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MM - Introduce
the band members to us.
The Macs are primarily a duo project but we do have our muso friends
come and do sessions for us whenever we need a certain style of playing.
When you break it down to the basic band - Gemma sings and Jondi does
everything else!
MM - When was the band first formed and how did you meet?
Gemma - to answer both questions, we met and started working together at
a new year function, decided we were compatible so kept working
together; I don't think we ever officially formed.
Jondi - the band was never really officially formed per se. I needed an
outlet for my original tunes and since Gemma sang with me doing cover
gigs, it was obvious that she would sing on them.
MM - Where in the world do you call home?
Gemma - Scotland - although I live wherever, whenever, for whatever
reason!
Jondi - it would be Hong Kong because I grew up there but the boundaries
are slowly getting blurred between there, The USA and Great
Britain....but I'd like to get to know The Philippines better as I'm
from there!
MM - You have both lived and performed in many different countries
around the globe, tell us a little bit about where you have been and
where you loved being the most.
Gemma - Shanghai for three months, with a band that spoke very little
English springs immediately to mind as an experience to say the least.
The people in China were cool and I loved Shanghai; mind you I also love
the States and think I'll eventually settle there - if anywhere.
Jondi - I lived in the USA for a few years and jammed with people there.
I recently went to India to do a gig and it was fun. I like
playing everywhere. There's no specific place I can single out. We even
played on a cruise ship last year and that was fun.
MM - Apart from The Macs, what other bands have you appeared in?
Gemma -The Macs is the first original band I've been in although I've
done sessions for other artists/bands - does that make me part of the
band??? Seriously though, I have played in lots of bands over the
years but I don't expect you're interested in covers bands.
Jondi - Let's see - Age of Reason from Glasgow was the last major thing
I've done involving a band. I've been more of a live player for
artists - Terry Reid, Mick Taylor, Jimmy Witherspoon, Darius Rucker....
Other than that, I've been in so many other bands good and bad over the
years that I've lost count.
MM - What bands/artists have influenced you the most over the years?
Gemma -I always loved Freddie Mercury for his stunning voice and amazing
showmanship - as regards influence, I listened to Ella Fitzgerald,
showtunes, mike oldfield, classical music......
Jondi - I was always listening to music growing up the 70's..it was
mostly disco then but some of it was ok. But then I heard Toto on the
radio in the 80's got into that kind of music.
Went into my thrash phase where I listened to nothing but Slayer and
similar things, then got into the neo-classical shred thing - Yngwie and
any shrapnel records release in the late 80's. Nowadays, I like
anything that's melodic and catchy.
MM - Is your music all cover versions or do you have your own original
material as well?
We have more than an album's worth of original tunes.
MM - Out of all the songs you perform live, what's your all time
favourite and why?
Gemma -cover-wise, 'Angel' by Sarah McLachlan as the song is
particularly lovely and has a special poignancy for me. As for our
own music, I love 'You' for the same reasons I love 'Angel' although
happily the song does not tell my personal story; if you listen to the
lyrics, you'll know what I mean.
Jondi - cover-wise, it would be 'Rosanna'. Got to play with a lot of
accuracy to get that song down. Plus I sing lead on that so I have my
hands full. As for our original songs, it would have to be 'Little
Miss Curious'. It's an easy song to play. Vocal wise, it's a bit
trickier as it keeps modulating and I have to be on the ball with the
vocal harmonies.
MM - What do you feel has been the bands biggest accomplishment so far?
Gemma -To be in final negotiations with the record company.
Jondi - Ask me again when we've released our CD.
MM - What age group do you think your music would most appeal to and how
would you describe it?
Gemma -According to research, it would be the age 25 to 40 group but my
5 year old nephew loves 'oh no!' (original song) so as they say in the
movies - go figure. I never have been a great fan of being a
demographic component! I'll leave the official description to The
Maestro.
