Paul Mac
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Short description Template:Infobox musical artist
Paul Francis McDermott (born 17 September 1965), who performs as Paul Mac, is an Australian electropop musician, singer-songwriter, producer and music re-mixer. He was classically trained at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Mac has formed various bands including Smash Mac Mac (1986–88), The Lab (1989–1998), Itch-E and Scratch-E (1991–present), Boo Boo Mace & Nutcase (1996–98), and The Dissociatives (2003–2005). Mac has released two solo albums, 3000 Feet High (6 August 2001) and Panic Room (17 October 2005) – both appeared in the top 40 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
At the ARIA Music Awards of 2002 Mac won 'Best Dance Release' for 3000 Feet High and was nominated for 'Best Male Artist' and 'Engineer of the Year'. In June 2001 he released his highest charting single, "Just the Thing", which featured lead vocals by Peta Morris. It reached No. 17 on the ARIA Singles Chart and at the APRA Music Awards of 2002 it won 'Most Performed Dance Work'.
Mac played with Severed Heads. He was also a touring member of Silverchair as well as recording piano parts for their album, Young Modern (March 2007), having worked with frontman Daniel Johns as The Dissociatives previously. He has provided remixes for Silverchair, Powderfinger, The Mark of Cain, Grinspoon, The Cruel Sea, INXS and Placebo. Mac has worked on soundtracks for Baz Luhrmann and on the films Head On and Sample People. He was the musical director on the Australian TV show, Good News Week, and composed music for ABC-TV including The Afternoon Show, EC Plays Lift Off, Play School and TVTV.
BiographyEdit
Mac was born on 17 September 1965.<ref name="APRA Sunshine"/><ref name="Brandle"/> He is the youngest of seven children and grew up in a strict Catholic family in Sydney.<ref name="Brandle"/> As a teenager Mac played hymns on the organ at his local church, including for weddings and funerals.<ref name="MacBio"/> He later described himself as "the worst Virgo, ex-Catholic you've ever met".<ref name="Brandle"/> He is a classically trained graduate from Sydney Conservatorium of Music, as a Bachelor of Music Education.<ref name="Brandle"/><ref name="Nimmervoll"/> In the mid-1980s he was a member of Smash Mac Mac, which were an art noise band covering Talking Heads material – Mac introduced drum machines and electronic elements.<ref name="McGregor"/><ref name="Zuel"/> In 1987 they issued the album, Chapter One: Light on the Silo.<ref name="TripleJPlay"/> In 1989 Mac formed the synthpop, electronica group The Lab in Sydney with Yolanda Podolski on lead vocals, and Warwick Hornby (aka Warwick Factor) on vocals and bass guitar. The group signed with rooArt, which released their two extended plays, Ultra (1992) and Terminal (1993). They moved to BMG and issued their debut album, Labyrinth, in 1997. The group disbanded the following year.
1991–1997: Itch-E and Scratch-EEdit
In 1991, Mac formed a side-project, Itch-E and Scratch-E, with fellow Sydney-based electronica artist, Andy Rantzen of the group, Pelican Daughters.<ref name="McGregor"/><ref name="McFarlane"/> Both provided keyboards and samplers.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Itch-E and Scratch-E became their main focus with the success of their debut album, Itch-E Kitch-E Koo (1993), and its related single, "Sweetness and Light" (1994). At the ARIA Music Awards of 1995 the single won Best Dance Release.<ref name="McFarlane"/> During his acceptance speech Mac controversially declared, "We'd like to thank all of Sydney's ecstasy dealers, without whom this award would not be possible".<ref name="Jeff"/> One of the sponsors of the ceremony was the National Drug Offensive, which withdrew their support. In 2005, Mac explained that he did not expect to win and so had not prepared a speech.<ref name="Jeff"/> The group often includes Sherriff Lindo for live performances.<ref name="McFarlane"/> From 1996 to 1998, Mac and Rantzen also performed as Boo Boo and Mace!, and with Lindo aboard they worked as Boo Boo Mace 'n' Nutcase.<ref name="McGregor"/><ref name="McFarlane"/>
1997–2000: work with Silverchair, Paul Mac Presents SnapShots and I Can't Believe It's Not RockEdit
In 1997, Mac remixed the single, "Freak", from Australian post-grunge band Silverchair's second album, Freak Show. The track was issued in April as a B-side of their second single from that album, "Abuse Me".
