Makari
Riverview, Florida, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Tilian Pearson has been featured on a new Makari song called “Life, Barefoot.” Stream it below by clicking - Property of Zack
Tilian Pearson has been featured on a new Makari song called “Life, Barefoot.” Stream it below by clicking - Property of Zack
Substream Music
Press: Growing up, where did you draw your musical influence from?
Eric Stewart: When I was growing up, I listened to a lot of Green Day type stuff, a bunch of punk rocker type music.
Brandon Cullen: I grew up listening to a lot of my mom’s and old step dad’s rock albums that I could find when I was trying to “fit in” in elementary and middle school, and stumbled upon Matchbox 20, Nirvana, early Foo Fighters and kinda dug on that, apart from other secret shames – like Nsync, and Lil Bow Wow.
SMP: Where did you decision come from when deciding to be in a band as your lifestyle?
Stewart: I always grew up playing guitar but it wasn’t until just recently I started taking it really serious. It’s a really cool idea to be an asset to our part of the world.
Cullen: I started taking it seriously in my last band Skyline Summer and fell in love with the writing process of it and eventually you start playing shows and it’s a blast. Seeing firsthand and falling in love with every portion of being in a band is what made me want to stay in a band.
SMP: How did the band get together?
Cullen: Lindsey and I played in a band called Skyline Summer together and Eric and Matt played in a band together as well and eventually we merged together when our old bands started to lose members. We started writing new music together and recording the EP and went for it.
Stewart: We wanted to start fresh with new material rather than turn one band into another band.
SMP: Were your past bands pretty similar in genres or did you start everything over in Makari?
Stewart: I would say pretty different. Brandon and Lindsey’s old band was pretty pop and my last band was progressive rock in a sense which is where we are now but heading in a different direction.
Cullen: It’s more alternative now and has catchier tunes. Right now we’re playing progressiverock stuff and when we added our pop chorus lines to the music, it gives it a different feel. I think that’s how we stand out from other progressive rock bands. We add different elements from pop, or punk or even a little bit of hardcore stuff.
Stewart: Matt (other guitarist) and I love playing epic little riffs and just having fun with it and writing crazy parts. We try to make stuff that’s simple but catchy with poppy style-core that makes a cool verse.
SMP: Without being signed to a label, are you happy you can gear your band in your own direction? Do you think it’s more difficult this way?
Cullen: Right now, we’re just doing our own thing and we’ve had a couple offers but right now we’re just promoting the EP that we just put out and create a fan base.
Stewart: We’ve only been a band since July so we’re pretty fresh and still trying to get a hold on to who we are as a band.
SMP: Where did the Makari icon, the circle with a triangle intertwining into it, come from?
Cullen: I was creating a logo on Photoshop and was trying to make something different out of the ‘A’. I just pulled down the line in the A and created something like The Maine did for their albums. It’s just a simple symbol and kind of artsy.
SMP: What’s was working in the studio creating The Escape EP like?
Stewart: It was really cool because we’ve all recorded before but we’ve never been to a super nice studio with a professional mixer and to go in and have someone sort of hold our hands through the whole process.
We brought the material in and he helped us all out which really made a difference. It was really nice to work with a professional and someone who knew what they were doing.
Cullen: He really cared about our music and how it sounded. Jason Andrews with Spotlight Sound Studios in Atlanta, GA. I think we came out better as a band and more professional.
SMP: What bands do you pull from for inspiration?
Stewart: Personally, I’ve been listening to a lot of Two Doors Cinema Club. One of my favorite bands is Circa Survive and Closure of Moscow with their crazy guitars and vocalist going wild.
Cullen: I listen to a lot of Say Anything, This Providence and I like Circa Survive a lot.
Stewart: I think that’s what makes us such an interesting band because we all listen to such different influences and one member might take inspiration from one thing and a different member something completely different.
SMP: You just released your EP title The Escape, what were some things that went into that album, experiences and feelings wise?
Cullen: Ahh man, ups and downs in relationships, Whisper Whisper and In My Mind are about that. As far as The Escape goes it’s an ode to the town that we came from. We wanted to write something that hit close to our hearts, music-wise and meant something to us.
