When some 20 years ago Chris and Moira burst into the local collective consciousness with their moving power-ballad and Eurovision contender More than Love, they were clear on the place music had in their lives.

Two decades on, and the couple’s partnership has subsisted on both music and love, the latest fruits of which come in the form of their self-released album Ninety Nights and a Monday.

Recorded at their own studio, the album has been three years in the making. The title representing a timeframe of “something that happened over 90 days and a Monday”, while the band was rehearsing and preparing for the album.

“We liked the sound of it and we kept it as the album title,” Moira says, stoically refusing to say what the event was. It was not a tragedy, in case you were wondering: I made sure to ask that.

Having released an album called More than Love under the Chris and Moira moniker shortly after the Eurovision, the couple had gone on to record two albums under the Krave name – effectively ditching a brand that, thanks to its Eurovision exposure, was immediately recognisable.

“Krave was an outlet to change our artistic direction right after Eurovision,” Moira explains. “Many people have told us that Chris and Moira is how people know us, particularly abroad, where people still remember us from the Eurovision. But in any case, we wanted this new album to be under the Chris and Moira name, because it’s more Chris and Moira,” Moira says.

For artists keen to have a career beyond the pan-European song contest, the Eurovision can be a bit of a mixed blessing. Some artists have relished the attention and the popularity that comes with the contest. But others have built on the platform the contest has given them while distancing themselves from the songs of their festival days.

Chris speaks of the Eurovision as “definitely” being a blessing – for a variety of reasons. “More than Love was the start of a professional journey, a dream come true and a great adventure that’s going on until today.”

It is easy when you share the same dream

The couple’s knack for a catchy melody and lush harmonies is present throughout the 10 tracks; their claim that songwriting is not such a chore for them is hardly news. “For us, songwriting comes naturally, and our experience makes it easier,” Chris, who produced the album, says.

The couple start the songwriting process by laying ideas to construct the melody, with lyrics being applied afterwards.

“We are inspired by everything,” Moira says. “Listening to various genres of music, going through a mood, a sad moment, a happy one, a good film, the weather, good and bad – everything inspires us.”

That is not to say there was no graft involved in the making of the record: part of the reason that the ten tracks took three years to make. Each song was fleshed out by the band – complemented by Billy B on bass and Philip Borg Barthet on drums – before committing it to disk.

“Part of the process is that after the song is written, we go to the rehearsal room and we rehearse it with the band and get their first impression. At that point the song would be 90% there and that’s where the rest of the band, especially Billy B, put their ideas. We write everywhere really, there is no specific place or time... Even when asleep ideas come to us!” Chris says.

The album is infused with an underlying positivity, something they are keen to embrace when I point out as much. “It is not a choice really,” Moira says. “I am glad you see our product as positive. I imagine it reflects the positive buzz behind every single composition.”

The band will also be capitalising on its Euro-credentials on its European tour, which sees them playing all across the continent. “Technically we will be covering from Portugal to Turkey, a horizontal cross section of Europe really. What is great about it is that it is in venues ranging from clubs to open spaces, as with the case of the events linked to festivals. But what gives us satisfaction is that we are building a network and getting to know interesting people and upcoming artists. Tour170 is already giving us new ideas like ROCKINeu – pleasures yet to come...,” Chris says.

This musical marriage is going places – but how hard is it to make music with your partner? “It is easy when you share the same dream,” Moira says. “We would be in a sticky situation were we not able to solve our disagreements! However, we are professional enough to keep the problems in their own departments.”

www.chrisandmoira.com