MAKAR - FUNERAL GENIUS

Webpage: http://www.makarmusic.com

Location: New York, New York, USA

Description:
Guitar and Piano driven Indie Rock that will make Punk and Poet rejoice and dance together!

Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Gina Sigillito
ginamac29@aol.com
(917) 754-1626
www.makarmusic.com


ONE OF NEW YORK’S MOST INNOVATIVE INDIE DUOS
RETURNS WITH THEIR OWN BRAND OF “GENIUS” *

Renowned NYC Band Makar Announces the Release
of Their New CD, Funeral Genius
“Makar does what so many other bands try to do, but fail. … their album Funeral Genius immediately breaks through to best-of, must-have status.”—Rust Magazine

(NEW YORK, NY)—Since 2002, Makar has been mesmerizing New York audiences at such renowned clubs as Luna Lounge, CBGBs gallery, Knitting Factory, and Pianos. Their debut album, 99 Cent Dreams, garnered rave reviews from independentsonly.com*, who called Makar, “a musical genius worth telling people about” and the Windy City Times, who hailed them as “a breath of fresh air.” Their innovative, edgy release captured the attention of media across the country, including MTV 2, who featured the video for their irreverent tune, “I Hate My Job.” The effort landed them a record deal with Sizzleteen Records in 2005, and it seemed there was no stopping the brilliance of this part punk, part pop, and part poetic musical team.

Now, their second CD, Funeral Genius, has taken the press by storm. Called “essential” by Rust Magazine, Makar’s latest release has earned them the title of Band of the Month for January 2012 on Ear to the Ground radio and a spot on The Deli Magazine’s Top 300 Best NYC Indie Bands. They have also garnered airplay across the United States and the UK, on such stations as Hub Radio, Radio Crystal Blue, and Insomnia Radio’s “Daily Dose.”

Named after the 15th century Scottish term for “poet,” this acoustic guitar and piano driven Indie-rock band more than lives up to its name. With her ethereal beauty and angelic voice, Andrea DeAngelis has a magnetic presence that makes her a joy to see and hear. With his deep, haunting vocals, Mark Purnell calls to mind a young John Cale. Featuring Mark Nilges on bass and the mighty, legendary NYC drummer Dawn McGrath, this latest effort shows the true depth of their range as they draw on their influences from Bjork to Bowie to Blondie. As Chris Dahlberg of Cosmo Gaming so astutely commented, "Makar is what happens when you cross the current Indie revolution with a tinge of folk rock.”

From the title track, “Funeral Genius,” an upbeat, thoroughly addictive homage to 60s pop to the darker, psychedelic groove of “Bottle of Beauty,” the duo shows the full depth of both their playful and more introspective sides. The theme of Funeral Genius is, appropriately enough, about living in the present and not being overwhelmed by the self-doubt that can kill one’s spirit. As Makar muses, “A Funeral Genius is someone who is a genius at being negative, a Debbie Downer, an uber-pessimist, who obsessively looks at the negative side of things, is morbid thinking of death all the time thereby forgetting to live.”

Recorded at the Seaside Lounge Recording Studios in Park Slope, Brooklyn, Funeral Genius was three years in the making and is their most innovative, thoughtful, and exciting release yet; it was well worth the wait. As Mark recalls, "We recorded the first 11 songs on the album in one day at Seaside out in Brooklyn getting the drums and bass down. “Devil in a Dream” was recorded in one day out at Andrea's parents’ house in Mendham, NJ on a handheld tape recorder with the lights turned low and the soul of Robert Johnson and his hell hounds on our trail." Taking the best of Indie, Pop, and Folk and making them their own, Makar once again proves their reputation as one of the most unique acts on the New York scene.
About the Artist:
Makar is fronted by published author and musician, Andrea DeAngelis, a singer/songwriter/guitarist from New Jersey and Mark Purnell, a singer/songwriter/pianist from New York. Funeral Genius is their second CD.

Title: Funeral Genius
Artist: Makar
Release Date: November 2011
Price: $9.99
Label: Makar
Soundscan: 884501618861
To Order: CDBaby.com and iTunes

Biography:
Makar (pronounced Mah-Kar) is a 15th century Scottish term meaning Poet and also a dark and groovy little New York band voted one of Deli Magazine’s Top 300 Best NYC Indie Bands.

 

A guitar and piano driven indie-rock band that makes Punk and Poet rejoice and dance together.

Makar began with Mark looking for a band to join as a singer and finding nothing appealing, so Andrea said "why don't you write your own songs?" So he did! But Andrea kept butting in and adding her 2 cents, so Mark said, "why don't you write a song?" So she did. And that's where it all began!

Makar consists of Andrea DeAngelis, co-singer/songwriter/guitarist from New Jersey and Mark Purnell, co-singer/songwriter/pianist from New York.

Beginning in 2002-03, Makar played their first, nail-biting, exciting NY gigs at places like Luna Lounge, CBGBs gallery, Knitting Factory and Pianos and began recording their 18-song debut album, 99 Cent Dreams, on July 14, 2002 at Multiway Studios in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

In 2005 the debut album, 99 Cent Dreams, arrived and Makar went to work promoting it! The 18 song album got played all over the world on FM, College, Indie and Internet radio stations. 99 Cent Dreams received many wonderful and heartfelt reviews from fans and critics alike such as independentsonly.com*, who called Makar, “a musical genius worth telling people about” and the Windy City Times, who hailed them as “a breath of fresh air.” The album sold thousands of downloads and physical copies. We even did a TV appearance or two!! Makar's first music video for the song "I Hate My Job" directed by Brian Schulz got played on MTV2. Makar made many incredible fans and played many a great show, even got signed to a non-exclusive deal with a little indie label named Sizzleteen Records!

Makar began work on its second album, Funeral Genius, August 2008 at the Seaside Lounge in Park Slope, Brooklyn. It is now available on Amazon.com, CD Baby, Itunes and everywhere digital music is sold in the universe and has already garnered amazing reviews from the likes of Rust Magazine’s Eric Peterson who said "get ready to make some space on your shelf or playlist for "Funeral Genius" and pick it up right away. It's going to be one of your most-loved albums of all time. Essential." Funeral Genius recently landed Makar on the top 300 Best NYC Indie Bands list by Brooklyn’s prestigious Deli Magazine along with such artists as Lana Del Rey, MGMT and Vampire Weekend!