Mac Graham

Mac Graham – Midnight

Check out the new song from Mac Graham – Midnight

Tell us about where you are from and how you got to this position today
I’m from London, Ontario, Canada. It’s a mid-size town about 2 hours west of Toronto. Since 11 years of age I have been recording and performing. I have had the incredible opportunity to share the stage with some serious musical legends and I have learned a little something from all of them, all of which I put into my music and live shows.

What are you currently working on and what can we expect to see?
I am currently promoting my new album “Midnight” and recording a new record that is (as yet) untitled. Our single “Midnight” is beginning to bubble under on radio stations across Canada and is just breaking into the USA. You can expect to see me popping up in cities across North America, bringing my band the Outfit to jam live in a venue near you.

What is one of the most drastic changes you’ve made about yourself in the last year?
In the last year I got married. Is that drastic enough? It was the best decision I have made in a long time and the most memorable day of my life so far.
Tell us about one of the hardest challenges you had to face in the industry?

Change. Everything changes. Change is something you get used to eventually but it brings the challenge of perseverance. Every time the market and industry changes you have to decide whether you’re going to stick it out or move on. The challenge is just to keep on going and doing.

What was one of the biggest set backs in your career and how did you bounce back?
In 1998 we signed with a major label. It was a setback that at first looked like a blessing. In reality, the label had a different vision for us than we had for ourselves. It included changing our name, sound and look. Changing everything. For many reasons, that just didn’t work, and it left us with a bitter taste. I took time away from music, went to university, travelled a little bit and found my way back to loving the art of music. I still don’t love the business aspect, but I’m learning how to make it fun.

What are some things artists need to be careful of?

1. Mind your business. Keep constantly educated about your dollars and cents, your brand, especially in a volatile market like today’s music industry. Fortune favours the bold and the informed.
2. Don’t fear re-invention. Take artistic risks and don’t be afraid of change. The art of the industry rewards those who evolve and take their listeners on a new journey.
3. Be watchful of the vultures in the industry. They manifest themselves in the form of haters, detractors and ‘yes’ men. Don’t let the haters stop you from creating, never let the detractors stop you from being you and don’t drink the ‘yes’ man’s Kool-Aid. Keep your head up, stay smart and strong.

What would you spend a million dollars on?
A home in Grenada, my parent’s homeland. It’s a truly special and blessed place.

What was your biggest risk taken in your career?
I changed my name. Some people are unaware that Mac Graham is a continuation of my previous career under my birth name, Mark McAuley. I felt that the music was coming from a different voice and I wanted to represent it that way.

What suggestions do you have for other artists like yourself?
Keep on working. Keep on doing.

What are the best ways to sell your products as an artist?
There are many ways and you have to try them all. If I knew the answer to that I could solve a lot of people’s problems. The best way? Make it good. When the music is undeniable, it sells itself.

What is one of your favourite ways to promote yourself and your music?
Live performance. I love having the one-on-one connection with the fans, I think it’s the best way to promote music. You can rip and share any number of files but you can’t duplicate the experience of hearing it performed live by your favourite artist.

Any last comments or statements?
First things should be done first. Second things should not be done. - WWS Magazine

I only taught one period today and I’m exhausted. I had two wonderful teachers sit in on two of my classes today and then we debriefed in period four. That was fascinating and exhausting all at the same time. I ALSO had a guest speaker today in my media class: Juno nominated singer/songwriter, Mark McAuley of the McAuley Boys, who now performs as a solo artist under the name Mac Graham.

I met Mac during a play that we were both in this past November. At the time I only knew him as Mac because that’s how he was credited in the show and I joined the cast late (cut out unnecessary details, Ms. Barker!)… anyway, the McAuley Boys were nominated for a Juno award and opened the 1997 Junos, singing in front of David Foster and Celine Dion (among others). I was really impressed by Mark’s songwriting as well as his video for “You’ll Never Know” which you can see below:

I know, right?

I had already planned on using music videos to introduce the concept of storyboarding and camera shots, and then I thought that it would be so much more meaningful if I could get someone in the business to come in and talk to my students, and of course I thought of Mac, but I never thought he’d be so generous as to drive all the way out to St.Thomas to talk to my students in person!

Imagine how much fun I had last Friday showing “You’ll Never Know” and then saying, “Okay, now, you see that guy in the video? He’s coming to our class next Thursday so you’re going to need to come up with some questions for him.”

Boy, did they ever deliver. My students developed some great questions:

* How do you feel about autotune and its effect on the music industry?
* How long does it take to create a music video from start to finish?
* How much creative control do you have over the music video process?
* Did you use green screen effects in your video?
* Did you create a storyboard before shooting the video?