In 1998, Mac released a four-track EP, Paul Mac Presents Snapshots, on Interdance Records. It featured guest vocals by Stephen Allkins on "Ooh I Love Your (Disco)", Infusion on "Loco", Phil Smart on "Basic Boom" and Abel El Toro on "All Systems Are Go".<ref name="Snapshots"/> Mac again worked with Silverchair's Daniel Johns as an alternative rock duo to release a five-track extended play, I Can't Believe It's Not Rock (2000).<ref name="McGregor"/>
2001–2005: 3000 Feet High, The Dissociatives and Panic RoomEdit
On 6 August 2001, Mac issued his debut solo album, 3000 Feet High, which peaked in the top 30 on the ARIA Albums Chart.<ref name="AusCharts"/> Australian music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll, felt the album was an "emotional journey" where "[t]hroughout, the dancefloor taunts us like a temptress, determined to lure us into her arms, but we're torn between her charms and the inner us which the dance beats may drown out".<ref name="Nimmervoll"/> The album's second single, "Just the Thing", reached No. 17 on the ARIA Singles Chart and featured lead vocals by Peta Morris.<ref name="AusCharts"/> In December 2001 he performed at Homebake on the Big Top stage. At the APRA Music Awards of 2002 "Just the Thing" won 'Most Performed Dance Work' and was nominated for 'Most Performed Australian Work'.<ref name="2002Nom"/><ref name="APRAWin2002"/> In January 2002, and again in 2006, Mac appeared at Splendour in the Grass. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2002 Mac won 'Best Dance Release' for 3000 Feet High and was nominated for 'Best Male Artist' and 'Engineer of the Year'.<ref name="ARIA2002"/>
Mac and Johns co-wrote the music for Love Is a Four Letter Word (2001) episode 13, "Split".<ref name="Zuk"/> In mid-2003, the Mac and Johns formed another alternative rock group, The Dissociatives, which issued their debut album of the same name in April 2004.<ref name="Kingsmill"/><ref name="TripleJDissoc"/> Their first live show was in Hobart in June of that year.<ref name="Zuel"/> Mac explained his motivation, "As music narrows out into increasingly smaller genres, it's important to bring the fun of making music back into play. Not following any predetermined rules and making the most honest beautiful music we could is fun".<ref name="Zuel"/> At the ARIA Music Awards of 2004 Mac and Johns were nominated for 'Producer of the Year' for the album.<ref name="ARIA2004"/>
Mac's second album, Panic Room, appeared on 17 October 2005, and reached the top 40.<ref name="AusCharts"/> Johns had advised Mac to "follow your dreams regardless of what outside fashion is saying you should be doing".<ref name="Murfett"/> Vocals are variously supplied by Morris, Sarah McLeod, Luke Steele, Abby Dobson (ex-Leonardo's Bride), Lenka, and Ngaiire.<ref name="Murfett"/> Mac explained seeing Joseph, on TV in August 2004, "I was watching the episode of [Australian Idol] when she got kicked out and I thought 'who is this girl, she is fantastic'... I tracked her down and gave her a call. It turned out great. I am just really happy with the whole album".<ref name="AAP"/> For Silverchair's 2007 album, Young Modern, Mac supplied piano and toured with the group providing keyboards and piano on stage.<ref name="AMGPaulM"/>
2008–2014: soundtracks, remixes and touringEdit
In 2008, Mac provided the music for a one-man comedy play, Possessed, performed by Frank Woodley.<ref name="whatever"/> In March that year, he supplied the theme song, "The Only One" for the feature film, Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger, with three versions on the soundtrack: one had vocals by Bertie Blackman, another by Sydney Children's Choir and one was an instrumental.<ref name="tama"/> He formed a production duo, Stereogamous, with Jonny Seymour (aka DJ Seymour Butz), in 2010 they worked on LCD Soundsystem's single, "I Can Change", from their album, This Is Happening.<ref name="Cashmere"/><ref name="LCD"/> They have also remixed "Cupid Boy" for Kylie Minogue and "Bring Night" for Sia.<ref name="Cashmere"/> In 2011 they worked on George Michael's track, "Every Other Lover in the World".<ref name="Cashmere"/> Mac co-wrote "I Don't Care What You Say" with its performer Anthony Callea and Cindy Ryan (of Stella One Eleven); it was released in February 2012 by Callea on his seven-track EP, Last to Go, which was co-produced by Mac.<ref name="Cashmere2"/> On 6 September, the feature film, Kath & Kimderella, premiered with Mac's musical score.<ref name="Lehman"/> He also has a cameo in the final scene.
2015–present: Holiday From Me and MesmerismEdit
On 22 January 2015, Mac announced the forthcoming release of his third studio album, titled Holiday From Me. It will feature Megan Washington, Brendan Maclean, Dave Mason and Nathan Hudson on vocals.<ref name="Paul Mac Unveils New Album Details">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In February 2019, Mac released a new single titled "Cataplexy" and confirmed a new album is coming soon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In April, Mac confirmed the album is titled Mesmerism and will be released on 3 May 2019.
