Marc Mac

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Marc Mac
Mac in 2016
Mac in 2016
Background information
BornLondon, England
Genres
Occupations
Years active1989–present
Labels
Member of
Websitehttps://marc4hero.bandcamp.com/

Marc Mac, also known as Mark Anthony Clair, is a British DJ, broadcaster, producer, promoter, label owner in the UK electronic dance music scene who was influential in shaping dance music of the 1990s.[1][2] Mac was instrumental in creating several new genres of music including Hardcore Breakbeat,[3] UK Hardcore, Darkcore, Jungle, Drum and bass, Downtempo, Broken Beat and Nu Jazz.[4][5][6][7] He is one half of the group 4hero, founded in partnership with collaborator Dego (also known as Dennis McFarlane), and a co-founder of Reinforced Records.[8][9][2] Mac's other solo projects include The Visioneers (jazz/hip-hop), Nu Era (techno), and Nature's Plan (afro-latin).[10]

Early life and family

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Marc Mac was born and raised in London, England. He attended school in Harlesden, a neighbourhood in North West London known for its Caribbean culture, often dubbed as London's reggae capital,[11][12] with many records shops and music record companies including Starlight Records, Trojan Records, Champion Records and Jet Star.[13][14][15]

Mac's family emigrated to England from Jamaica and are part of the Windrush generation Caribbean-British legacy.[16] His parents were active in the community creating programming to support and advocate for local youth and their families. His family was instrumental in founding the Black Parents Movement and Black Cultural Archives in collaboration with other community members.[17]

Mac and his siblings grew up listening to Bob Marley, Johnny Clarke,Two Sevens Clash, Elvis Presley, Elton John, Jim Reeves gospel records and more.[12] Mac has family in the U.S.A. and as such, had access to the early Hip Hop of New York City and listened to Roxanne Shanté, early Big Daddy Kane, a label called Cold Chillin, Public Enemy, Zulu Nation as well as the underground musical sounds coming from Detroit and Chicago.[18][12]

Sound engineering and music production

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Sound systems

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Mac started his career in music in sound system culture. Around 1985 or 1986 Marc Mac and his friends created several sound systems, one called Solar Zone, and the other, Midnight Lovers. The local community organising Mac's family was involved with afforded him the opportunity to practice and play in the professional context of a large concert hall in Alperton near Wembley.[12][19] Solar Zone eventually gathered enough of a fan base to sell tickets and perform in blues clubs (then-illegal clubs, often found in suburban neighbourhoods). Like the Jamaican sound engineer/producer King Tubby, Mac experiments with aspects of diy sound production.[20][21][22] Experiments with building speakers led to Mac creating fully fledged mobile sound system rigs for radio and carnivals.[12]

Pirate Radio

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In 1989, Mac and collaborator Dego founded the pirate radio station Strong Island Radio.[23] Strong Island Radio was based in Dollis Hill where Mac and Dego attended college.[24] Strong Island Radio pre-dates the founding of both 4hero and Reinforced Records. The name, Strong Island, was inspired by the station with the same name broadcast from Long Island, New York. Mac and Iain Bardouille also played on the station Girls FM in the midnight slot.[25]

Reinforced Records

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In 1989, Mac and Gus Lawrence founded the record label Reinforced Records.[25][26] The label featured a diverse selection of sounds including breakbeat hardcore, jungle, drum & bass and featured a roster of superstars including Goldie, Doc Scott, DJ Randall, Nookie, Tek9, Grooverider, Kemistry & Storm, Wings (aka Roni Size, Krust and Die), A Guy Called Gerald, Peshay, J Majik, Photek, 4hero, Manix and Tom & Jerry.[27][28] Reinforced Records has supported new musical genres and emerging artists, pioneering the sounds of 90's British dance music scene through mentorship, networking opportunities, collaboration and music production.[29]

4hero

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Main article: 4hero

In 1989, Mac, Dego, Iain Bardouille, and Reinforced co-founder Gus Lawrence founded rotating musical collective, 4hero. Today 4hero consists of Mac and Dego.[24] 4hero's sound experimentations resulted in pioneering new music genres in the UK rave scene including jungle, drum 'n' bass, breakbeat hardcore, broken beat and nu jazz.[24][30]

The earliest 4hero releases were produced with Mac and Gus Lawrence. As 4hero developed, Mac invited Dego and Ian to join the production collective for the album release "In Rough Territory". The earliest 4hero productions were influenced by heavy sub bass, bleeps, Detroit sounds and UK hip hop. The first 4hero album included rap.[31]

Mac recalled that "At the time we didn't rave much, as we generally were playing out with the soundsystem from 1986 through 1990. [They were at] house parties around North West London, Notting Hill carnival, youth local centres etc. Music wise, we were mainly playing soul, boogie, electro, house, 2-step soul".[32]

