Mac on track

Indie star hits Bangkok

By Tatat Bunnag
Photographs courtesy of
Captured Tracks Records
and Have You Heard

The past two years have been an incredible time for 23-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter Mac DeMarco. The rave reviews he received for his 2012 album, 2, have made him a famous man in the world of indie rock.

The album is a triumph of simplicity with its mix of lo-fi pop, reverb-drenched guitar and humorous lyrics about being bored home, puppy love, or in the case of the catchy hit song “Freaking Out the Neighborhood,” just generally being crazy.

Mac also has an interesting anti-rock star image, with his cheap guitar and silly behaviour onstage contrasting strikingly with the usual try-hard rock stars who take themselves too seriously.

Thanks to the innovative local music event organisers Have You Heard, Mac DeMarco and his band recently visited Bangkok to perform at RCA’s Cosmic Café on December 6.

Before the concert, Student Weekly had a chat with Mac about his band, his music and his distinctive guitar.

Student Weekly: What have you been up to lately?

Mac: We’ve been on a long tour. We’ve also been trying to record some new music.

Student Weekly: Audiences admire your anti-rock star image and your ability to goof around. How important is it for you to maintain a close connection with your audience?

Mac: I think it’s important. It’s strange though, because I’ve never really had to be conscious of it until recently. The whole idea of having fans or trying to forge some connection with them is very new to me. I think it’s important that everybody has fun at our shows. That’s the name of the game.

Student Weekly: Your band is known for playing covers of songs by a wide range of artists including The Beatles, Weezer, Limp Bizkit and Dave Brubeck. Is there a song that you enjoy playing most or that you wish you’d written?

Mac: I like playing “Takin’ Care of Business” by the old Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, because I get to play super stupid guitar solo for as long as I want! [Laughs.]

Student Weekly: You’ve said that you’re not a fan of recording studios, and that you prefer to record at home. Do you plan to stick with your lo-fi sound for your next album?

Mac: Yeah, I recorded my new album in my bedroom again. Each time I do another album, I get a couple of new pieces of equipment and things start sounding a little better. It’s fun for me to do it myself.

Student Weekly: You’re also known for your worn, vintage guitar. Do you ever plan to buy an expensive new guitar?

Mac: I used to have expensive guitars when I was younger. At some point I decided that playing my cheap old guitar was cooler than playing my really nice guitars. Now when I try to play expensive guitars, I can’t stand them. There’s something special about my little guitar that I can’t find in any other guitar. I’ve even tried playing a bunch of other really crappy guitars, but with no luck.

Student Weekly: Which bands or performers did you look up to while you were growing up?

Mac: John Lennon, Jonathan Richman, The Kinks, and other fun songwriters.

Student Weekly: We heard that you guys toured with the popular French band Phoenix earlier this year. Did you enjoy touring with them?

Mac: Yes, sort of. The guys in the band were really nice and great to hang out with. But the audiences didn’t really care when we were playing, and their production team didn’t like us much, so it was a bit weird at times.

 

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