SOUND OFF SATURDAY: Mako Road

They're the laid-back Kiwis currently cavorting up and down Australia, and for indie kings Mako Road it's been a killer 2018, complete with the recent release of the sparkling EP 'Local Safari'.

Hailing from Christchurch in New Zealand, this cruisy quartet are quite literally sonic summer in a bottle; dreamy tones and lush vocals that recall those long days at the beach and even longer nights under the stars.

Self-professed lovers of "genie pants, denim, turtle necks and dad sandals", the Mako Road lads have certainly come far since their early beginnings as a covers band at uni. And now with their last Aussie show tomorrow night in Brisbane, it seems fitting that we feature them as one of our last Sound Offs for 2018, with lead guitarist Connor Mac chatting lighters, tunes and looking at (but not touching) dream guitars.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE SOUND IN THE WHOLE WORLD?

The sound of a lighter lighting a dart.

WHAT'S THE FIRST ALBUM/SINGLE YOU EVER BOUGHT YOURSELF?

Stadium Arcadium by the Chilis.

WHAT'S BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE RELEASE OF 2018 SO FAR?

Tash Sultana’s Flow state. She’s a mint chick and killing it right now, cigarettes is a tuuuuuuune.

WHAT'S YOUR DREAM GEAR SET-UP? ARE YOU LUSTING AFTER ANY PARTICULAR INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT?

A seafoam green vintage Stratocaster, not to play … just to look at.

WHO'S YOUR FAVOURITE AUSSIE BAND RIGHT NOW AND WHY?

Probably Ocean Alley, slick riffs, groovy tunes. They create an atmosphere when they play, their music is like a harbinger of summer.

WHAT'S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WISH YOU WERE GIVEN WHEN YOU WERE FIRST STARTING OUT IN THE INDUSTRY?

Make it fun and funky dude. So long as the enjoyment is there, any adversity or pressure can be shrugged off and used to improve yourself.

WHAT'S ONE SECRET ABOUT MAKO ROAD THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO DIVULGE?

We got ‘The Green Superintendent’ name from a concrete sign CJ found in our garden after he fell off the balcony.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR MAKO ROAD?

After the tour we are settling in Wellington to whack out an album over the year. And of course, we will find our excuses to bugger up n down the country playing shows during.

OPEN PLAN LIVING (MAKO ROAD)

FOR MORE MAKO ROAD INFO, HEAD HERE

BY TIANA SPETER

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