Jondi - Hmmm...25 up? We would describe it as adult alternative with
bits of pop, AOR, westcoast, prog, country and world music. We're
certainly not boy band material. Then again, I know a lot of younger
people who can get into our stuff easily. Our lyrics aren't really
anything to brag about.
MM - Are The Macs a touring band? Will we get a chance to see them on
the road?
Gemma -I hope so, to answer your second question first! We love playing
live - me being a total extrovert and loving the high means that we are
always on the road seeking a fix!
Jondi - We'll tour tomorrow if you want! It will probably be just me and
Gemma doing stripped down versions of our songs. We are slowly
incorporating our songs into our cover sets.
MM - What instruments/equipment do you both use?
Gemma -The voicebox is of course my main instrument - but how pompous
does that sound??? I've never subscribed to the the theory that my
voice is an instrument, after all I didn't have to learn it - I was born
with it! My answer to the question (once I get off my soapbox) is
basic rhythm guitar and percussion, although I have been threatening
keyboard lessons.......
Jondi - My main axe is keyboards. I also play guitar, bass, drums and
the chapman stick...but not all at the same time.
MM - Are you signed/unsigned at the minute?
Not currently but we managed to get someone interested. It' a small
label and we are talking.
MM - Does the band have any CD's out at the moment and if so where can
they be obtained from?
We've given out a lot of demo CD's to friends and family but nothing is
out officially. You can hear some of our music at mp3.com. Who knows,
maybe our CD is out on napster!
MM - Do you think you will return to the UK again to live or just carry
on new and interesting places?
Gemma -Most definitely - that is where we are officially based; it's
just that we travel a lot.
Jondi - Well, our studio is in storage in London. We have a car in
Scotland. I think we'll go back there when it gets warmer.
MM - How do you decide which songs to cover when performing live?
Gemma -Whatever is popular at the time and which suits my voice; I tend
not to cover songs by singers/bands to whom I could not be vocally
compared, however loosely.
We also allow ourselves the luxury of covering songs that we simply like
- hoping that will show; I'm quite an idealist I suppose.
Jondi - Whatever is on the radio at the time but mind you there's
nothing good on these days!
MM - When you're not performing and living the wild life of rock stars,
what do you like to do to chill out?
Gemma -The gym is always top of my list of priorities as it is good for
the lungs - I think of the gym as servicing , as everyday pollution must
be clogging up somewhere in the lung area. I love the movies,
reading Dick Francis or serial killer escapist books......oh, and the
keyboard lessons...at some point!!
Jondi - Let's see, when I'm not taking 20 different kinds drugs or
drinking or smoking or going out with different women or beating my wife
up, I'm usually seen playing with my laptop. I also watch movies,
listen to a lot of music, eat a lot of ice cream and play with my cats.
MM - How would you like to see the music scene progress in the next
couple of years?
Gemma -Musicians actually being musicians would be a start.
Jondi - We need to see people who play instruments again.
MM - What's the most bizarre thing that's ever happened to you while
doing a gig?
Gemma - Really boring I know but I can't think of anything interesting
beyond forgetting the mike I am using at the time has an on'off switch
and forgetting to turn it on at the appropriate time; but that's more
embarrassing than bizarre.
Jondi - I was playing tired with the flu and a very high temperature and
I think we were playing 'Brown eyed girl' when I suddenly felt dizzy and
my nose started to bleed. It was a corporate function so the band
couldn't stop playing. There was blood everywhere! It was as if Ozzy was
on stage with us! I managed to get cleaned up in time for the next song
- 'Moondance'.
MM - What's the most important thing to the band right now?
Gemma - To have lots of sex - preferably with each other.....
Jondi - To get our songs and our act out there...and to eat a lot.
MM - Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to your fans out
there?
Gemma -Thanks for believing in us and hey, Take care of
yourselves....and each other!!!
Jondi - To all who've seen us and liked us...thanks for your support and
suggestions.
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