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biography
Craig Mckenzie aka CMAC received prenatal music lessons as his pregnant mother played guitar and sang at bible in schools.
With both parents as ministers in the Salvation Army, music became an important part of life early on - playing in the brass band, singing in the choir and taking piano lessons.
Falling in love with hip hop artists like Run DMC , Beastie boys and LL Cool J at an early age meant elements of it would make it's way into his music. ABC - his first band took rap songs and changed the lyrics into songs about the girls at church and other important issues!
Attending music camps run by the Salvation Army helped Craig realize that music and songwriting would be a means of self-expression for life.
Buying an Ensoniq sequencer, Akai sampler and four track recorder was a means to begin the journey of creating and recording tracks.
After developing his abilities in vocals and music programming at the Excel school of performing arts in 1995-96, he picked up the guitar and fronted the pop/rock trio - 'Partisan' recording the EP - 'Real' at York Street studios NZ.
The band enjoyed a succession of gigs including Parachute music festivals .The title track 'Real' is still being played on the Rhema Radio network today.
In 2001 Craig and long time friend and song writing partner Aidan Richards went back to their roots of hip hop and started writing some new material which caught the attention of Malcolm Black 'head of A'n'R Sony music NZ
Soon after the duo (Sumix) recorded 'Jumphouse' (released through Sony music NZ) with award winning producer Malcolm Welsford (Shihad, Supergroove) giving Craig the chance to develop his own skills in producing.
Shooting the video with Joe Lonie, who would later shoot the music video for Craig's track -'Funky little hip hop angel'.
Continuing his musical journey as a solo artist, Craig spent time in Los Angeles in the local scene, writing and performing new material resulting in his self written / recorded and produced debut album 'Surrender', containing songs about his personal and spiritual journey.
Utilizing his DIY skills, most of the album was recorded in his bedroom, then mixed at studio 203 with Andrew Buckton and mastered at Sterling sound NY.
Currently CMAC is living his passion producing his own material and collaborating / producing with other artists. |
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