You’d almost believe him, if it weren’t for the wink in his voice.Ĭatch Mac DeMarco at Fun Fun Fun Fest 2013:įri, Nov. Weirdos of every sort pop up repeatedly throughout the album, like on standout “Freaking Out The Neighborhood.” Over a stuttering-but-smooth beat, DeMarco apologizes to his mother for his skewed life. Combining a goofball public persona with a distinctive songwriting style and production sound, Canadian artist Mac DeMarco rose to the higher reaches of indie fame unexpectedly quickly.

It’s a narcotic record, splitting the difference between R&B and ’90s slacker kings Pavement. A few months later came 2, which toned down the cheekiness in favor of something more subdued. He made his debut under his own name last year with Rock And Roll Night Club, which featured silly skits in between the glammed-up soul songs. It certainly isn’t glamorous, but the lowered stakes have given DeMarco a keen eye for the odd. He’s repeatedly moved across Canada while picking up odd jobs to support his music, like working on a road crew or becoming a subject for medical tests. His songs are built around sugary-sweet hooks that often obscure the dark subject matter of his lyrics.ĭeMarco’s dual nature is a direct result of his itinerant lifestyle. But the Montreal-based singer’s devil-make-care attitude hides his pop smarts. Sure, there’s the slacker charm: most press photos show DeMarco rocking a rumpled sweatshirt and a goofy hat, and he plays a beat up Frankenstein-like guitar that he bought for 30 Canadian dollars growing up in Vancouver.

Mac DeMarco is a self-described immature 22-year-old, but that’s not the whole story.