Manchester-based, Berlin-born producer Mark Crawford – a.k.a. Macious – drops his brand-new single today. ‘Take My Light’ ft. F.A.R is an emotional reflection on the anxieties that the pandemic has caused. Sadly, that’s something we’re all too familiar with.
Like many DJs and producers, Macious spent the majority of 2020 writing and making new music. But being a visual artist too he even managed to squeeze in some projects with Camel Phat, Hot Since 82, Solomun and Solardo along the way.
But since moving to Manchester and working on his music productions, this release will be Macious’s first since 2019.
Inspiration for the new song came to him on a rainy train journey to Amsterdam from Berlin in the summer. It was a time when his head was full of COVID-19 stress and he was finding it hard to process the uncertain state the world was in. And so, the track is a defiant rejection of those negative emotions.
With an education in electronic music, Macious is a producer first and foremost. He prefers his music stripped back, falling neatly into melodic house and techno genres. With roots in Berlin – the techno Mecca of the world – he’s played some of Berlin’s most famed clubs before moving to the UK.
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Now residing in Manchester, he’s taken the opportunity to develop the Macious brand. He’s performed some outstanding sets and mixes recently. But his tracks such as ‘Simmer Down’ and ‘Islands’ in particular have received loads of support from BBC Introducing and Radio 1.
Speaking about the song, Macious said:“I wanted to release some thoughts and tension and turn them into a sound which really replicated the energy that was building up in me.
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“The song was already produced a few months before, but the lyrics came within seconds at this moment in thought. I intended to write the song to give the listener some energy to punch through their emotions and find a little clarity, or even just to groove out to the track.
“This has also shaped a new sound, which I have grown a big connection to over the last year and I hope this will with the audience too.”
So, we thought we’d mark the release with episode five of our Manc Mixtapes mix series – brought to you by Macious himself. It’s 30-minutes of vibey mellow beats to provide the ideal tonic to this crazy world we’re living in right now.
The mix series is designed to shine a light on Manchester’s up and coming DJs, producers and record labels. Previous episodes have featured the lads from Orange Records, drum and bass heavyhitter Boa and house DJ Liam Hyphen. Head over to our Mixcloud to catch up. Oh, and don’t forget to like, share and follow, whilst you’re at it!
‘Take My Light’ is out on 28 January and you can listen to episode five of Manc Mixtapes right here.
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Manchester’s AO Arena scoop up Take That as Keane’s Co-op Live gig is cancelled in ongoing venue saga
Daisy Jackson
Manchester’s existing arena, the AO Arena, has stepped in to host more concerts that have been postponed by Co-op Live, with yet another act being cancelled too.
First it was A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, announced earlier today and now, in perhaps the most damning twist of fate for the brand-new venue, Take That’s five-night run that was set for the Co-op Live this May has now been moved to the AO Arena.
Their two June dates at the new arena are said to be unaffected.
The Co-op Live‘s official opening has been hit with several delays, with events like Peter Kay’s double bill, Olivia Rodrigo and The Black Keys all already postponed over the last week or so.
Issuing a statement after rescuing multiple Take That shows, AO Arena general manager Jen Mitchell, said: “It wouldn’t be a Take That tour without a stop-off in Manchester, so it’s great to welcome the band and their fans back to AO Arena for five nights, in the heart of this wonderful city.”
The venue has naturally welcomed the sudden flood of extra names being added to its already strong lineup for 2024, doing its best to minimise inconvenience for gig-goers who have made travel arrangements, booked hotels etc.
As for the group themselves, they also responded to their tens of thousands of fans expecting to see them from this weekend onwards.
Confessing that they’ve had to make “the difficult decision” to switch venues and although “it’s not one [they’ve taken lightly], they wanted to give fans as much notice as possible”, adding: “We thank you for your understanding and we’ll see you all soon”.
Meanwhile, Noughties favourites Keane have sadly had to shelve their Manchester show for the foreseeable following the venue’s continuing “technical issues”.
Announcing the news on their social pages on Thursday evening, they admitted that they were “absolutely gutted” but that the decision was “entirely out of the control”.
Notably, the huge new venue by the Etihad Stadium had to turn away fans who were already queueing for A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie on Monday 1 May, after part of an air conditioning unit fell from the ceiling onto a (thankfully) empty arena floor.
Question marks had already been hanging over whether some upcoming gigs would be able to go ahead and now it seems that they will be taking place – just not at the Co-op Live…
Manchester’s decades-old AO Arena, the largest indoor venue in the UK (until the Co-op Live opens), will be welcoming Keane to its stage instead.
With so many people having been pitting the two venues against one another over the last weeks and months, let’s just say it’s quite clear who’s come out looking better at the minute…
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie moves Manchester gig to AO Arena following Co-op Live cancellation
Danny Jones
Rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has confirmed that his cancelled Co-op Live gig has now been moved to Manchester’s AO Arena this weekend.
After suddenly being lined up as the venue’s first official gig after the postponement of both Peter Kay and The Black Keys, the American hip-hop artists’ show ended up going the same as the others previously scheduled for the new arena and being pulled at the last minute.
With guests being turned away from the still-yet-to-open Co-op Live Arena just hours before the show was set to start, and Olivia Rodrigo fans being given the same unfortunate news ahead of her gig this Saturday, ABWDH has taken matters into his own hands.
Announcing the rescheduling of his concert on X, the 28-year-old artist confirmed that Wednesday night’s gig has now been relocated to Co-op’s main rival, the AO Arena.
Set to take place on Saturday, the artist – which just so happens to be his first name (yes, seriously) – had a simple message for his fans: “We won’t give up that easy, let’s go!”.
Nevertheless, it hasn’t stopped the venue – which is set to become the UK’s biggest indoor entertainment venue and one of the largest in Europe when it finally does open – from announcing more events over the coming months and well into 2025.
Confirming the show on their social pages, the AO simply promised, “It’s going to be a brilliant night and we can’t wait to see you all here.”
The AO Arena has hosted some of the biggest names in the entire world in the course of its existence and recently underwent a £50m refurbishment that included the launch of The Mezz.
Safe to say this presents an interesting twist in events when so many people have been pitting the two venues against one another.
Question marks have been hanging over whether more upcoming gigs, like Keane on Sunday 5 May, and then a five-night run of gigs from Take That will still be able to go ahead.
It remains to be seen whether other artists will follow suit in moving their shows should more cancellations/postponements be announced.
You can recap everything that’s happened so far down below: