I don't need to say what the song sounds like, Johnnie's description above does the job. There is a solid old school punk vibe here with the thumping chords. It sounds like Mr Mac is having a lot of fun with this song which translates into a very enjoyable song that is full of energy and is really catchy! tomatrax, SuperUser 09 Apr, 2009
Song : The Chant of Namatira Rating 5/5
A cross between Midnight Oil and Yothu Yindi is an apt description. This is Australian rock as it should sound, full of energy, passion and interesting atmospheric sounds.Technically flawless. clever and creative. This is one of those moments where everything w... More
After years of remaining defiantly obscure, yet active in underground indie music scenes all over the world, Johnnie Mac was discovered playing behind-the-scenes with some of Australia’s leading musicians after 2 of his songs topped both the ‘Rock’ and ‘All Genres’ independent charts.
Johnnie's first solo album – ‘The World Seems Happy’ recently gained worldwide recognition when it topped the Amazon charts outdoing Michael Jackson's 'Thriller''.
This album flaunts an impressive bunch of musicians who pump out a variety of catchy, spunky, power pop-laden songs. Drummer Malcolm Clark (of Sleepy Jackson fame), Bass player, Bill Jacobi (Goanna, Warumpi Band, Neil Murray, Floyd Vincent) and Vocalist and percussionist, Kyle Slabb (junior Aboriginal elder and collaborator on recordings with members of Yothu Yindi) team with Johnnie Mac to make a raucous, politically charged, at times emotive and above all quintessentially Australian album.
Johnnie’s Aussie spirit and rebellious nature rock out in his distorted songs that offer an unassuming style and originality that audiences are lapping up. Don’t put this album down without listening to the scathing punk rap ‘Insecure’(#1 on the Independent Rock Charts) brilliantly delivered with a blast of fervour, aggravation, shame and angst; and the thumping, venomous ‘Nicotine Dream’ with hard hitting lyrics that will either make you quit or defiantly light up! The hilarious lyrical corker ‘Jesus Drove A Holden’ will keep you amused if you listen to the story carefully; and don’t say we didn’t warn you that the title track ‘The World Seems Happy’ will have you incessantly repeating the catchy riff for days on end!
Johnnie’s strong connections with Aboriginal Australians and his passion to share the stories is palpable when you listen to the ancient message within the haunting anthem, ‘One Farewell’. Similarly ‘The Chant of Namatjira’(#1 on the All Genres Indie Charts) tells the tale of an infamous Aboriginal artist and reveals the plight of Australia - “White mans fear of the Namatjira” with poignant chants entwined with digeridoo and clap sticks. Both songs were created with close friend, Kyle Slabb (youthful Aboriginal elder).
Digitally mastered by award winning audio engineer Don Bartley,‘The World Seems Happy’ is an upbeat, emotionally charged and thought provoking album with an honesty and integrity that leaves listeners feeling energised and invigorated.
Once you tune into the offbeat style, rhythms and vocals and you’ll find yourself captivated by Johnnie’s musical flair, that traverses the lore of Australian land and an insecure, colourful past all at once.
Surprising worldwide audiences since 1990 with his hard edged musical poetry both solo and with various prominent indie Aussie bands, Johnnie Mac currently has a loyal international following who have seen him on a variety of stages during his global walkabouts.
Now gearing up for his album launch and to play live shows again for the first time since a string of supports for popular acts John Butler, Iota, NeilMurray, Deborah Conway, etc, etc, the name Johnnie Mac may soon start sweeping the world - as fast as it’s sweeping the internet!
