US hip hop act Mac Miller will celebrate the New Year down under when he tours his ‘GO:OD AM’ album.
“I cannot wait; it’s going to be warm and Australia’s one of my most favourite places in the world,” Mac says enthusiastically.
“We’re doing a couple of festivals before the New Year, then we bring in the New Year in Australia. I’m really excited to do my own shows and see what the crowds are like; I did a show before in Sydney with Snoop [Dogg] and the crowd went crazy, it was awesome.
“I’m not all the way sure what we’re going to be able to bring but it’s going to be intimate; I’m not trying to be arrogant but the centre-point of the show is me so we don’t do to much crazy production; it’s based around the interaction between me and the fans.”
Since releasing his first album, ‘Blue Slide Park’, in 2011, Miller has cultivated a successful career as an independent artist. For ‘GO:OD AM’, however, he diverted from this modus operandi, deciding to sign with major label, Warner Music. “I think I wanted to try something different,” he explains.
“I’m 23 now, I’m getting ready to settle down and it was time to link-up with a company that could give me more of a global presence, and do things worldwide.”
While signing to a major label can present a raft of issues (both positive and negative) for an independent artist, Miller says his fans were extremely supportive of the transition. “I thought that when I signed I was going to get a bunch of angry fans saying ‘why would do you do this?’, but instead my fans seem to really care about me so I think they were happy to see me on my feet and doing things.”
“I didn’t have anyone from the label set foot in the studio which was awesome. So I really got lucky there and I got the chance to run my own project, because I wouldn’t have signed if it was any other way.”
Mac Miller has accumulated an extensive back catalogue of eclectic rap, hip hop, soul and R & B tracks across three albums and multiple self-produced mixtapes. ‘GO:OD AM’ is Mac’s third studio album and sees the young artist maturing into his own, writing and producing from a more optimistic perspective compared to previous releases.
“I think there was a time when I was making a lot more melancholy records, just like mixtapes and my last album before this one. So I think this one functions a little more in the light, getting there and the journey there, rather than dwelling on any sense of darkness.
“Also, as far as stylistically and conceptually, I’m pretty nomadic in that sense where I don’t like to stay in one place a long time creatively; maybe it’s because I’m young and I’m still finding my comfort zone, but I think it just keeps it exciting for me.”
With the Australian tour still nearly two months away, Mac is clearly excited to get back here to party with his fans. “Just come ready and bring your energy; get a good night’s sleep before and make sure you’re ready to have an experience.”
Mac Miller ‘GO:OD AM’ Tour Dates
Sat 2 Jan - The Forum (Melbourne)Mon 4 Jan - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Tue 5 Jan - The Tivoli (Brisbane)
