By: Staff
The Mack Brothers' latest album, “Southern Skies,” is a powerful testament to their exceptional craftsmanship and evolving sound.
This album is a captivating blend of Southern rock, blues, and modern influences, creating an engaging and multifaceted listening experience.
From the opening track, “Dottie,” which is a beautiful ballad enhanced by a supporting track. It displays impressive vocal work and is so soft and calming that it’s deeply rooted in the authentic country sound, rivet-ing listeners to the performance. The guitar work is impressive and evolves as the song progresses. Tickling keys revolve around the strings, creating a definitive win moment for us. This is a tremendous and unique display of musical instrumentation.
“Country Woman” might be the next great dance tune! It features R&B elements (yes, it does), slide guitars, and tremendous power vocals. Add the lyrics “You're my country woman, You’re my country girl… you got me losing my mind… takin’ over my world” and you have a tremendous sing-along that will captivate live audiences. It’s stuck in our heads, and we’re ready for another drink. The streaking guitars and the drums dropping back for a vocal solo really sell this track. Don’t miss it!
“Take A Ride” puts vocal abilities front and center. With wistful but loving declarations, this song is a soft and sweet love song asking to “take a chance on me.” It’s a country love song with the best guitar work, cleanly played to showcase the player’s ability without trying to steal the show (though it might very well have as a result).
“Sometimes Love Isn’t All You Need” features one of the most intriguing song titles we’ve ever read. It explores the idea that love, while crucial, is not always enough to sustain a relationship through its challenges. The lyrics reflect a nuanced perspective on love and partnership, acknowledging that while love forms the foundation of a relationship, other factors—such as trust, communication, and shared values—are also essential. WOW! Eat that, McCartney. Seriously, we needed this. Life is not always what we want but what we need, and this somber articulation is super sweet and beautiful.
“Drinkin’ in Work” has a slight twang, but rock and roll dominates the feel of this really catchy and chill song. Honestly, it’s the best drive-home-from-work song you will hear. It's relaxing, and the lyrics are so relatable that we might have a real Springsteen in this duo of brothers.
“Fruit Punch Loko” is the final track we’ll mention, and you might have already left us to listen on your own—if so, you should. This track is a beautiful country ballad in every sense of the word. The vocals are once again incredible. The structure of the song is perfect, with lyrical delivery and breaks for guitar work (so the cowboy singer can take a swig of that drink). If you have a lighter, I promise it will be swaying in front of the stage. Once again, this is a tremendous performance by The Mack Brothers.
The album’s production is impeccable, striking a perfect balance between polished studio quality and the raw energy of live performance. Every instrument is given its due prominence, from the punchy drum rhythms to the intricate basslines, all complemented by
The Mack Brothers’ distinctive vocal harmonies. The meticulous engineering allows the band’s intricate arrangements and emotional nuances to shine, making each listen a rich and rewarding experience.
Overall, “Southern Skies” is a huge hit for The Mack Brothers.
Definitely playlist, stream, and share “Southern Skies” by The Mack Brothers.
Powerful Quote about this band:
"a beautiful song that will ease the pain of love, listen to it and let your mind calm down with its melodious work!" Eduardo Cruz of End Sessions talking about "Sometimes Love Isn't All You Need". "These songs are like if U2 and Toby Keith had a baby" - Jim Roberts from Scoopski and Action 6
Wait, there's more!
We caught up with this exciting and emerging artist, for:
“The Cage” Music Blog, to talk about music and learn more about them.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview
Welcome The Mack Brothers, we’re thrilled to have you for this interview. We've enjoyed diving into your music and learning about your work, but we're eager to discover even more about you personally and professionally.
Please tell us the names and roles of each band member.
John – Singer, songwriter, guitar player, keys, bass
Matthew – Singer, songwriter, guitar player, bass, drums
Is there a story behind how you chose your artist / stage name?
Our last name is Mackara, which is where we get the Mack Brothers from.
Can you describe the type of music that you play and the genre(s) you represent? Are there different styles within your genre?
Our main genre is “indie rock” or “alt rock” but on this record we dipped our toes in “americana or country.”
What is the spark that inspires your writing process the most?
Not all, but a lot of the songs come as natural as our next breath. I don’t really know how they happen. Some songs are obviously coming from a real situation that we’ll write about but even with in those songs, a lot of the lyrics even surprise us.
Can you walk us through where the inspiration for this latest project comes from?
During the lock down we decided to make a joke country song. By the time we were done, we had the most fun we ever had recorded a new song. After that, we decided to make a whole record of country inspired tunes.
Can you describe the theme of your artwork and what the inspiration and intention were for the observer to absorb from it?
A lot of songs on the album are very scenic, so we knew the album cover should be something pretty. It’s also semi-inspired by the self-titled Eagles record cover.
What instrument do you use as the foundation to start your musical creations?
Mostly the songs start out on an acoustic guitar, but we’ve been experimenting more with drum machines and trying new things. The next album will be completely different than this one.
What instruments do you play, and which is your favorite?
John is mostly a guitar player, but for Matthew guitar and drums share his heart equally.
Is there an instrument you do not play but wish you could conquer?
We both are trying to get better at the keys.
Where do you create your music—at home in a recording studio or with a producer?
Everything we do is at either of our homes, or our grandmother’s house. We do everything ourselves.
How do you finalize your work—self-mixed and mastered or through another source?
All done by us.
What was the most challenging part of bringing this project to life, from the initial idea to the final recording?
