Download Macstanley on iTunes
Macstanley on iTunes
Macstanley’s new album, “Lucid, Alive and Dreaming” now available on the South African iTunes store
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Levi’s/LitNet Origin of Songs: How the song ”Treading Air” was born | Litnet
Out of interest – an older article out of the archives – with relevance to the “Sunset Ribbon Red” video which was recently added.
All songs start with an idea. The idea can take many forms – a melody, a guitar riff, lyrical content, etc. Occasionally even a title that one likes, as was the case with our song “Real live girl”. “Treading air”, however, started with a strum pattern. A Coldplay-inspired strum pattern, to be precise!
I had long admired Coldplay’s song “Yellow”, in particular the simple, steady strumming that ran throughout it. Funny how all the best songs seem to be the most simple ones. I remember sitting at home working out the chords for “Yellow” on my guitar one day, thinking that FlatStanley could use a song that had that nice gentle yet driving feel to it. So continuing the strum pattern I fiddled around with some other chords, when suddenly a melody popped into my head: “I’m not supposed to be in love with you …”
This is probably the most common form of idea that starts a song for me – a melody that I consider to be catchy enough to be a chorus. Often they come to me while driving. Then, so as not to forget them, I have to keep singing them loudly to myself until I get home so I can record them. This was very irritating, not to mention boring, in the days when I was living in Scarborough – a good 45 minutes from work! Later wisdom prevailed, and I acquired a walkman/dictaphone to solve this problem. The band refers to this little gem as our “mini recording studio”, on which quite a few entire songs have been written to and from home.
Read more at Levi’s/LitNet Origin of Songs: How the song ”Treading Air” was born | Litnet.
Vote for Angel on the Kia Take 40 SA
We are pleased to say that “Angel” (the second single off “Lucid, Alive and Dreaming“) is enjoying good rotation across the various SA radio stations. This includes the sister stations KFM (in Cape Town) and Highveld (in Johannesburg). We are hoping that it will therefore soon debut on the Kia Take 40 SA.
You can help things along by voting for it at the following link:
NB: You will need to scroll down to the 41st ‘block’, and then just follow the prompts to vote for your favorite song. (…ie Angel!)
Thank you for your support!
MACSTANLEY
Pics from the album launch
Lucid, Alive & Dreaming on entertainmentafrica.co.za
Original article at http://www.entertainmentafrica.co.za/
The new album ‘Lucid, Alive & Dreaming’ marks the finest Macstanley work to date, a collection of music that sees them ramp up the sound of the band into a contemporary gear while retaining the signature elements that have brought this pop-rock powerhouse to where it is today. The pieces are a combination of crafted emotion written at Clinton and Neil’s home-studios, before receiving Andy’s voice and the Macstanley treatment.
In contrast to the often rushed studio experiences of many contemporary bands, Macstanley and O’Shea worked on a schedule that afforded each composition time to develop and grow – and it shows. “From the outset, this was a no-compromise project for us. We all three brought our material into the rehearsal studio knowing that we would only take out the best, and what worked for where we see Macstanley on our third album,” says Andy. “Everything from day one was tracked, so we could used these little pieces of magic that came up, just off the cuff. Of course, it also led to kilo-tonnes of gigabytes of recordings, with poor (mix engineer) Neal Snyman scrolling through reams and reams for the final mix. But it worked, and I think we’ve created a record that shows how we’ve developed as a band, and a record that new and old fans can enjoy for a long, long time.”
Eight years after the band formed, it’s a process that has led to an album which faithfully represents the musical heart of Macstanley in 2012. From simple origination on guitar and voice, then into a three-piece format that draws in cello, keyboard, bass, drums and percussion as it grows, this pool of song-gems has been polished to an album which will both satisfy stalwart fans and draw in new listeners.
It’s also an album that reveals the growth of the band’s members since ‘Of Secrets And Wine’ and ‘Between 2wo Worlds’.
Macstanley ‘Lucid, Alive & Dreaming’ was produced by Brian O’Shea and engineered and co-produced by Chris Tuck who last worked together in South Africa on the Saron Gas album that birthed American rock conquerors Seether. It was recorded at Digital Forest Studios and mixed by Neal Snyman before mastering at Sterling Sound in New York.
Original article at http://www.entertainmentafrica.co.za/
Lucid Alive And Dreaming
Lucid Alive And Dreaming
Macstanley launches new album | BOKSBURG ADVERTISER 05 Oct 2012
Macstanley launches new album | BOKSBURG ADVERTISER 05 Oct 2012
POP-ROCK band MacStanley, formerly known as Flat Stanley, has just released their third album, Lucid, Alive and Dreaming. The album, the group’s first in five years, was mastered in New York, and is being released in South Africa by 2 Feet Music, an imprint of Sheer Sound. The new album retains the band’s unique sound but, in addition to the melodic pop songs they’re well known for, the album also contains some haunting ballads and a few edgier, harder rock tracks. Explaining their absence from the music scene for a while, band members Andy Mac, Clinton and Neil explains: “More recently we’ve been somewhat out of the public eye, but not idle. “During this time we’ve been working steadily on new material, pursuing various opportunities in Europe and building the fantastic support team that we are currently privileged to have around us. “We’re extremely proud of our new album and we can’t wait to share it with our fans.’ The band will perform some of their new tracks at the annual Heineken Symphonic Rocks concert, on October 6, in the Big Top Arena, Carnival City.
Night Of Symphonic Rocks Sheer Magic | Cape Argus October 3 2012
Night Of Symphonic Rocks Sheer Magic | Cape Argus October 3 2012
Heineken Symphonic Rocks VIP Experience Competition
Win the Ultimate VIP Experience with Heineken Symphonic Rocks. Like the Macstanley Hold On Video on our facebook site and stand a chance to win. Tickets include VIP seating, entrance into the Heineken VIP lounge and an exclusive meet and greet opportunity with the bands. 2 tickets for Cape Town and 2 tickets for Joburg up for grabs. Do it now and stand a chance of winning!!!