Hiya Paul Griggs and Paul Mahieu of Beyond The Rubicon thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
Paul Griggs
I was brought up to the sounds of 60s and 70S Music. My Grandma always had music blaring out, it was always Rhythm and Melody, Roy Orbison, The Beatles, Jim Reeves, Petula Clark for example, she even took me dancing but i`ll keep that a secret! I suppose it was in my blood as she was a musician and her brother at aged 6 played drums for the Local brass band. He was a musical prodigy but sadly died at a young age.
So music is the thing i`m comfortable with. I play multiple instruments and never had a lesson, you could say i`m a jack of all instruments and definitely a master of none. I have always loved writing tunes and always with rhythm and melody. Sadly my musical career was halted when I had a career in engineering and bringing up a family, but I always knew when the time was right i`d come back to it.
And I have with as much force as I can. So yes, I knew music was for me from a young age, I just delayed things a bit😊. Whilst I was not being active, I was into listening to my heroes and how they constructed songs particularly, that`s so important when writing to know what is needed and when.
Paul Mahieu
As a toddler I was mesmerized by the Beatles. Friends of my age did not had the same feeling, but older people in the neighborhood bought their records and let me listen to them. From then on I knew I wanted to be a Beatle or at least a musician. Later I heard bands like Led Zeppelin and Golden Earring as well as Neil Young, which confirmed my choice. I got a guitar from my parents and started playing in bands from my 14th year. From my 17th I started my own bands.
Introduce us to you and your musical history.
Sure, I’m Paul Griggs and I have been around the sun 64 times in my human spaceship, I am a Gas Turbine Engineer and a businessman by trade, but now devote all my time to music, it`s easier. I first picked up a right handed guitar when I was 12 but realized it`s the wrong way around, so I changed the strings to suit a lefty, and self taught listening to Wishbone Ash, Beatles, Wings etc.
My parents used to take us to the local social club, upstairs in the concert was a set of drums and organ for the resident musicians. I asked if I could play the drums as I was sure I knew how to, so I put on a record and played to it – and I could, freaky really.
One Saturday eve when the resident drummer was sick I stepped in when I was 14 and played with the organist and singer. I knew the songs – Delilah, My way, etc you know the stuff. From then I played either drums or guitar in bands, also writing songs. Until I was married first time, then for some reason it stopped. But now it`s all go
I am Paul Mahieu and had a music career in the Netherlands until I was around 23. The band I played in then (Leopard) was becoming quite successful there (record deal, European tour etc.) but was then struck by tragedy as the guitar player had a brain stroke and a few months later the bass player died of a heart attack. I was devastated, as they were also very good friends, and decided to quit the music scene. I then became a lawyer, which I still am. I kept on playing though and kept on writing songs.
What’s the live music scene like in The Hague, Netherlands right now?
It`s quite active but could be much better. For some reason pubs can`t get licenses as the neighbours don`t like it 😊The Dutch love their music and are great musicians. Beyond The Rubicon are busy rehearsing. It`s a 5 pieces band and are sounding really good, soon to start playing gigs.
We have enough songs now of high quality, which we are excited about. We never play covers as there`s a lot of bands that do so what`s the point. Paul Mahieu and Paul Griggs are primarily a duo. We really hit it off, but sometimes we disagree to the song styles, but that`s normal. We should be OK for finding gigs. Paul Mahieu is well connected in the Hague So we should be OK for gigs. In the UK we will play around York and Leeds, so there is lots of potential.
I’ve seen a lot of people struggling for support recently online. Whats your view on the industry? T
To be honest I think it`s a great big black hole. Too many good artists are going unseen and un-heard which is a shame. I have no idea how it can change, but I suspect it will get worse, with bedroom pro-tools etc more and more songs will be made and lost. I also fear for drummers the DAWs are making them redundant. We insisted on using a real drummer which we are proud of.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
If the music industry was the solar system, we would be situated in the Ort cloud as far away from the centre as is possible. Not that we want to be there, but I think our age is against us and our music style maybe a bit too retro for many. But we get good feedback so we keep going, and retro is making a comeback so watch this space.
How do you write songs?
We have 3 ways, Paul Griggs, from a riff a chord progression or rhythm usually, then mumble a melody until it`s semi born, then I get to work on it, sorting where verses, choruses and middle 8 go. Paul Mahieu writes the same way more or less. Then we play the songs to each other to see if we like them. Then we do the arranging, licks riffs etc. Paul Mahieu and I also write together, we jam until something pops up. Then we write it down and do the same as individually. Each method gives very different songs. I prefer the jamming as its more enjoyable
Tell us two truths and a lie about you.
Paul Giggs: I am very down to earth with no ego (Yorkshire roots). The lie is I am a vegetarian.
Paul Mahieu: I cannot imagine live without music and love. The lie is I love to play covers.
Do you ever worry about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture?
Discuss….Yes I was brought up in a different time when humour was brutal, so I am de-sensitized I suppose. I can take a brutal joke and I am not offended. I think the attack on free speech is wrong, we should be able to voice opinions in a grown up way.
There are 7 billion plus people on this earth, so the amount of opinions out there is vast, we must be able to hear them. If someone says you can`t say that then that is not their right to do so, toughen up I say. My daughters have pointed me in the “don`t say that dad” direction. As for cancel culture it`s hideous, it is everyone`s human right to be able to live as they see fit and not “Cancel someone”.
Tell us something about each member that you think people would be surprised about.
My partner Paul Mahieu is a Lawyer and he has a sense of humour, which is very surprising 😊so if anyone tries to nick a song or two they’re in bother. I have a successful Engineering business in the Power Industry. I’m well known in that industry but wish it was music 😊
What are the next steps you plan to take as a band to reach the next level?
Keep writing. We are hoping some songs can be used in syncing for TV and films as they are ear worms and catchy, so hopefully some will get picked up and help us with exposure. To rehearse like crazy, we have a great sound and live will be well liked we think. Keep writing, keep releasing. We have a social media person who is helping us greatly, we need to do more videos for MM
I hear you have a new music, what can you tell us about it.
Vision 2 is the second part of a 3 EP release, The first was in June (Awakening 1), Vision 2 was released in August and has 4 songs, a very eclectic album as was Awakening 1. They are well produced by Dave Boothroyd in York at 6Db studios. The opener “Everywhere” is a great song, a perfect radio or sit come tune.
“I surrender” is the second song, a basically someone proclaiming surrender to his lover. Third is “Alive”, a nice poppy song. It`s about someone basically saying you make me feel Alive and you’re the best. Fourth is a little what I call a ditty. These songs were very common in the past and this is about a drinker who just wants “One more time” before he goes home.
What was the recording process like?
Great, Dave the producer made it easy and enjoyable, We are very productive, we can do a song in about 2 days, obviously un-mixed etc. but the bare bones are there. Some songs we weren’t sure about, but Dave made them come alive, he`s a genius. Paul Mahieu goes into a zen mode when we record a whereas I like to experiment.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
Not to put too much emphasis on a long intro, try to keep it short and also get the listeners ear asap, and try to keep them between 3 mins and 4 mins.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
I think we are happy with them, so far. There`s another 4 songs out in October. That album is called Re-birth 3, that is more rocky. Then the trilogy is done.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Paul Griggs: Yes, when I was 54 I was told I literally had 2 weeks left to live unless I had emergency heart surgery. Since my recovery I learned that every minute of every hour of every day we should do stuff, don`t procrastinate just do it. The energy it gives is phenomenal. If you paint then paint if you play music then play, you get the drift.
Paul Mahieu: Yes, live life to the fullest, in a balanced way, enjoy music!
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