Mac and Dego met the Phildelphia-based American producer and DJ, King Britt, who was visiting London in 1989. At this time, King Britt was working as a buyer for Tower Records. After arranging the meeting with 4hero’s manager, Britt met the group in 4hero's Dollis Hill studio, King Britt was consequently introduced to Goldie, who happened to visit the studio at the same time.[29] Britt and Mac would later collaborate on several musical productions. Britt would also separately interview Mac and Goldie for his project, Blacktronika: Afrofuturism in Electronic Music, a University of California San Diego course. The Blacktronika archive is freely available and is an audio-visual resource honouring and preserving the legacies of electronic music creators of colour.[33]

In 2010, Irish presenter and DJ Annie Mac named 4hero as "iconic producers of UK dance and electronic soul", with 4hero's remix of Nuyorican Soul: I Am the Black Gold of the Sun listed in her top ten electronic music tracks of all time.[34] In 2011, music journalist Richard Vine listed the same single as one of the top "50 key events in the history of dance music".[35] In 2023 award-winning German composer Ada Morghe's single "Lost" was remixed by 4hero (Mac and Dego). Morghe referred to 4hero as the "pioneers of drum 'n Bass".[36]

Collaborations

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In 1989, through their work as Reinforced Records, Mac and Dego were introduced to Goldie by his partner DJ Kemistry at the dance music club, Astoria.[37] Goldie was first involved at Reinforced Records as A&R staff, then later started collaborating with the duo in their studio.[38][39]

In 2002, Mac, in partnership with Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick of the acid jazz band, Incognito, produced and arranged Speak Your Peace by Terry Callier.[40]

Mac has multiple independent projects and collaborations exploring a variety of musical genres outside of the group 4hero including Brazilika, Visioneers, and All Power to the People.[41][10]

Aliases

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Alternate Mac aliases and name variations include Manix, M. 'Tomcat', M. Mac, M. Mack, Marc, Marc 'Manix' Mac, Marc4hero, Marc Mac (4 Hero), Marc Mac (Nu Era), Marc Mac 4Hero, Marc Marc, Marcmac, Mark Mac, Mark Mak, Markmac, Markman, Marky Mak and Mary Mac.[10][42]

Discography

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Albums (listed most recent to older):

  • Marc Mac presents Visioneers – Def Radio - Omniverse - 2024 (6 versions)
  • The Invisible Soldiers - Omniverse Recordings - 2020 (2 versions)
  • Blue Tape Instrumentals - Omniverse - 2019 - (LP, Album, Ltd, Mixed)
  • Red Tape Instrumentals - Omniverse - 2019 (LP, Album, Limited Edition, Mixed)
  • All Power To The People - Omnniverse - 2019 (LP, Ltd)
  • Generation-X - Omniverse - 2016 (LP, Album, Ltd)
  • Extend The Knowledge - Omniverse - 2016 (LP, Album, Ltd, Marble Black/Grey)
  • Message From Soulville - Omniverse - 2013 (2 versions)
  • T.R.A.C. Prodcued by Marc Mac - The Network - BBE - 2011 (15×File, MP3, 320 kbps)
  • Beats From The Network (BFTN) - Omniverse - 2009 - (15×File, MP3, 320 kbps)
  • It`s Right To Be Civil - Omniverse - 2006 (3 versions)
  • Marc Mac Presents Visioneers - Dirty Old Hip Hop - BBE - 2006 (5 versions)
  • How About A Game of Chess? - ABB Soul - 2005 (3 versions)

Singles and EPs

  • Ike's Mood I - Omniverse Recordings - (7", Single, Ltd)
  • Ja-Pan-Ah - Omniverse Recordings - 2023 (12", EP)
  • Br-Azil-Ah EP - Omniverse - 2022 (12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP)
  • Ja-Maye-Ka EP - Omniverse - 2021 (12", EP)
  • Ah-Free-Ka EP - Co-operation Recordings - 2019 (2 versions)
  • Marc Mac Presents Visioneers - Apache / Shaft in Africa (Addis) - BBe - 2011 (7", Ltd)
  • Marc Mac presents Visioneers - Dirty Old Remix EP - BBE - 2007 (12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP)
  • Headspin - Twisted Funk - 2007 (12")
  • Dilinja / Marc Mac Dominator (remix) Untitled - Not On Label - 2003 (Acetate, 10")
  • Mark Mac* + Swift* – Shadow Boxin / Feels Good - Integral Recordings - 1997 ( 2 versions)

Compilations

  • The Power Tapes (Expanded) - Omniverse - 2020 - (3 versions)
  • Vintage Bruk - Omniverse - 2019 (9×File, FLAC, Album, Comp, Stereo)
  • Extend The Knowledge / It`s Right To Be Civil - Omniverse - 2011 (2×CD, Comp, Ltd)

