Mac DeMarco
Mac DeMarco | |
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_(cropped).jpg) Mac DeMarco in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Vernor Winfield McBriare Smith IV April 30, 1990 Duncan, British Columbia, Canada |
| Origin | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Works | |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels |
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Partner | Kiera McNally (2009-present)[1] |
| Website | macdemarco |
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McBriare Samuel Lanyon DeMarco (born Vernor Winfield McBriare Smith IV; April 30, 1990) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer.[2] DeMarco initially emerged in the indie music scene in 2012, and has since released six full-length studio albums: his debut 2 (2012), Salad Days (2014), This Old Dog (2017), Here Comes the Cowboy (2019), Five Easy Hot Dogs (2023) and Guitar (2025). He additionally released the mini-albums Rock and Roll Night Club in 2012 and Another One in 2015, as well as the compilation album One Wayne G in 2023. In 2018, DeMarco established his own record label by the name of "Mac's Record Label".[3]
Before his commercial debut Rock and Roll Night Club in 2012, he made music by the pseudonym "Makeout Videotape" on Bandcamp. Throughout 2009 to 2010 he released albums under this name until in 2011 when he moved from Vancouver to Montreal, and started working as a solo artist.[4] In early 2012, DeMarco signed to indie label Captured Tracks[5] and released his debut extended play, Rock and Roll Night Club, on vinyl.[6] Earlier, Green Burrito Records released the album on a limited edition 100-unit cassette run.[6]
His style of music has been described as "blue wave"[7] and slacker rock,[8][9] or, by DeMarco himself, "jizz jazz".[10]
Life and career
[edit]1990–2008: Early life and education
[edit]DeMarco was born in Duncan, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. His great-grandfather is Vernor Smith, Alberta's former Minister of Railways and Telephones, for whom DeMarco was named,[11] and his grandfather (also named Vernor Winfield MacBriare Smith) was a judge of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta.[12] His mother, Agnes DeMarco, later changed his name to McBriare Samuel Lanyon DeMarco after his father left and refused to pay child support when DeMarco was four years old.[13] DeMarco is also of Italian descent.[14][15]
Mac DeMarco attended McKernan School for junior high. Around this time he started playing guitar, with lessons from his grandmother.[16] During high school he was in several bands, including indie rock band the Meat Cleavers, alternative R&B group the Sound of Love and post-punk band Outdoor Miners (along with current keyboardist, Alec Meen), which was named after "Outdoor Miner", a song by English rock band Wire.[2][11] He started smoking cigarettes as a teenager, which would become a significant part of his image.[16][17] In January 2023, DeMarco said he no longer smokes.[18]
After graduating from Strathcona High School in Edmonton in 2008, DeMarco became a backing musician. He then moved to Vancouver.[19][20]
2009–2012: Early projects and Rock and Roll Night Club
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Living in the Killarney neighbourhood, he released a self-produced album, Heat Wave, as a part of the indie rock project Makeout Videotape in 2009. The album sold out its 500-unit run.[21] DeMarco worked on "psychedelic" video projects during this time.[20] He was joined by Alex Calder and Jen Clement, signed to Unfamiliar Records, and toured with Vancouver band Japandroids in 2009.[20] In 2011, DeMarco moved from Vancouver to Montreal to begin recording as a solo artist. Failing to find work as a musician, he participated in medical experiments for money[4] and worked on a road paving crew.[22] On January 9, 2012, record label Captured Tracks announced the signing of DeMarco.[5] In early 2012, he released an LP titled Rock and Roll Night Club. The four-track-recorded album features skits and slowed-down vocals.[4]
2012–2015: 2, Salad Days and Another One
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Captured Tracks released DeMarco's full-length follow-up album.[4] Entitled 2, it was received well by critics, garnering a "Best New Music" designation from Pitchfork.[23]
On January 21, 2014, DeMarco announced the release of his upcoming second album, Salad Days, along with debuting the lead single "Passing Out Pieces". The record was released on April 1, 2014,[24] and again received the "Best New Music" designation from Pitchfork.[25] It was a shortlisted nominee for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize.[26]
DeMarco made his first talk show appearance (and second TV appearance after The Eric Andre Show) when he performed the song "Let Her Go" on Conan on March 30, 2015.[27] On April 22, 2015, DeMarco announced the release of an upcoming album titled Another One, which was released on August 7, 2015, in addition to a video depicting its making.[28] DeMarco describes the album to be a collection of love songs.[29] Another One received a generally favourable response from music critics, scoring 75/100 on Metacritic.[30] Still in Rock has ranked this LP as the third best of 2015.
On July 8, 2015, DeMarco released a 9-track instrumental album titled Some Other Ones and called it a "BBQ soundtrack".