Mac Demarco: NPR Music Field Recordings

"I like living by the water. It's new and crazy for me," says Mac DeMarco, smoking and peering out at the bay in Far Rockaway, Queens. All around, nature blends with reminders of civilization: Behind him, sun-dappled waves are chopped up by freighter boats and the occasional jet ski passing by. Across the water sits JFK airport, with its distant engine hum of planes taking off and landing at a steady, rhythmic clip. The crisp, salty sea breeze mingles with wafts of stagnant water, decaying debris and dead horseshoe crabs that wash ashore. For the charismatic 26-year-old songwriter who grew up in the landlocked plains of Canada, the water still holds an exotic appeal. Plus, the area's laid-back feel is a perfect match for his laconic delivery and perpetually chill personality.

Living out in the Rockaways is a welcome escape from the action and distractions that come with living in a city. "I don't ever see anybody unless I want to," he explains. "And even if I want to, usually people don't come out here 'cuz it's so far away. And my phone doesn't really work. It's all just peace and quiet."
DeMarco moved to this house last fall, after touring behind last year's excellent Salad Days — just in time for the long, bleak East Coast winter — with the intention of playing his instruments loud and writing new music in isolation. The wistful, melodic mini-albumAnother One, released last week, was written and recorded in his room. A shaggy and surfy collection of love songs, it's suited for a lazy summer backyard barbecue or taking your second-hand rowboat out for a dusk cruise.

That's especially true of his song "No Other Heart," which has him wooing a crush from afar. "I'll put the sparkle right back in your eyes / What could you lose?" he sings in his very best "Jealous Guy"-era John Lennon croon over warbling keyboard voicings. In this wonderful, bare bones performance on his boat — which he bought as a gift for himself to cope with the "birthday blues" — DeMarco's peculiar charm shines through. --MIKE KATZIF

CREDITS
Director/Producer: Mito Habe-Evans; Editor: Adam Wolffbrandt; Videographers: Mito Habe-Evans, Mike Katzif, Adam Wolffbrandt; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Special Thanks: Mark and Rachel Dibner of the Argus Fund; Executive Producer: Anya Grundman

[VinylGuruOfficial]

Mac offers such a free and peaceful place to escape. Thats why I love his music.

[dinastiachowfan]

The greatest artist of my generation. AT LEAST IN MY HEART, DAMN IT!

[vhscopyofrainman]

"Is it wrong? To think my love could really help you out.
It's simply just my stubborn heart, no doubt, rambling away"

God Demarco is such a good writer

[tristanswim]

Used to listen to a lot of Mac all along on the river beaches in the start of my 20s. I was in love like never before and experiencing some of the most spiritually cleansing days of my life. A timeless period in my memories I'm so glad to have had Mac performing the score for :')

[sebastiancrawford]

this video brings me more peace than i could ever explain to anyone.

[Jowitaukaczynska]

I am officially in love with Mac DeMarco...

[lastshanty]

Please NPR, give us a Tiny Desk Concert with Mac,

[oBo]

the title should be in Portuguese "Mac Demarco de Barco" or "De Barco com Demarco"

[getschwifty]

I don’t know why people are saying he needs a proper tiny desk, if anything this is better than anything I could’ve expected or asked from them, so chill I love it

[thetalkingfly]

HAHA- This is so GOOD!!! funky film a about FUNKY FUNKY dude!!!

[goldgrillmafia]

Mac is the man a lot of his live performances sound better than the recorded version’s amazing!!!

[epicmood]

When u see Mac with a cigarrette u know that going to be a masterpiece ❤

[sun.lover.]

When u find out u lived near Mac DeMarco but u didn’t discover his music yet 😢

[francescobaldo]

1:46 --> Amazing France shaped cloud

[Goctagon]

I wanna record a song on a boat in a lake. Dammit.

[ievazak]

the one and only who could perform his songs in the moving boat on a water rather in a recording studio

[impossibleskies]

the cloud at 1:47 is shaped exactly like france.

[sandilekaunda]

How did I miss this? Took me 3 years to find this Mac video.

[thatbytc]

you're wonderful, don't stop making music.

[bonitavidadevina]

listening to your music while seeing the skyscrapers of Dubai is quite sad, i feel like a worm in this city