"RUN THIS RACE"

THE CD ALBUM

BY WILL MAK

Review by Adriana Rubio

Will Mak is a successful solo artist, singer, songwriter and keyboardist from Bedfordshire, England. Articles and reviews on Will Mak usually start like this:

** Mixing up classic (Elton John) with contemporary (Jamie Cullum), Will serves up a heady cocktail of award-winning power pop, delivered with a juicy slice of soul and funk on top. **

Will’s musical talent has been described as a combination of “Sting, Paul Carrack and Seal”. He has also been compared to Gavin DeGraw, John Legend and James Morrison amongst some others. 

Will Mak’s debut album “Run This Race” was released in the autumn of 2012 after several months of hard work with his pal writer and producer James Erskine.

“Run This Race” is a ten tracks album filled with a combination of amazing melodies, sounds and rhythms in the styles of soul, funk, pop and a bit of jazz. Will’s singing voice feels as in a pleasant-sounding dialogue with the musical instruments in all tracks. Will Mak is a soulful-gifted singer who’s been touched by a magic wand to sing. And in some particular singing melodies on his debut album made me think of Murray Hockridge, another gifted one in England. Musically, I find “Run This Race” a bit more into the skin of “Scarlet”; the album by Dave Kilminster (Roger Waters’ The Wall Touring Guitarist) than the other musicians Will’s usually compared to. “Run This Race” is the kind of album to listen with an open mind, and then let the music do the restJ! You won’t be disappointed.

TRACKS LISTING FOR “RUN THIS RACE”:

1. Head Over Heels

2. Run Before I Drown 

3. You Are The Rock 

4. As You Rush In

5. Falling Into You

6. Real Thing (Live) 

7. Whisper My Worries Away

8. Scarecrow

9. Passion And The Power (Live) 

10. Run This Race For You

 

Tracks 1 & 3 recorded at Baby Girl Music HQ/Studios, Farringdon, London. Tracks co-written & produced by Laurence Hobbs at Baby Girl Music/Major Music artist development academy. Mastering by Metropolis Studios, London, UK.

Tracks 2, 4, & 10 recorded between November 2011 & September 2012, partly at Will Mak Music HQ, Potton, UK; partly at Producer Towers, Royston, UK. Produced by James Erskine, with some input from Will Mak. Mixing by James Erskine & Will Mak. Mastering by King Penn at Trackwriterz, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Tracks 5 & 8 recorded at Carrera Records HQ, Wales. 

Produced & mixed by Russ Dawson-Butterworth, with some input from Fritz Vader. Mastering by Jon Blamire at The Digital Audio Company Ltd, UK.

Tracks 6 & 9 recorded at Vertical Room, Arrington, UK. Mixing by Vertical Rooms, Will Mak, & James Erskine. Mastering by King Penn at Trackwriterz, Atlanta, GA, USA.

For further info and/or to purchase “Run This Race”, please feel free to visit Will Mak’s official store at:

http://willmakmusic.bandcamp.com/

WILL MAK

SOLO ARTIST BIO

By Adriana Rubio

Photographs: Courtesy of Will Mak

Will Mak is the kind of artist who plays keyboards and sings like his life depends on it by creating soulful, passion-fuelled grooves, and wraps heartfelt, profound lyrics around them.

Will Mak is a flourishing solo artist, singer, songwriter and keyboardist from Bedfordshire, England. His passion for music started at a young age as a steady member of a church choir for five years, and at the same time piano lessons began for him.    

In the meantime, he started exploring the songwriting field at school during music lessons and lunchtimes with friends and classmates. Around the same time, Will also explored co-writing with his inspirational piano teacher.  Soon after, he jumped into singing and playing keys in church worship teams for several years, as well as leading worship from 1998 onwards.  

Will’s musical talent has been described as a combination of “Sting, Paul Carrack and Seal”. He has also been likened to Gavin DeGraw and Maroon 5 along the way.  

Will has been writing songs since 1989, signed to indie label Carrera in the past, had his own band Makower for 3 years, won the Tomorrow's People Award for excellence in his field, and had his music described by The Boat Race as “soul/funk with a unique flavor...exceptionally polished...musically tight, accessible and soul-stirring”.

Prior to this, Will Mak won the CCM/Gospel Category of international song contest UNISONG with the prodigal son-inspired anthem “As You Rush In”. And had it said of him by well known music promoter and critic Adrian Phelan “it's difficult to imagine you've ever heard better as you relish in Will's talent”

Will has stamped his own distinct signature style across his whole repertoire, kicking loose and singing live over backing track accompaniment on some tracks, whilst reveling in pure live keys and vocals mash up on others.

On the live front, Will's been busy clocking up the solo gigging miles whenever and wherever he can. The year 2009 saw him rattling off a song or two at open mics, doing festival slots, taking part in talent contests, and dipping his toes into full evening gigs in local and regional pubs, clubs and bars. During the year 2010 Will’s been gradually moving more into the latter.

In parallel with his activities and busy schedule in 2009/10, Will Mak  made room to attend London-based artist development academy BGM's program for several months, covering songwriting and production, vocal/performance coaching, career advice, regular industry seminars, image and styling, a photo shoot, and a 2-song live performance at their showcase in the capital. All this together has given him a solid base to build his future on.

The year 2011 involved a re-brand for Will from the artist formerly known as “Will Makower” to the stage name “Will Mak”. This change led Will to the spotlight with loads of live bookings spanning right across the region, crossing Cambs, Beds, Bucks, Herts, Northants and Suffolk borders to date.

The year 2012 was first and foremost a time for securing years of hard work. Will Mak’s debut album “Run This Race”, a true piece of art, was finally released digitally for downloading online, and also in CD format. The two versions are available at:

  http://willmakmusic.bandcamp.com

Will Mak’s debut album “Run This Race” was reviewed by Sam Vernon, a prestigious writer for the “Biggleswade Chronicle”.  

http://www.biggleswadetoday.co.uk/lifestyle/the-mak-is-back-1-4416152

At present time in 2013, Will Mak has seen Rob Saunders at Deuce Management & Promotions climbing on board and becoming a Deuce Act, with an initial promo package on the album “Run This Race”, to help gain some internet and digital radio exposure. 

Infused with classic singer and songwriter instincts, whilst influenced by the contemporary musical landscape, Will is well placed for charging ahead onto the frontline of this ever evolving internet music era.

For further information on Will Mak, tour dates and more, please visit the official website at:

http://willmakmusic.com