We’re very proud that we do everything ourselves, but the downside of that is when life takes up your time, you can’t delegate any responsibility to anyone else. So I’d say, no fault of our own, that’s the most challenging thing about the whole process, is not having the time to complete mixing and mastering faster.
What part of the music-making process is the most stressful—for example, the creation, the actual release date, etc.?
I think we both love recording, it’s my (John) favorite part. I’d say, for me, the worst thing about the recording itself is the cost of very good equipment.
Which of your already released songs is the most important to you or had the most impact on your life or career, and why?
Each song is like a kid, so it’s hard to say. Our first single ever, “Florida” means a lot because it was the first. Putting out “Cup of Coffee” was also very important to me, simply because it was the first song we put out at the time it was created. A lot of the songs we’re releasing are older and we’re just playing catch up with ourselves. But Cup of Coffee was written, recorded, mixed mastered and put out within 6 months.
There is a lot of technology available today. Some artists have described it as “overwhelming” or “too much.” The current climate of music is growing with computers being more prominently used for both creation and correction. Do you feel this has a positive or negative impact on the end result for music?
Without the technology today, we would have been priced out of making music. Sure, the indie market is saturated, but it’s easy to weed out what you like and what you don’t. We are proud to not use any auto-tune or none of that, but if you do use it, that’s fine with us, if the end result is good. The real problem is that gigantic corporations are pushing the artists they want down everyone’s throat, not paying artists what they deserve and it’s a lot harder for indie acts to gain momentum. But that’s another story.
If a band (no matter how famous) were scouting for someone with your talents and you had the opportunity to audition, which band would you love to be asked for the chance to work with them?
Oasis just got back together. Matthew could drum and I’ll play bass. We already know all the songs. Works perfect.
Your dedication to your craft is truly remarkable. We realize it takes many hours to perform at your level. What aspects of your technique or style do you believe set you apart from other musicians in your genre?
I don’t think we’d win any guitar solo contests, but I think our songwriting, which includes harmonies, melodies, lyrics and vocals, sets us apart from other people in our lane.
What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?
Emotional honesty and ability to jump around genre to genre.
Describe your favorite and least favorite parts about being a musician.
It’s very cool to be able to express feelings that I normally wouldn’t or couldn’t. Each song is like a different therapy session. It’s also all about the details of songs that really get us going. Hearing an underlining synth line that you made to finish a song, or a certain guitar part that you weren’t sure about, that ends up being your favorite part. Those are the best parts about the gig.
The worst part is carrying amps to shows or setting up for practice.
Are there any musicians who inspire you? What qualities do you admire about them?
U2, The Beatles, Oasis, Kings of Leon, The Strokes, The Killers, Vampire Weekend, Alex Cameron, Arctic Monkeys and so on. Their songwriting all sets them apart, which is what we want to do.
Describe your favorite type of venue for performing.
A packed bar with a decent size stage.
What is the live music venue scene like where you currently reside?
We have a wonderful group of friends in the Philadelphia music scene, including BEES!, Scoopski, Haha Charade, Barker Brothers, Jima and so on. Very supportive and friendly.
Tell us about the last time you performed. Where was the show, and what was your experience like?
We played an acoustic gig at The West Philly Porchfest and we had a blast. Probably the best my voice sounded outdoors too, great set up by Mike from BEES.
How would you handle traveling and being away from home for an extended period while on tour?
It would be tough, but I’m sure our women wouldn’t mind a vacation from us.
Do you follow a process or ritual before a performance to manage nerves or performance anxiety?
Not really, we should probably get one.
What makes a performance or song good? How do you judge a performance or song?
I think it depends on the type of song it is. But in my opinion, you have to amplify the energy of the song.
What's the best piece of advice another musician has ever given you?
Alex Cameron, Australian Indie Musician, explained to us how he does most of his music with him and his business partner, Roy Molloy. And that gave us the confidence to know that we can make our music, our way. It gave us an extra “umph” to do everything ourselves.
You’ve put in countless hours perfecting your art. What specific achievements or milestones in your career make you feel most proud of your progress and skill development?
This album, “Southern Skies,” that we just put out is our first full length album and it was all written, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered by just us. I would, unbiasedly, put it up against any other album from this year. And the best part about it is that we’re just really getting going.
Which musicians before you have helped shape the music industry and had an impact on your personal development?
Very early in our lives NSYNC and Backstreet Boys played a huge part in our upbringing. And their songs definitely helped us learn pop song structure. And as we grew up a little John got real into rap in the early 2000s. So Ludacris, 50 Cent, Eminem, and a little later Lil Wayne and Kanye before he lost his mind also played a huge role in our musical development. But as teens and adults, going back to The Beatles, U2, Oasis, Rolling Stones and in real time seeing Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes and Killers all grow as musicians really guided us too where we are at.
If there were one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be?
Fair wages for musicians.
Most people love or hate social media—where do you land?
Right in the middle. Is it rotting our minds and corrupting our world? Sure. Does it make me laugh and help us reach new fans and musicians? Also, yes.
When you reach the stage where you have the admiration and respect of world-known artists, which band or artist would you love to call and say, “Let’s go on tour together”?
I’d love to tour with Dr. Dog, they’re hometown heroes of ours. Kings of Leon, another great brother band, might be the most fun. We would go with anybody though.
What is the most inspirational thing a fan or anyone has told or shown you about your music?
We played a small Christmas gig one time and after the show, a couple that was there from the UK said they loved us and followed us on social media. Later, they sent us a video of them playing one of our songs at their wedding. Might not be inspiring but for us it was a great moment.
End Interview
Check out this latest release and listen to more of The Mack Brothers on Spotify & YouTube.
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