What's In A Name?

Surely a girl by any other name would sing as sweet....

To answer some common questions, Robin Goodchild . asked to interview Rapunzel M.A.P.

Robin: Your name is certainly unusual, why Rapunzel M.A.P? Rapmap: Rapunzel started off as a nickname as a little while back ,I had extremely long hair, past the bottom of my calfs.(Its still long , just not that long anymore) So people just called me the obvious nick name, 'Rapunzel' after the fairytale about the girl with extremely long golden hair who is locked in a tower. Co- incidently in the story, Rapunzel is also known for her voice. She sings whilst in the tower and gets recognised by the blind prince, not for her hair but her voice. While at school I was known as 'the one with the hair' and now I'm told I'm known as 'the one with the voice'. It's better than 'Chewbacca' which someone shouted at me once...so if the name fits..." Robin: So when was the full name Rapunzel M.A.P. used and what does it stand for? At university I was elected as Entertainments Officer and put on the first breakbeat night at the Students Union called 'The Full Fat Fryer'. I needed a Promotions name for the flyer and Rapunzel Productions seemed obvious..but I wasnt happy limiting it to just Productions. I wanted an umbrella name to encompass all I did in the future....music, art installations etc So it was as simple as Music. Art. Production. I used to just use which ever I needed and interchange the letters... Soon after I began djing on Student radio and in the back room of a club called The Lenton in Nottingham. So Rapunzel M.A.P. then became a dj name. Well fairytales had worked for Spinderella (the Dj from salt n pepa) and Prince (another purple one)... Finally, I did my first proper gig at K9, Nottingham in the year 2000, (now Cuba Libra) and as the name Rapunzel M.A.P. had begun popping up on flyers, it seemed stupid to .change it. Anyway I make no apologies for a weird name. Its like marmite, you either love it or you hate it and once you know it, you never forget it. Theres too much blandness is the singer songwriter world as it is, let me be creative, even with my name." (she then laughs wearily, obviously she gets asked this alot) Robin: I love the name, but it sounds like you've had to defend your name in the past by the way your talking, can you expand on that? Rapmap: haha. yes I have, just a few random comments when I was out mixing with industry at a conference and handing out my demo, some would just say 'Change your name' even before listening to it. Actually those people usually followed it with "cut your hair" too. I'm sure they just would rather I was called 'Chloe' or something....more of a 'nice & normal' singer songwriter name...but then these are the guys who also asked me to cut my hair..like that is an important musical decision ! And who asks a girl with calf length hair to cut her hair! I mean, I obviously grew it because I wanted it, its not something you do on a whim" Robin: So you're not cutting your hair then? Rapmap: Nope, not unless I want to and I've just suffered alot of hair loss due to womens probs anyway so they got their wish in the end didn't they? Lets face it I could now be called Chloe with a neat and tidy bob, and then I wouldn't be me and if I didnt know who me was, I'd be no longer able to write a song.! If the music industry insists on quashing individuality and freedom of expression then music will die a death, as it is these 2 things that music feeds on and makes it grow. Robin: like ya hair! ? Rapmap: yeah very funny,like my hair... Robin:so any advice to industry bods reading this? Yep, its pretty simple, I ask of the industry just 3 things, let me grow my hair, let me call myself what I like, give me some freedom in my art and in return I'll try to make some great music. Fair swap? So remember it is Rapunzel M.A.P. and dont forget the dots.. ( not that I'm that attached to the dots, but it didn't do the Notorius B.I.G any harm did it? ) ;o) Rapmap: Sounds like those industry men are like the wicked witch who would lock you in the tower in the first place? Rapmap: mmm quite a good analogy but they're not all bad, at least I hope not. No, I'm keeping the faith and cutting my hair in my own lil way, did you know I've always had a fringe? Robin: No I didn't know that, really? Rapmap: Yes, always, actually theres people on the other extreme who think 'long haired girls' should not have a fringe, they consider that we are not 'pure long hairs' ! I can't win ! if they knew I dyed my fringe violet they'd consider that sacrilige. Robin: Well to conclude, I'd like to say thanks for your time and to any guys in suits, forget trying to mould this girl, let this girl get on with writing beautiful songs and singing them in that flawless manner, her mould is more than alright as it is! Rapmap: Yay. Interview by Robin Goodchild 2004

 

T shirt by Shirley Geek

At it's maximum length Rapunzel M.A.P.'s hair had grown past her calfs....