Mac also talked about the “treatments” that are prepared for each video where the artist plans out the concept for the video. He brought examples of drafts of treatments from the first draft to the final product. Now I have exemplars for students to use to create their own video treatments!

AND we got to see some of the early McAuley Boys videos and compare them to the later ones when they were signed with the Aquarius label. Mark shared with students the perks of being signed to a major label and the benefits of being an independent artist.

I can’t believe how much the students learned from Mac's visit. I hadn’t planned on spending that much time on music videos but now I realize how many different expectations I can cover with a topic that the students are really interested in. I definitely have Mac Graham to thank for that! - Barker Blog

Last night London, Ontario native and rising Canadian musical sensation Mac Graham performed at his London CD Release Party at Norma Jeans. His vocals and style have been related to the likes of Justin Timberlake and the late Michael Jackson, and last night he certainly lived up to those claims. Some of the highlight performances included the cover song “Midnight”, “Rock You”, “Push”, and his cover of MJ’s “Human Nature”.

Mac, formerly of the Canadian Pop/Vocal group the McAuley Boys, is the third of four brothers: Gary, George, Mark (Mac) and Randy. His recording and performance experience spans a decade in the music industry. These credits include live appearances in the United States, the UK, Australia (representing Toronto in its 2008 Olympic bid), and in his native country of Canada.

Follow Mac Graham on Facebook to find out when his 2010 tour comes to your area. Mac’s 2010 “Midnight” tour begins this September. - The Lion's Den University

London electro funk singer Mac Graham is ready for Midnight on Saturday.

Mac Graham combines a nickname -- "Mac" -- and a middle name -- "Graham" -- as the identity for the pop-funk-soul solo career of a singer who is a member of one of London's leading music biz families. Along with his brothers, Gary, George and Randy, Mac (Mark McAuley) was a member of the London pop vocal group the McAuley Boys.

His sophomore release, Midnight, is being launched on Saturday at Norma Jean's.

Midnight is co-written and produced with brother Gary, who leads Graham's band. The new album includes a cover of the 1980s hit Bette Davis Eyes and 10 more electro funk and soul tracks. It is available on iTunes.

Graham's debut release, 7 Grahams, was a limited edition EP with a fine single, You'll Never Know.

Among those praising Graham is mastering ace Herb Powers Jr. of PM Mastering, who worked on Midnight. "Justin Timberlake and Michael J. style vocals. Cool," says Powers, who has also worked with Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Usher, R. Kelly and Timbaland.

Also on Saturday's 19-and-up bill are London-Windsor acoustic soul band Second Hand Light and Toronto's DJ Double K.

Cover is $5 at the 1332 Huron St. (at Highbury) club. Call 519-455-7711. Doors open at 9 p.m. - The London Free Press

Not to be confused with the Juno nominated Montreal progressive house dj, Max Graham, Mac Graham is (according to my pals at Resonancity) perhaps “the most oversexed ” R&B/Funk sensation to come out of London, ON. but this cat knows what he’s doing as he’s been working in the recording industry for just over two decades. Highlights of his career include a Juno nomination for his role in the McAuley Boys, a Boys 2 Men style group that some of you may remember, and a video for his song “You’ll Never Know” which got heavy rotation on BET Jazz.

His new album, Midnight, takes him in an electro-funk direction with songs like “Can We Get (Freaky Tonight)”, “Midnight” and in my opinion, the most accessible song on the album, a cover of Kim Carnes,”Bette Davis Eyes”.
While his promo images may seem a bit over the top, he’s actually quite a talented musician, with his well-heeled, perfecly-pitched voice and his stop-on-a-dime four piece funk band, The Outfit. Mac Graham and the guys had the Trane Studio groovin’ in their seats and even some bold ladies wilin’ out on the dancefloor. - Shipwreck'd

This week, James's guest is London electro funk singer Mac Graham.

Mac Graham combines a nickname -- "Mac" -- and a middle name -- "Graham" -- as the identity for the pop-funk-soul solo career of a singer who is a member of one of London's leading music biz families.

Push was co-written by Mac Graham (Mark McAuley) and his oldest brother Gary McAuley. It's likely to be the first single from his soon to be released album, Midnight.

Mac Graham plays at Norma Jean's on Thursday. The show starts about 10 p.m. Mac Graham is expected to hit the stage at the 1332 Huron St. club about 10:30 p.m.

Mac Graham is one of four London brothers, collectively known as the McAuley Boys.

Youngest brother, Randy, a former UWO Mustang football star, plays guitar on the new album. He also contributed songs.

Other brother, George, continues to teach at CCH and sings with the group on occasion.

Midnight is the latest development in his solo career.

"We've been working on the album for probably just over a year," Mac Graham says.

"It's a departure from the McAuley Boys. That's something as Mac Graham I've always sought to do." - The London Free Press