. I love the track and the music video, and I’m sure this topic will resonate with many people. How did your personal experiences influence the creation of this song?
MJ: One afternoon I was having a chilled day and read this Sylvia Plath quote from her journals that just stuck with me: “Yes, my consuming desire is to mingle with road crews, sailors and soldiers, barroom regulars—to be a part of a scene, anonymous, listening, recording—all this is spoiled by the fact that I am a girl, a female always supposedly in danger of assault and battery. My consuming interest in men and their lives is often misconstrued as a desire to seduce them, or as an invitation to intimacy. Yes, God, I want to talk to everybody as deeply as I can. I want to be able to sleep in an open field, to travel west, to walk freely at night...” - Sylvia Plath
This song is super personal to me and also based on my experiences growing up. It was written about growing up with the confusion of wanting to be a boy, when in reality I came to the realisation that I just wanted the freedom that boys had growing up. It’s also about the misconception that when I hung around boys, I should fancy them - but I just didn’t! Navigating a world as AFAB was, and still is, pressured with multiple expectancies in behaviour followed by rules. This is my experience of that. I hope it sticks with you.
MD: Queen Cult is an unapologetically queer band. How have your identity and experiences influenced your music?
MJ: Yeah the band is a mix really, including a couple of allies! Though I am definitely unapologetically queer. I guess through the narratives I lyrically touch on gender, sexuality and such, they always end up the closest to my personal experiences.
MD: Your new EP ‘Be Better' is out now and it’s brilliant. What do you hope listeners will take away from it?
MJ: Boundaries, honesty and communication! Whether it's boundaries with myself or others, it's important to listen to yourself and set them! I’ve covered my experiences with gender, sexuality, toxicity, friendship with myself and others. I’d say it’s a roundup of the last 12 months! Like I've just called you up, my best mate and filled you in on the year I’ve had. My internal Journal.
MD: Did you learn anything about yourself through creating this EP? If so, can you please share.
MJ: Boundaries, Honesty, Communication. With every body of work, I've felt myself grow on a personal level as well as a musical one. Everything keeps moving around you as you are creating it and you're just highlighting some of the moments within the music, colouring in if you will!
MD: The EP’s opening track ‘Be Better’ explores the complexities of platonic love, especially in queer relationships. What inspired you to write about this topic?
MJ: [Laughs] Now you’re digging! You’ve fancied your best mate, right? I feel like everyones gone through this at some point; love isn't linear and sometimes it's simple but sometimes it's complex. So when I was in a state of confusion I thought I better share this!
MD: Me, never... [Laughs] How has the response been from your fans so far?
MJ: This year has really grown for us I think, it seems we’re making a connection with people which is a lovely feeling. We can only hope to continue that and enjoy the journey and hope that people keep resonating and taking something from it.
MD: How long did it take you to write the EP?
MJ: It's kinda hard to say - I write quite frequently at home and tracks we think will go on it swap out for others but I think in the space of 6/8 months we had the foundations.
MD: You mentioned that the EP deals a lot with boundaries and personal experiences from the past year. Can you elaborate on how these themes are reflected in the different tracks of the EP?
MJ: Of course.
‘Be Better’ touches on how to voice and navigate those feelings with someone when it's not reciprocated or not an option because the person isn't available and that battle in your own mind before sharing.
‘Stop Calling’ is the feeling of frustration when you are receiving unwanted attention and how you want to tell them no.
‘The Hand Lender’ touches on discovery of oneself and others and getting to that point of honesty with yourself in how you feel. Allowing yourself to explore.
‘To Be A Boy’ [is] wanting to be seen in the world as a person and not society's idea of a woman. Often my attention on a man being misconstrued with flirty intention simply coz' of my gender when really I just wanna be seen and respected the same.
‘Hole In My Head’ [is] a simple song on that late night ‘are you awake?’ message on the back foot, wanting to see them again - emotionally unavailable - desire to lust someone. Breaking all your boundaries knowing it's bad for you, but sometimes we’re all reckless.
MD: What has been the most rewarding part of creating and sharing your new EP with the world?
MJ: Out of all three EP's, time was created for this, which allowed for some sonic continuity and development. We really found the bones of the sound for us I think! The most special part for me is actually looking at the entire process, the feeling you get in real time when you are writing it, the expansion when you produce it, and the liberation when you get to share it and perform it.
MD: Complete the following sentences: The world would be better with...
MJ: ... the Gays
MD: The world would be better without...
MJ: ... the fascists
MD: How do you see the music landscape changing in terms of representation and inclusivity, and what role do you hope Queen Cult will play in that evolution?
MJ: We can only be present, listen, and speak when it's important, and be mindful as it evolves, we’re the kind of band who constantly wanna be better (no pun I swear) and strive for progressiveness within the industry. We just want everyone to try to be kind to one another in this fucked up world. The least you can do is be kind on and off stage and respect people. As were all just people at the end of the day! Create space for everyone.
MD: Do you have any shows coming up that we should know about?
MJ: Yes we are playing Last Train Home festival in Darlington on the 7th September and Beyond The Music festival in Manchester on the 12th October with a few others yet to be confirmed in between.
MD: What can people expect from a Queen Cult show?
MJ: Silliness, energy, melodic, loud, boppin', riffs for days, chanty, welcoming, inclusive, safe.
MD: This is F Word magazine! What’s your favourite “F” word?
MJ: Fuck. Nothing else to it. Generally say it every other word!
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