Mac DeMarco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mac DeMarco
DeMarco performing in Brooklyn, 2019.
Background information
Birth name	Vernor Winfield McBriare Smith IV
Born	(1990-04-30) April 30, 1990 (age 35) Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
Origin	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Genres	Indie rock indie pop psychedelic pop jangle pop slacker rock
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter producer
Instruments	Guitar vocals bass drums keyboards percussion
Years active	2008–present
Labels	Captured Tracks Royal Mountain Voltage Controlled Recordings Easy Eye Sound Unfamiliar Mac's Record Label
Associated acts	Makeout Videotape Logic The Sound of Love
Signature

McBriare Samuel Lanyon DeMarco (born April 30, 1990) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and music producer. He is known for his unique style of indie rock music. Fans and critics often describe his sound as laid-back and dreamy.

DeMarco became popular in the indie music world around 2012. He has released several successful albums, including 2 (2012), Salad Days (2014), and This Old Dog (2017). He also started his own record label in 2018, called "Mac's Record Label."

Before he was famous, DeMarco made music under the name "Makeout Videotape." He released this music online. In 2011, he moved to Montreal and began his solo career. He signed with the record label Captured Tracks in 2012. This led to his first official release, the mini-album Rock and Roll Night Club.

Life and Career

Growing Up and Early Music

DeMarco was born in Duncan, British Columbia, and grew up in Edmonton, Alberta. His great-grandfather, Vernor Smith, was a government minister in Alberta. DeMarco's mother, Agnes DeMarco, changed his name when he was four years old.

He went to McKernan School for junior high. This is when he started learning to play the guitar from his grandmother. In high school, he joined several bands. These included an indie rock band and an alternative R&B group.

After graduating from Strathcona High School in 2008, he moved to Vancouver to pursue music.

Starting His Career

DeMarco performing at NXNE in June 2012.

In Vancouver, DeMarco started a project called Makeout Videotape. In 2009, he released a self-produced album called Heat Wave. He made 500 copies, and they all sold out. He also toured with the Vancouver band Japandroids.

In 2011, DeMarco moved to Montreal to work as a solo artist. At first, it was hard to find work as a musician. He took on odd jobs, like working for a road paving crew, to make money.

His hard work paid off. In 2012, the record label Captured Tracks signed him. Soon after, he released Rock and Roll Night Club. This album featured unique sounds and slowed-down vocals.

Rise to Fame: 2 and Salad Days

DeMarco performing in 2014

The label was so impressed with Rock and Roll Night Club that they asked for a full-length album. This album, called 2, came out in 2012. It was a big hit with critics. The popular music website Pitchfork gave it a "Best New Music" award, which is a major honor for new artists.

In 2014, DeMarco released his second album, Salad Days. It also received great reviews and the "Best New Music" award from Pitchfork. The album was nominated for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize, a prestigious Canadian music award.

In 2015, DeMarco appeared on the TV talk show Conan, where he performed his song "Let Her Go."

More Music: Another One and This Old Dog

DeMarco performing in 2017

On August 7, 2015, DeMarco released a mini-album called Another One. He described it as a collection of love songs that explore different feelings. The album was well-liked by critics.

A month before its release, he put out a surprise instrumental album called Some Other Ones, calling it a "BBQ soundtrack."

His third full-length album, This Old Dog, was released on May 5, 2017. It showed a more mature sound and featured acoustic songs. During his tours for this album, he partnered with the non-profit organization Plus1. One dollar from every ticket sold went to the Girls Rock Camp Alliance, which helps young people learn about music.

Recent Work and Viral Success

DeMarco performing at Shaky Knees, 2021

DeMarco's fourth album, Here Comes the Cowboy, was released in 2019 on his own record label. It became his first album to reach the top 10 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

In 2021, after a break, DeMarco returned to performing live with some new band members. Longtime members Joe McMurray and Andy White left the band on good terms.

In January 2023, he released an instrumental album called Five Easy Hot Dogs. He recorded the album during a road trip across North America. Around the same time, his 2019 song "Heart to Heart" became very popular on the social media app TikTok. This helped the song become his first to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Just a few months later, in April 2023, he released a huge collection of songs called One Wayne G. The album has 199 tracks and is over eight hours long. It is mostly made up of demos and instrumental pieces recorded between 2018 and 2023.

On August 22, 2025, DeMarco released his album Guitar. He recorded, mixed, and produced the album himself in his home studio.

Musical Style and Equipment

DeMarco's music is often called indie rock, psychedelic rock, and jangle pop. He has a unique, relaxed sound. He has named artists like Shuggie Otis, Jonathan Richman, and Japanese musician Haruomi Hosono as some of his favorites.

He has called his own style "jizz jazz." He even named his home studio "Jizz Jazz Studios."

Guitars and Gear

DeMarco performing with his Teisco electric guitar in 2013.

DeMarco is known for using vintage instruments. For a long time, he played a $30 Teisco electric guitar. He also uses Fender guitars, like the Stratocaster and Mustang models.

He uses old Japanese synthesizers, like the Yamaha DX7, to create his signature sound. He records much of his music on reel-to-reel tape recorders instead of computers. This gives his music a warm, old-school feel. However, for his album This Old Dog, he used a MacBook and modern recording equipment.

Personal Life

DeMarco used to live in Queens, New York. He now lives in Los Angeles. He is a fan of the Edmonton Oilers hockey team. His 2023 album One Wayne G is a nod to the famous Oilers player Wayne Gretzky. The album has 199 tracks, which combines the number 1 with Gretzky's jersey number, 99.

Discography

Studio albums

• 2 (2012)
• Salad Days (2014)
• This Old Dog (2017)
• Here Comes the Cowboy (2019)
• Five Easy Hot Dogs (2023)
• Guitar (2025)

Mini-LPs

• Rock and Roll Night Club (2012)
• Another One (2015)

Compilations

• One Wayne G (2023)

See also

In Spanish: Mac DeMarco para niños