The Laspe is just a fun song as far as lyrical content go.
SMP: What’s been your favorite part of being in a band so far?
Stewart: Playing live shows; I think we would all agree. 5 people to 500 people, we just play just as hard no matter what.
Cullen: Writing and recording is a really important aspect of - Sub Stream Music Press
Substream Music
Press: Growing up, where did you draw your musical influence from?
Eric Stewart: When I was growing up, I listened to a lot of Green Day type stuff, a bunch of punk rocker type music.
Brandon Cullen: I grew up listening to a lot of my mom’s and old step dad’s rock albums that I could find when I was trying to “fit in” in elementary and middle school, and stumbled upon Matchbox 20, Nirvana, early Foo Fighters and kinda dug on that, apart from other secret shames – like Nsync, and Lil Bow Wow.
SMP: Where did you decision come from when deciding to be in a band as your lifestyle?
Stewart: I always grew up playing guitar but it wasn’t until just recently I started taking it really serious. It’s a really cool idea to be an asset to our part of the world.
Cullen: I started taking it seriously in my last band Skyline Summer and fell in love with the writing process of it and eventually you start playing shows and it’s a blast. Seeing firsthand and falling in love with every portion of being in a band is what made me want to stay in a band.
SMP: How did the band get together?
Cullen: Lindsey and I played in a band called Skyline Summer together and Eric and Matt played in a band together as well and eventually we merged together when our old bands started to lose members. We started writing new music together and recording the EP and went for it.
Stewart: We wanted to start fresh with new material rather than turn one band into another band.
SMP: Were your past bands pretty similar in genres or did you start everything over in Makari?
Stewart: I would say pretty different. Brandon and Lindsey’s old band was pretty pop and my last band was progressive rock in a sense which is where we are now but heading in a different direction.
Cullen: It’s more alternative now and has catchier tunes. Right now we’re playing progressiverock stuff and when we added our pop chorus lines to the music, it gives it a different feel. I think that’s how we stand out from other progressive rock bands. We add different elements from pop, or punk or even a little bit of hardcore stuff.
Stewart: Matt (other guitarist) and I love playing epic little riffs and just having fun with it and writing crazy parts. We try to make stuff that’s simple but catchy with poppy style-core that makes a cool verse.
SMP: Without being signed to a label, are you happy you can gear your band in your own direction? Do you think it’s more difficult this way?
Cullen: Right now, we’re just doing our own thing and we’ve had a couple offers but right now we’re just promoting the EP that we just put out and create a fan base.
Stewart: We’ve only been a band since July so we’re pretty fresh and still trying to get a hold on to who we are as a band.
SMP: Where did the Makari icon, the circle with a triangle intertwining into it, come from?
Cullen: I was creating a logo on Photoshop and was trying to make something different out of the ‘A’. I just pulled down the line in the A and created something like The Maine did for their albums. It’s just a simple symbol and kind of artsy.
SMP: What’s was working in the studio creating The Escape EP like?
Stewart: It was really cool because we’ve all recorded before but we’ve never been to a super nice studio with a professional mixer and to go in and have someone sort of hold our hands through the whole process.
We brought the material in and he helped us all out which really made a difference. It was really nice to work with a professional and someone who knew what they were doing.
Cullen: He really cared about our music and how it sounded. Jason Andrews with Spotlight Sound Studios in Atlanta, GA. I think we came out better as a band and more professional.
SMP: What bands do you pull from for inspiration?
Stewart: Personally, I’ve been listening to a lot of Two Doors Cinema Club. One of my favorite bands is Circa Survive and Closure of Moscow with their crazy guitars and vocalist going wild.
Cullen: I listen to a lot of Say Anything, This Providence and I like Circa Survive a lot.
Stewart: I think that’s what makes us such an interesting band because we all listen to such different influences and one member might take inspiration from one thing and a different member something completely different.
SMP: You just released your EP title The Escape, what were some things that went into that album, experiences and feelings wise?
Cullen: Ahh man, ups and downs in relationships, Whisper Whisper and In My Mind are about that. As far as The Escape goes it’s an ode to the town that we came from. We wanted to write something that hit close to our hearts, music-wise and meant something to us.
