Why Mac DeMarco Has Conceded To A New (Relatively) Professional Approach

These days Canadian-bred, New York-based garage rocker Mac DeMarco seems to personify perpetual motion more than the 'slacker' tag he's been burdened with by some, what with his seemingly endless touring regimen and propensity to release new music at a frightening clip. In his mind, however, he's just following his dreams (and his love of warm weather and beaches).

"It's going to be so much fun," he gushes of his impending Australian visit. "Your summer is the perfect time to tour, because I get to skip my winter - I haven't had a real winter in three years, it's amazing!"

Since his last summer sojourn the notoriously laidback DeMarco dropped mini-LP Another One, the touring cycle for which seems to have ushered in a new era of professionalism.

"It's not an art gallery, it's a rock'n'roll show and it's supposed to be fun."

"We spent a lot of time this summer rehearsing, because we have a new member - my old friend Jon [Lent] from my hometown is playing keyboard now," he explains. "It was nice actually because usually we just practice once and then go, 'Okay, let's go learn these songs onstage at a show!', so there's a grace period of the first couple of weeks where we just have no idea how to play the songs. But this time we went out knowing exactly what we were doing which was nice - we can't really do the whole 'practice onstage' thing much anymore, it wouldn't go over well at the big shows we play.

"[The stuff from Another One] meshes well for the most part. There's a couple of down-tempo songs which I think is nice because choosing songs from Rock And Roll Night Club (2012), 2 (2012) and Salad Days (2014) the live set was pretty much all the fast songs from those three records, plus maybe a couple like Chamber Of Reflection that people want to hear. But it's nice to do these slow songs and kind of cut them in the middle - it makes for more of a movement throughout the setlist. It's not just one vibe the entire time."

DeMarco has become renowned for the festive party atmosphere he fosters onstage, something he considers part of his job description.

"When I'm doing records I'm at home and I'm usually alone for days and days and days, and it's kind of like a reflective, meditation vibe for me - I'm just focussed on one thing, I'm not picking up my phone or looking at the internet, I'm playing my instruments," he offers. "I'll see my girlfriend and that's about it. Then with the live thing we bring those songs to the stage, but we've never been the kind of band to do the robotic perfect rendition - we're super-sloppy, none of us really know how to play our instruments that well. But that's the thing, for me it's about representing the songs but also about us enjoying ourselves and the audience enjoying themselves and making a connection. The stuff in between the songs matters a lot too - it's not an art gallery, it's a rock'n'roll show and it's supposed to be fun."