The discussion revolves around the creation of the AREA21 album by Martijn and Maejor, a project that has been in the works for several years. The duo met at a party in Los Angeles and quickly found a connection, leading to a series of late-night sessions in Amsterdam, where they began writing and recording music.
The process of creating the album was a spontaneous and fun experience for both artists. They wrote and recorded songs on the road, in the car, and even after shows. They did not adhere to traditional music genres, instead creating music that felt authentic and enjoyable to them.
The album's concept is centered around the idea of two aliens landing on Earth and their experiences with human society. This concept serves as a platform to discuss issues like racism and borders from a different perspective.
The album's creation was also influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a distraction for the artists. They worked closely with a team at Disney and Titmouse to animate the storylines and make the messages more clear.
In the studio, Martijn and Maejor often took on different roles. Sometimes Martijn was the guitarist, sometimes the drummer, and sometimes they wrote lyrics together. They found this collaborative process to be completely organic and enjoyable.
The album's finalization process is still ongoing, with 10 out of 12 songs completed. The artists are excited about the upcoming release, with plans for a live show where they will perform in alien masks.
Martijn and Maejor aim for AREA21 to be an outlet for them to experiment and create unique music. They believe in trusting their gut and not overthinking the process. They are also open to merging different styles and genres, something they believe sets them apart from other artists.
The artists have big plans for the future of AREA21, intending to continue making music and explore new ideas. They hope that their music will lift people's spirits and make them feel welcome and included.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Martijn (Martin Garrix) met Maejor at a party in L.A.
2. They discovered they both made music and started working together.
3. The project AREA21 was born on a 12-hour flight from L.A. to Amsterdam.
4. Martijn's old studio was on the 21st floor and was called AREA21.
5. The first song they made was "Spaceships".
6. AREA21's music making process is all about fun and energy.
7. Martijn and Maejor wrote at least half of the album while on the road or in the car.
8. The album was a distraction for Martijn during the COVID-19 pandemic.
9. AREA21's concept is about two aliens who crash into planet earth and experience human things for the first time.
10. The album will have 12 songs, and they have finished 10 of them.
11. Martijn worked on the instrumental for some songs, while Maejor did vocal ideas.
12. They collaborated with an amazing team at Disney and Titmouse for the animations.
13. The helmets for the live shows were made in real life, and they plan to have a UFO for the shows.
14. They worked with Jim Henson's Creature Shop to create the masks.
15. Martijn's main goal with AREA21 is to lift people's spirits and make them feel welcome.
16. AREA21 is still a new project, and they plan to make music for the rest of their lives.
17. Martijn and Maejor met at a bar where Maejor was doing yoga, and they introduced themselves.
18. They started talking and drinking tequila, and a few days later, Maejor came to Amsterdam.
19. Maejor recognized Martijn from his YouTube production tutorial.
20. They became friends and started working on music together in Amsterdam.