The Laspe is just a fun song as far as lyrical content go.
SMP: What’s been your favorite part of being in a band so far?
Stewart: Playing live shows; I think we would all agree. 5 people to 500 people, we just play just as hard no matter what.
Cullen: Writing and recording is a really important aspect of - Sub Stream Music Press
AP&R 284 artist Makari have released "Life, Barefoot," a new song featuring Tilian Pearson (formerly of Tides of Man.)
Stream the song below: - Alternative Press
AP&R 284 artist Makari have released "Life, Barefoot," a new song featuring Tilian Pearson (formerly of Tides of Man.)
Stream the song below: - Alternative Press
The South Florida sextet Makari came together in summer 2011, after the band Skyline Summer realized several temporary touring members had changed their sound—for the better. “We ended up writing seven new songs over three weeks before that tour,” says vocalist Brandon Cullen. “Once we got home from the tour, we started promoting a name change, because we wanted a fresh start.” Now focused on music with “a progressive-rock and pop feel,” Cullen stresses Makari want to have an emotional impact. “To us, this is an art,” he says. “It’s just exhilarating to have anyone connect with a song.” - Alternative Press
The South Florida sextet Makari came together in summer 2011, after the band Skyline Summer realized several temporary touring members had changed their sound—for the better. “We ended up writing seven new songs over three weeks before that tour,” says vocalist Brandon Cullen. “Once we got home from the tour, we started promoting a name change, because we wanted a fresh start.” Now focused on music with “a progressive-rock and pop feel,” Cullen stresses Makari want to have an emotional impact. “To us, this is an art,” he says. “It’s just exhilarating to have anyone connect with a song.” - Alternative Press
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Discography
Makari (The Escape EP) - January 2012
Recored and mixed by Spotlight Sound Studios
Doses (Single)
Featured on Daily Unsigned Radio
Request on Orlando's WPRK 91.5FM
Life, Barefoot Ft. Tilian Pearson (Single)
Knives, Knives, Knives (Single)
Request on Orlando's WPRK 91.5FM
Makari (See Dreams) album out 9/10/2013
Recorded and mixed by Brooks Paschal at Mockingbird Studios.
All material released independently.
Photos
Bio
Who is MAKARI? After one listen through their upcoming EP, See Dreams, (out September 10th), it is clear that they are a six piece unit sent straight from the progressive-rock heavens. With a unique and out of this world vibe, MAKARI's music has an unmatched sound with reminiscence of Circa Survive, As Cities Burn and Tides Of Man.
Formation came naturally for the Tampa, FL base band, MAKARI. They came together sporadically in 2011 before going on tour under the name of Brandon and Lindsays previous project. Eric, Kevin and I had played music together since high school, so when the opportunity came to work together again it just seemed natural. Soon after, John joined the band through his friendship with Lindsay, stated Matt. We had a very strong connection. This was when MAKARI finalized their line-up and began their creative takeover.
Dont let their forming in 2011 make you second guess their success. Last year MAKARI put together a hometown Christmas show and immediately sold it out. Theyve had the honor of working with Tilian Pearson (Tides of Man, Dance Gavin Dance), shared the stage with some of their genres biggest acts including We The Kings, La Dispute, Memphis May Fire, The Dangerous Summer, Go Radio and Set It Off and even completed and funded an entire US tour with no label backing.
MAKARIs upcoming release, See Dreams, is a beautifully composed five song EP that purely engages your curiosity. See Dreams reflects our fascination with how the moon and the sea work together to keep everything going, says Eric. We wanted to write something youthful but also something beautiful. The band called on the one and only Brooks Paschal (VersaEmerge, The Academy Is) to record the EP in Tyler, TX.
We want to play our music around the world and get a chance to see the world through music. We want to have kids quote our lyrics and be someone that kids look up to like we did when we were younger, says Eric. We cant believe that in such a short time together, that we have made this amount of friends and fans.
Be careful. After one listen to MAKARIs music, youll refuse to rest until you see their bursting chemistry and heart racing energy onstage. With plans to meet the rest of the world you can certainly expect to see MAKARIs alluring presence on a stage near you soon.
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