Meet The Band: MAK

There's something classic to Mak. We aren't sure if it's the soulfulness, subtle hooks or the addictive melodies, but there sure is something that needs to be heard.

Hailing from Montreal, the guys of Mak — Gabriel Drolet (Bass), Simon Labbé (Guitar), Samuel Béland (Keys, Percussions, Programming), Maxime Reed Vermette (Drums) and Jesse MacCormack (Voice, Guitar and keys) — have quite the interesting new album that can be streamed below. And we've embeded a video down there too. If you're into ambient rock with undertones of jazz and prog, then you may have just found your new favourite band.

MacCormack enough was kind enough to take a moment and fill out our crazy questions:

How do you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard you before?

Something you need to sit with.

If you could open for one current band that you haven't played with before, who would it be? 

Feist.

If you could play one venue you've never played before, what would it be? 

Feist's room.

What's the worst album you own? 

Britney Spears's first chef-d'oeuvre.

What would be your all-time, all-star supergroup?

Lars Ulrich on the banjo and my mom on the drums. 

What was the craziest live show you've ever played? 

A really good gig at Quai des Brumes in Montreal. The kind of magic that happens only once in a while. Good crowd, good chemistry, good sound, good lighting, good after party. GOOD EVERYTHING !!!

What's your favourite song to play live? Why? 

Young Lads. I love it when people react. The effect on the voice in that song can't leave anyone indifferent. They either like it or are disgusted. It's pleasant to cause strong reactions in the audience.

If you could only listen to one band or artist for the rest of your life, who would you pick?

Radiohead. Cause every album is different, a quality that no other band possesses.

Say, for some strange reason, all the music in the world is going to be destroyed, but you can save all the songs from one decade. Which decade's records would you save?

Please don't leave me only one decade, how poor would that be... If I had no choice, I'd keep the 1820's when the ninth symphony was born. 

If you could switch places with another musicians in some type of "Freaky Friday" type incident, who would you want it to be?

Michael Jackson, knowing that it would be over one hour and a half later. 

Partridge Family or Monkees?

I'm not really aware of what Partridge family is but after seeing these pictures on wikipedia, I'd definitely say Monkees. Oh wait! I just found out what Monkees are... Hmmmm...it's a hard choice. It's tough to say no to a band with chicks in it but the Monkees sing I'M A BELIEVER. So they win.

Do you hate your hometown? 

Not at all! I love it. Especially after playing in other cities. It makes us appreciate even more the crowd that we have here. Loud and willing!  

Photo: Mak

Meet The Band is a regular feature where we introduce you to bands we like. You can find all of the rest of them here.