MAKO ROAD
dish up new video, melodic new EP
LOCAL SAFARI
and announce Australian/New Zealand tour
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With sounds primed for a hot summer ahead, New Zealand four piece Mako Road have arrived with the perfect soundtrack for long nights and hazy days, with the Local Safari EP. Due for release this month, the band invites the listener into this dreamy soundscape marked by cruisy riffs and rich vocals and harmonies. Dive on in.
Cut from the same musical cloth as the likes of Bootleg Rascal and Ocean Alley, Mako Road fuse irresistible melodies together with an easy going charm that on record will envelop any listener.
As lead vocalist Rhian Ward’s velvety tones warp their way around well-paced instrumentation, lead single ‘Local Safari’ paints a picture of easy days spent beachside, soaking up great times in excellent company. Recorded with Thom O’Connor out of Christchurch’s Orange Studios, the single is a fitting representation of where 2018 has taken the band.
“We chose ‘Local Safari’ as the single ‘cos it best sums up our attitude towards life at the moment. We get heaps out of travelling ‘round and meeting people, seeing new places and experiences. It’s been a huge part of this year for us, and we’ve all cleared our summer schedules so we can do more of it over the next few months.” Mako Road
Following on from their debut EP THE GREEN SUPERINTENDENT, the Local Safari EP is another avenue through with the band has displayed a love for great pacing and sonic builds, while also seeing the group carve out a musical identity that was distinguishable from the jump.
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We hear deft switches between the more vibrant sounds, and the more introspective. Opting for a more personal touch on ‘Lady’ and ‘Happiness & Misery’, Ward’s songwriting chops are highlighted as particular strength of the EP. A more focused effort, Local Safari sees Mako Road operating in a more refined, cohesive creative space.
“The ‘Local Safari’ EP was written with more focus on where we want to go with our live sound. ‘Happiness & Misery’ and ‘Open Plan Living’ are a step in a different direction, we wanted to show off what we can do musically. CJ’s bass fills and slap bass feature in this EP and Connor brings more developed effects and variety in his lead guitar.” Rhian Ward
To coincide with the announcement of Mako Road’s new EP, the band have also gifted fans with a brand new music video for ‘Open Plan Living’. A fun traipse through a number of different settings, Mako Road make themselves at home outdoors, in the office, on the sea, in a number of different guises. Directed by Tom Irwin, ‘Open Plan Living’ is another example of the fun Mako Road have had with bringing their Local Safari EP to life.
With the release of Mako Road’s Local Safari EP, the band will be touring through New Zealand, while also returning to Australia this summer to bring the record to life for the first time. Making the east coast their temporary home this December, Mako Road are hitting venues across Melbourne, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Wollongong and Sydney; for many, this will serve as a welcome return but undoubtedly, the tour is going to be the gateway for a fine introduction to a band we Australians are soon going to be claiming as our own.
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MAKO ROAD
TOUR DATES
Friday 7th December The Penny Black Melbourne
with Creature Fear, Zac Slater Free Entry
Saturday 8th December Heritage Hotel Wollongong Tickets
Sunday December 9th The Brass Monkey Sydney Tickets
Thursday December 13th The Marlborough Hotel Sydney Free Entry
with Vintage Slims, Dande and the Lion
Friday December 14th Byron Bay Brewery Byron Bay Free Entry
Sunday December 16th Heya Bar Brisbane Tickets
Thursday December 27th Water Bar Wanaka
Saturday December 29th Yonder Queenstown
Monday December 31st Tides NYE Festival Tauranga
Wednesday January 2nd Spring & Fern Nelson
Thursday January 10th The Butter Factory Whangarei
Friday January 11th Neck of the Woods Auckland
Friday January 18th Soundsplash Festival Raglan
Saturday January 19th Tora Bombora Festival Tora
Friday February 1st Totara St Mount Maunganui
Saturday February 2nd The Cabana Napier
Friday February 8th Waterfront Bar Kapiti Coast
Saturday February 9th Meow Wellington
Friday February 15th Winnie Bagoes Christchurch
Saturday February 16th Venue TBC Dunedin
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Follow MAKO ROAD
Official Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
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AMNPLIFY – DB
My nickname is “The Amnplifier”. Why? Because around here my focus is on being a conduit for providing greater outcomes that people come here for. My day to day “work” is living in the moment, and I love helping others concentrate on finding their connection to themselves through their experiences.
Why start a music environment? The truth is I love music, I love writing, and I love life. I work with musicians every day, and I feel certain that I will be until they put me in the ground. I have been managing people in businesses of some sort for over thirty five years so along the way I have developed some “wisdom” from my regular and constant “observations”.
Amnplify your experience. That is what we want you to do here, and if you want to let me know why you do, or don’t, shoot me a message on Facebook.
Hope you enjoy yourself here and find something that hits you somewhere.