Ex- Sydney: Suspected Hippies In Transit, Itchy Rat, Happy Hate Me Nots, Toys Went Beserk, The Honeys , The Canteen Ladies, Lixivius, Ian Miller (John Paul Young Band), Hunchbacks, Rebus, Orange, Datura, Bills Brother Frank, Lithium Sun, Doradus, Rah, Zahlu, Deborah Conway, Iota, Austen tayshus. Ex-Melbourne: Doug Anthony Allstars, Glide. Ex-Perth: John Butler, Sleepy Jackson, Thrive, Tracy Redhead, Factor 8, Alan Boyd. Ex-Adelaide: Prick Harness (P Harness), The Bustards, Fruit Bats. Ex-Tasmania: Wild Pumpkins At Midnight. Ex-U.K.: Eric Oakin. Ex-Canada: 3 Canadians. Ex-Holland: Zyklus, 3 Wasps. Ex-Ireland: Punch Bag Theatre Group, Rob Perry (Dead Can Dance). Ex-U.S.A.: Azito
FESTIVALS / BENEFITS:
Siberia: Baikal Cultural Express International Festival Amsterdam: Ruigoort Environment Festival; East Timor Massacre Benefit; Greens Party Benefit Against Facism. Scotland: Edinburgh Festival Australia: World Environment Day Festival (Glenbrook Valley); Adelaide Fringe Festival (5 performances); ‘Can Rock-N-Roll Save The World’ Festival (Adelaide); Wollumbin Festival (Tyalgum, New South Wales)
TOURS & FEATURE GIGS:
Siberian Tour: Ulan Ude Football Stadium (Audience: 5000 people); The Buryat Order of Lenin State Academic Opera & Ballet Theatre, Russia - (Audience: 2000 + TV viewing audience throughout eastern Europe); Ulan Ude Museum (Audience: 1500 people); Siberian Cultural Centre (Audience: 1000 people)
Irish Tour: With the Galway Theatre Company (4 Performances); Sligo University
European Tour: France/Amsterdam/Hungary/Budapest/Transylvania/Prague
Scotland Tour: Edinburgh University
South Australia Tour: Lions Theatre - 4 performances (Adelaide); Outdoor Fringe Festival stage (Adelaide); The Venue (Adelaide); Gawler (4 Performances)
Western Australian Tours:
Teatowel Tour (supported by Tracy Redhead) - Grosvenor Hotel (Perth); University of Western Australia (UWA Perth); Prince of Wales Hotel (Bunbury), Dunsborough Hotel (Dunsborough), Cafe Laguna (Yallingup),
Treaty Tour - Kulcha Arts Centre (Fremantle); Grosvenor Hotel (Perth); University of Western Australia (UWA Perth); Brass Monkey (Northbridge); Mojos (Fremantle); Scallywags (Joondalup), Jurien Bay Hotel (Jurien Bay).
Whistlestop Tour - Newport Hotel (Fremantle); Settlers Tavern (Margaret River); Prince of Wales Hotel (Bunbury); 3 Bears Bar (Dunsborough).
AIRPLAY / T.V.:
Australia: To many to list! Ireland: RTE TV Nighthawkes Program. Irish national TV performance and interview. Holland: Live to air performances and interviews on dutch radio. Russia: Live to air T.V. telecast from the Ulan Ude Football Stadium & Opera House
RECORDINGS:
1996: Radio National recording of acoustic ‘Namatjira’
1997: Played didgeridoo, guitar and blues harmonica for the Sydney Olympics 2000 Mascot Launch (worldwide distribution).
1998: Songs & Stories Demo Tape
1999: 6 Track EP ‘Dance The Dance’ with former band - Lixivius
2010: Debut Album ‘The World Seems Happy’ with drummer Malcolm Clark (Sleepy Jackson), Bassist Bill Jacobi (Goanna, Floyd Vincent & The Childbrides), Indigenous Percussion and Language - Kyle Slabb (Bundjalung) and vocalist Shamiren Carroll.
Johnnie Mac is an acoustic poet and a story teller.
His songs represent the changing face of alternative music in the new millenium.
Johnnie’s music comes alive with a rockin' hard edged guitar, defiant vocals and a flavour that reflects Australia’s people, environment and an active outlook in the face of our challenging social issues.
Johnnie’s songs contain an admiration for the world and laugh in the face of the day to day dramas that most modern singers prefer to remain serious, sombre and moody over.
The lyric content merely points out the way things are, no matter how ugly.
Rather than laying the blame on the usual scapegoats of society for our "shit lot in life", he instead insists that we are all responsible. The messages are strong, but sung humbly, often comically, and from the viewpoint of self experience.
The confusion and insecurities of life in drug abuse and modern love are beautifully espressed through heartfelt lyrics. The humorous and embarrassing side of “tragic” or “failed” relationships are accepted and provide an avenue of hope.
“love is what can be salvaged from the ruins of lust”.
The power of the song, strong vocals and enchanting melodies combine to entertain and offer a unique view of the world and its people from a performer whose life has been as equally unusual.
Johnnie has sung his way around the world, performing to large audiences in places such as Siberia, The Gobi Dessert, Transylvania, Hungary, Prague, Ireland, Spain and at the Adelaide and Edinburgh fringe festivals. Numerous appearances on TV and radio have included interviews about his songs as well as stories of his work in environmental horticulture.
”To share Johnnie’s music is to touch on a rarely experienced side of life“.
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