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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AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intimate gig in Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
London rapper and respected grime artist AJ Tracey is ‘live and direct’ once again, announcing a whole host of UK dates, one of which is a rather intimate gig right here in Manchester.
It’s official: one of UK rap’s leading gents is getting back on the road and he’s showing a ‘Little More Love’ to lots of cities, including Manchester.
In a post on the UK star’s socials, AJ Tracey trades his music persona for that of a sports pundit as he announces the dates for his upcoming tour while impersonating an F1 commentator.
Anyone looking to attend Tracey’s ‘Not Even A Tour’ can catch the star up and down the country on his over 20-date tour with a stop in Manchester as soon as this month.
The rapper has reached phenomenal heights since dropping the unforgettable ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in 2019 and is heading out across the nation to make sure everyone knows about it.
Get ready to spit bars left and right as this rapper’s discography is stacked with serious tunes like ‘Dinner Guest’, ‘West Ten’, ‘Thiago Silva’ and more.
More recently, he collaborated with Walsall’s finest Jorja Smith for a flirty garage beat also known as ‘Crush’ with the video being the two artists talking it out in a good old fashioned caff.
The latest collaboration with Smith marks the start of a new era for Mr. Live and direct as it fell in line with the announcement of his third studio album.
Titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead, we’re sure he’ll be “building a vibe” wherever he goes and probably previewing a few exclusive tracks from his upcoming project too.
This gig may come as quite a surprise for any hardcore fans of the ‘Ladbroke Grove’ star as the venue in which he’s performing is definitely intimate only, holding just over 250 guests.
This rap giant is bringing his unbelievable beats to none other than the legendary small-cap city centre live music venue, The Deaf Institute, at the end of this month.
It’s safe to say you won’t get many more chances, if any, to see him in such a tight-knit space again.
AJ Tracey is bringing ‘Not Even A Tour’ to Deaf Institute in Manchester on 30 April, with tickets on sale Friday 4 April from 12 noon.
Manchester City’s Nathan Aké donates piano to grassroots music venue
Thomas Melia
Footballer and Manchester City star Nathan Aké has donated a piano to an iconic city centre grassroots venue in Manchester.
To celebrate ‘International Piano Day’, the Dutch defender has teamed up with legendary instrument-makers Casio by donating a state-of-the-art piano in one very lucky music venue.
Aké and Casio are donating pianos across the UK through their joint project titled ‘Playing For Change’.
The iconic grassroots venue that’s receiving this prestigious instrument is none other than Band on the Wall, which has been pumping out live music under this name since 1975.
Processed with VSCO with kp5 presetProcessed with VSCO with kp5 presetCredit: Supplied
This new addition will help the venue as a whole, but more importantly, it will come in very handy for their Saturday Music Club.
Running every weekend, this session helps young people discover music and develop their skills, now via the fantastic PX-S7000 Casio piano.
Band on the Wall is a much-loved and adored Manchester city centremusic institution, and they aren’t the only place benefitting from the Manchester city star and Casio.
So far, 12 disadvantaged schools in the UK have benefitted from this joint effort from Aké and Casio, all of which were surprised with their very own digital piano.
This newest partnership won’t come as a surprise to fans of the Man City centre-back, as he’s been known to play the piano since teaching himself in 2020, and now he’s spreading his love of music to communities nationwide.
Neil Evans, Head of Casio EMI, commented:“It’s exciting for us to support Band on the Wall with a gift of a brand new Privia piano.”
“We’re hoping it’s used often and inspires people into learning the piano and increasing their access to the joys of music, which is at the core of Playing For Change.”
As for Aké, while he might be sidelined for the foreseeable following surgery on a fractured foot, the Netherlands international will hopefully be able to get lots of practice playing those keys.
Hannah Starkie -
28th January 2021 
