Maraad Connects with Us to Dive Deep into His Latest Album Release ‘Buff’ and the Journey Behind the Sound
- STAFF
- Sep 8
- 7 min read
By: Staff
‘Buff’ is a stunning blend of power, vulnerability, and resilience that redefines the electronic music experience.
Maraad is back, and with his latest release, 'Buff,' he’s taking listeners on a journey through emotional landscapes like never before. The Chilean bassist and electronic music producer has crafted an album that transcends typical boundaries, an intricate weave of vulnerability, power, and resilience. With Buff, Maraad isn't just making music; he's creating a sonic experience that empowers, heals, and pushes the listener to dig deep within themselves.
We spoke with him to uncover the story behind the sound, how a creative vision rooted in supporting others evolved into a powerful solo project. As we explored his world, Maraad revealed how Buff is more than just a collection of tracks; it's a chain of anthems that guide you through highs and lows, turning personal pain into energy and introspection into momentum.
From the significance of his artist name to how he decides the perfect track sequence to bring the album's emotional journey to life, Maraad took us inside the process behind his bold and transformative sound. We also dove into the personal rituals that help him stay grounded in an industry that often drains, and how his music serves as a shield for both him and his audience.
In this interview, Maraad opens up about the moments that shaped 'Buff', the powerful stories, the risks, and the unwavering commitment to connecting deeply with his listeners. Trust us, you won't want to miss this journey.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Maraad, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. We loved your album Buff, it is an absolutely exhilarating experience. When did you first realize the power of your voice and creative skillset? What moment in your life transformed it from a personal, intimate expression to a tool for sharing your story with the world, ultimately laying the foundation for the impactful career we see today?
A. I started in my teenage years making music on Guitar Pro, which might sound strange because it’s a tablature program, but I used it to create full songs—guitars, drums, whole atmospheres. Since childhood, creativity was always there: I used to draw cars and logos with phrases in my notebooks. Music was constant at home too—my grandmother was a singer, my father a trumpet player, and my mother an obsessive listener. Years later I formed a band, Filos, with friends, where we built a strong underground presence and played real stages. When that process went into pause, I understood I couldn’t stop. That’s how Maraad was born: as the decision to give shape to that life-or-death impulse, because I can’t live without creating something that sounds, that supports, empowers, or ignites others.
Q. Your philosophy seems rooted in sustaining others rather than seeking recognition. What’s the easiest and most authentic way you’ve found to connect emotionally with your audience?
A. My way of connecting comes from being a bassist in bands and also from my gamer life—always playing support roles: healer in World of Warcraft, support in League of Legends. I realized my role was to collaborate, to open space for others to shine further than I could. That taught me to look at people the way I wish they would look at me: recognizing talent, fire, sadness, humanity. That’s why I started telling others what I see in them, because in doing so, they also give something back to me. It’s an exchange that makes me feel complete.
Q. What do you think the role of music is in times of personal struggle or hardship, and how can it help people overcome obstacles they might not even be aware of?
A. Music is the most powerful interaction we have to recognize and process our emotions. It gives form to what has no name. A phrase can reframe an entire life, and when that phrase is carried by the right atmosphere—notes, textures, colors—it hits exactly where it needs to. That’s why a song can save or destroy lives; it triggers the unconscious motor inside people. It’s like opening Pandora’s box and giving a name to the unknown.
Q. As a teaser description, what would you tell someone about this album to intrigue them about its meaning if you only had one sentence to get them interested in listening to it?
A. Hit play and leave it in the background.
Q. We read you envision listeners experiencing the album as a journey, rather than just a collection of songs. Can you further explain this?
A. The album is a journey, but not by itself—you are the one who travels, and the music is your companion. It’s a passive act, that’s why it should be heard as a whole. Don’t stop to analyze, skip, or repeat; even if something feels uncomfortable, let it play. BUFF are powers looking for what’s already in you, not for you.
Q. You’ve described music as a tool for healing and empowerment. Can you share a specific track or moment from Buff that feels like a direct channel to that healing energy?
A. If I talk about empowerment, I’d say Hymn of Hope / DNB Dreams. It’s a track that comforts you, because if you’re a dreamer or you’re fighting for something, this buff tells you: keep going, stay constant—that’s what things are made of. And who better than me to understand that: I survive purely on motivation and fight daily to remain consistent. The song is based on a memory of an old indie Chilean track I can’t even name anymore, but I remember the feeling. Those words carried me through my hardest moments, and gave me the buff to keep going against everything.
Q. You’ve spoken about turning personal pain into energy through music. Could you share a specific moment in your life when this process felt particularly transformative?
A. I haven’t lived tragedies compared to the misery that exists in the world. My life has been both difficult and simple. The real challenge is in my mind: it’s a path that always moves forward, branching into endless possibilities. That also brings the dark, the bad, the ugly—and that becomes a problem. Music gives me the labyrinth I need to stop, to crash, to wait, to calm down. I’m obsessive, and music brings my feet back to the ground. It reminds me that the most important choice is always to stay.
Q. You said Buff acts as a shield for listeners. Do you have any personal rituals or practices that help you stay protected or supported in your own life, especially as an artist?
A. I have many rituals, some good and some bad. In fact, everything is ritual when it comes to creating: from how I pour a coffee to the days and hours I sit down to work. My creative spaces are rituals in themselves, with codes, processes, and stages that need to be completed for the music to be worthy of crossing the threshold to the public.
Q. When you are writing a song, do you feel more like you’re chasing something or letting go of something?
A. For me, chasing and letting go are the same. The act of writing is already a pursuit, but at the same time I let flow whatever a reference provokes in me: a film, a moment, another song. What shocks me, I translate through my hands, and that second derivative might allow someone else to feel that same instant of shock.
Q. Do you visualize scenes or stories when you write, and how much does the imagery guide your lyrics?
A. Yes, always. When I create music, images appear immediately and they reinforce the emotions. Sometimes it’s fire, the urge to take over the world; sometimes it ends with me in tears. Those images give character to the track, help me write, and also decide which ideas are worth finishing and which will stay in the folders that never see the light.
Q. Where does the magic of your music production begin? Do you kick things off in your home studio, or do you team up with an outside producer? And when it’s time to wrap things up, do you handle the mixing and mastering yourself, or bring in someone to help perfect it?
A. I handle almost everything myself, in different stages. It begins with the provocation—the need to create. Then I search for references in atmospheres, textures, dynamics. I usually start with the bass, then use AI to color the sounds. I work with a generic synth in Reaper and later transform it with AI into the character I want. Vocals sometimes come from colleagues, later processed through kits until they match the song. I mix everything myself in Reaper, with varied results, and I master in LANDR. Occasionally I reach out to my main producer, Lucas Coto from Argentina, to fix things I couldn’t get right. I’m not a technical engineer—everything I do is based on sensations and tools—but that’s enough for the listener’s experience, even if I know I still need a quality leap.
Q. We’d love to dive deeper into the story behind your artist name, Maraad. How does Maraad connect to the music you create, what significance does it hold for you personally, and what is the origin or backstory behind the name?
A. Maraad is my gamer tag from the very beginning, inspired by Vindicator Maraad in World of Warcraft—a paladin who represents healing and support. Later I discovered that in Arabic, “Maraad” also means “illness,” and that coincidence struck me. The artist Maraad projects healing precisely from his own illness. That’s the tension that defines my music: a buff that sustains and accompanies.
Q. And finally, Maraad, we can’t thank you enough for sharing these intimate details! So, what’s next? Can you give us the inside scoop on your upcoming projects and what fans should be excited about?
A. Right now I’m focused on building the visual world. We already have two videos out and I plan to release at least two more from the album. After that, I want to start dropping new songs monthly, but first I’ll give more space to BUFF and its bonus material. The whole aesthetic will remain tied to electronic music in its different branches—I don’t lock myself into one style. One month you’ll hear a rave track, and the next, something to cry to alone in your room (while still dancing). That’s how this journey works.
Maraad, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Maraad’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
