Chris Macaree
An East End boy at heart, Chris Macaree along with his acoustic guitar have been on the music scene for a while, previously working in bands Chris is now concentrating on his work as a solo artist. Born in Barking, East London and raised in Chadwell Heath, the music scene there he agreed had some effect on him as an artist and can attribute to where he is currently in musical terms. With their being a wide spectrum of music that people in his hometown were listening to, he recollects a decision he made which ultimately shaped his musical direction. With the House and R ‘n’ B movement taking off in Essex and there still being a Rock scene, he remembers the choice of taking up the DJ decks or the guitar. Luckily he opted for the latter choice and looking back he has no regrets over not choosing the house and DJ scene; “…I’m pretty pleased I didn’t go down that route.”
Viewing his music as having a more “ethereal” sound which perhaps has some what he calls “spooky” elements. Taking influence then from artists like ‘Jeff Buckley’, he simply describes his music as “rocky acoustic indie.” Musical heroes include Eddie Vedder of Rock Supremes ‘Pearl Jam’, Chris cites Vedder as “the reason I started.” Additionally noting Bono of ‘U2’ as a huge influence, it has now been more recently that Chris has embraced more poetic artists the likes of ‘Springsteen’ and ‘Dylan’ whom he speaks highly of describing them both as “song writing geniuses.” Taking a leaf out of musical hero Vedder’s book, it is his voice that has really drawn Chris to his work and affected him musically. However, only recently beginning singing lessons, it is now that Chris hopes to “develop more of [his] own style” as time progresses.
Regularly gigging on the London circuit, Chris reveals how feedback has always been surprising. Summing up his act as “just me and a guitar”, it is with this pitch that he feels people have come to his gigs expecting an artist in the same vein as James Blunt. Dispelling those pre-conceptions in his act, Chris explains how people he knows are introduced to a different side of him; “…nothing on stage of what I know you as a person.” His live shows he states have generated amazing feedback and the response he’s had has been great. Trying not to rush through his set and “bash through songs”, he makes it a priority to have fun; “I try to have a good time when I’m up there and let that come through…it keeps me doing it.”
Coming from a wealth of experience musically, Chris has always enjoyed the process of being in a band and the enjoyment you can get out of it; “I was in bands for years and I loved that collaboration…I don’t think you can beat the whole live scene - a great bassist - a great drummer.” Despite this though, he is enjoying life as a solo artist and the creative control it can allow; “if I am honest I am liking at the moment me being the main input of the song.”
As a songwriter, Chris feels there is a certain element of frustration that is evoked within his music. Being an unsigned act obviously does not reap great financial benefits and as a result creates dissatisfaction for himself, this he argues does have an effect on him musically “…whole 50/50 lifestyle - trying to do the thing you love…but then you have to pay the bills…that generates a lot of frustration.” Not just in the working world but also discontent generally in the world is something Chris believes to have an influence on him when writing; “…frustration through life experiences…what you see in the news…were living in a bit of a shit state at the moment…everything that goes on around me.”
Being on the gig circuit since he was seventeen, Chris has ten years experience under his belt as a band member and soloist. From these years he recalls memorable moments which gave him a taste of what he could achieve and has kept him going as an artist. One moment was when Chris was touring with one of his more rockier sounding bands. Playing in front of a big crowd as a support act, he reminisces of the joy he experienced at hearing a crowd singing along to his songs; “having a feeling of a crowd singing back to you your own song is something that’s really special.”
With Chris being around the music scene a long while, he has seen some great changes take place when going to gigs; “I see a lot more promoters around who are willing to give you a gig but scald you if you don’t get any people in.” Furthermore he has witnessed the breadth of musical artists increase tenfold and the industry become “finely stretched” in terms of categorization and sub-categorization of music. Pointing out that so many artists are having at a go at music, he doesn’t exactly see this a bad thing. Admitting how he is still quite new to the My Space phenomenon, he pours on great appraisal for this vehicle; “it’s absolute license to get your stuff out there…which is brilliant.”
Despite talking about what goes around him in the world today, Chris plays down any suggestion that his music may have some political connotations within it. Arguing that the problems in the world he sometimes can talk about in his music can play in hand with politics of today, he prefers to steer clear of that side of things; “although it does spur on the feeling of what I’m writing about, I wouldn’t say I get on the more political side of it.” Viewing his work on a much more personal level, he wouldn’t like to forge forward in that area of music but rather keep to what he’s always been about; “I wouldn’t try to be anything I’m not…realistically I’m much better off talking about my own personal experience.”
To other aspiring artists as himself he insists on them to keep focus and continue what they’re doing; “if you want to do it just stick to it and keep writing and don’t let anyone tell you your tracks aren’t good because they will get better.”
As for himself, he’ll continue with that work hard philosophy and just get out there working on new material and playing more live gigs; “I’ll keep growing my songs repertoire and whacking that on My Space.” In regards to collaborations, Chris name checks ‘Imogen Heap’ as an artist currently he has great respect for and would love to do something with her; “…such an amazing talent…amazing to team up with here and see what we could come up with.” For the future though, Chris wants to maintain focus on his live act and getting the chance to play at bigger events. The year 2008 would therefore be a great year for him if all this hard work resulted in some support act opportunities and perhaps possible tours for him. He looks to increase his catalogue to a point where an album could be possible “getting to a level where I can release ten tracks - mixed, engineered and get that out and get everything down.” Ambitious, determined yet fun loving are the words that come to mind, this is Chris Macaree the singer-songwriter.
By Chris Henry
http://www.musiconair.biz/Chris%20Macaree.php Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
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