Academic careerEdit
Decades after completing his earlier music degree, Mac returned to his alma mater, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, for postgraduate study. In 2021, he graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts qualification in composition, based on fusing electronic dance music traditions with experimental practice. As at 2022, he holds an academic staff role at the Conservatorium, teaching Contemporary Music Practice courses within its Bachelor of Music programme.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Personal lifeEdit
In October 2004, Mac was living in Erskineville.<ref name="Sams"/> Mac is openly gay; in 2007, he reminisced about his first attendance at Sydney's Mardi Gras in the 1980s: "I can't remember who the act even was – it was a long time ago ... I wasn't really out – actually, I wasn't out at all. I just ended up at the party and I remember realising that there was this whole world out there that I felt really proud to be a part of. There was such a sense of wonder".<ref name="SameSame"/>
DiscographyEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
Studio albumsEdit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS <ref name="ARIA peak positions">Peaks in Australia:
|
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}}
| |||
| 3000 Feet High |
|
29 |
|
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}}</ref> |
| Panic Room |
|
39 | ||
| Holiday From Me |
|
— | ||
| Mesmerism |
|
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}}</ref>
|
— |
Extended playsEdit
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Paul Mac Presents Snapshots |
|
SinglesEdit
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS <ref name="ARIA peak positions"/> | |||||
| "Heatseeking Pleasure Machine" (featuring Tex Perkins) |
2001 | — | 3000 Feet High | ||
| "Just the Thing" (featuring Peta Morris) |
17 |
|
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | ||
| "The Sound of Breaking Up" (featuring Peta Morris) |
25 | ||||
| "Gonna Miss You" (featuring Abby Dobson) |
2002 | 62 | |||
| "Stay" (featuring Jacqui Hunt) |
79 | ||||
| "Sunshine Eyes" (featuring Peta Morris) |
2005 | 27 | Panic Room | ||
| "Love Declaration" (featuring Aaradhna) |
2006 | 39 | |||
| "It's Not Me, It's You" (featuring Ngaiire) |
— | ||||
| "The Only One" (featuring Bertie Blackman) |
2008 | 95 | Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger soundtrack | ||
| "State of War" | 2015 | — | Holiday from Me | ||
| "The Currawong Shall Return" (with Andy Rantzen)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
2018 | — | non-album single | |
| "Cataplexy"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
2019 | — | Mesmerism | |
| "Flamenco"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
— |
Production work and other creditsEdit
- 1994 "Dead Eyes Opened (Love Experiment)", (remix) Dead Eyes Opened Remix Severed Heads
- 1996 "The Contender", "The Contender (reprise)" (remixes) Rock and Roll The Mark of Cain
- 1999 "Anthem for the Year 2000", "Spawn Again", "Satin Sheets" (keyboards) Neon Ballroom Silverchair
- 2000 I Can't Believe It's Not Rock (with Daniel Johns)
- 2002 "Across the Night", "World Upon Your Shoulders", "Tuna in the Brine", "Too Much of Not Enough", "Luv Your Life", "My Favourite Thing" (piano) Diorama Silverchair
- 2002 "Symphony of Life" (extended euroremix) Tina Arena
- 2004 "Pictures of You" (remix) One Perfect Day after The Cure's 1989 album Disintegration
- 2004 "She" (producer) Stella One Eleven Stella One Eleven
- 2005 (co-producer) Counting Down the Days Natalie Imbruglia
- 2005 "Mini Morris Parts 1 and 2" (performer with Cezary Skubiszewski) Hating Alison Ashley Various Artists
- 2025 "Something Good" (remix) (with The Superjesus)
AwardsEdit
ARIA AwardsEdit
PaulMac has won one award from seven ARIA Music Awards nominations.
Template:Awards table |- | rowspan="2"| 2001 | rowspan="2"| "Just the Thing" | Best Dance Release | Template:Nom |- | Best Male Artist | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="3"| 2001 | rowspan="3"| 3000 Feet High | Best Dance Release | Template:Won |- | Best Male Artist | Template:Nom |- | Engineer of the Year | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="1"| 2004 | rowspan="1"| PaulMac with Daniel Johns for The Dissociatives | Producer of the Year | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="1"| 2006 | rowspan="1"| Panic Room | Best Dance Release | Template:Nom
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APRA AwardsEdit
The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. PaulMac has won one award from four nominations. Template:Awards table |- | rowspan="3"| 2002 | rowspan="2"| "Just the Thing" | Most Performed Australian Work | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="2"| Most Performed Dance Work | Template:Won |- | rowspan="1"| "The Sound of Breaking Up" | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="1"| 2006 | rowspan="1"| "Sunshine Eyes" | Most Performed Dance Work | Template:Nom |-
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ReferencesEdit
- General
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- Specific
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