DJ Mixes

  • Forgotten Treasures Mix #13 - MusicIsMySanctuary.com - 2013 (File, MP3, Mixed, 320)
  • Hipology - 101 Apparel - 2012 (2 versions)
  • 4hero / Marc Mac – Brazilika (An Eclectic Brazilian DJ-Mix From Marc Mac) - Far Out Recordings - 2006 (CD, Mixed)

References

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  1. ^ "The gentrification of jungle". Mixmag. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  2. ^ a b Burgess, John (2007-01-19). "4hero, Play With the Changes". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  3. ^ "The Samplers and Breakbeats Behind '90s Jungle/Drum & Bass". reverb.com. 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  4. ^ Chapman, Dale (April 29, 2025). "Hermeneutics of Suspicion: Paranoia and the Technological Sublime in Drum and Bass Music". Echo. 5 (2) (published 2003).
  5. ^ Kalia, Ammar (2019-08-19). "We Out Here festival review – a new jazz generation is born". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  6. ^ "Solid Gold: How 4Hero's 'Two Pages' predicted the future of d&b". DJ Mag. 2020-01-23. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  7. ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Residency, Sherelle". BBC. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  8. ^ Muggs, Joe; Stevens, Brian David (2020). Bass, Mids, Tops: An Oral History of Sound System Culture. Strange Attractor Press. ISBN 978-1907222771.
  9. ^ Hermes, Will (1998-11-22). "Dance Music Enlists A New Sound: Voices". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  10. ^ a b c "Marc Mac". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  11. ^ "History of Harlesden". Brent Council. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Marc Mac (4Hero) – Windrush Stories". UK Podcasts. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  13. ^ "Brent Black Music History: A Photo Gallery Report". Black History Month 2025. 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  14. ^ Sigaud, J. (2020-10-13). "Black London, Harlesden Through The Lens". EDITIONS Black History Month, Magazines, Windrush 75, Newsletters & Publications©. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  15. ^ "Starlight Records formed (late 1970s)". www.layersoflondon.org. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  16. ^ "DJ Flight wins Outstanding Contribution at DJ Mag's Best of British awards 2022". DJ Mag. 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  17. ^ "Black Cultural Archives". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  18. ^ "AN INTERVIEW WITH MARK 'MARC MAC'". Jungle Drum and Bass. 2017-01-20. Retrieved 2025-06-01.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ Krohn, Philipp (2015). Sound of the cities eine popmusikalische Entdeckungsreise (in German). Internet Archive. Berlin Rogner & Bernhard. pp. 363–365. ISBN 978395403-0910.
  20. ^ "Encyclopedia of Invisibility — King Tubby". www.encyclopediaofinvisibility.com. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  21. ^ Records, Enki's (2021-01-27). "King Tubby: Biography of the Legendary Sound Engineer & Producer". Enki's Music Records. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  22. ^ Stars don't stand still in the sky : music and myth. Internet Archive. New York : New York University Press. 1999. ISBN 978-0-8147-4726-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  23. ^ "4 Hero - The Evolution of Music | The Skinny". www.theskinny.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  24. ^ a b c Shapiro, Peter (1999). The Rough Guide to Drum 'n' bass. Rough Guides. pp. 71–75. ISBN 9781858284330.
  25. ^ a b "Reinforced Records". daily.redbullmusicacademy.com. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  26. ^ updated, Jim McCauley Contributions from Joe Foley last (2017-03-23). "14 of the best record label logos". Creative Bloq. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  27. ^ UK, Drum and Bass. "Reinforced Records Drum and Bass Label Profile | Drum & Bass UK". Drum and Bass UK. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  28. ^ "The History of Rock Music. 4 Hero: biography, discography, reviews, best albums, ratings". www.scaruffi.com. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  29. ^ a b "In Conversation with King Britt — Coloring Lessons". coloringlessons.com. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  30. ^ Britt, King; Rodgers, Tara (April 2022). "'We Cross Examine with Old Sonic DNA': King Britt and Tara Rodgers in conversation on Blacktronika, music technology and pedagogy". Organised Sound. 27 (1): 55–58. doi:10.1017/S1355771822000231. ISSN 1355-7718.
  31. ^ Steven, Colin, ed. (2020). Knowledge Magazine 25 Year Anniversary. Velocity Press. ISBN 9781913231019.
  32. ^ "Rewind: 4hero - Mr. Kirk's Nightmare · Single Review ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  33. ^ "In Conversation with King Britt — Coloring Lessons". coloringlessons.com. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  34. ^ Stevens, Jenny; Stevens, Interview by Jenny (2014-10-22). "Annie Mac's top 10 electronic tracks". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  35. ^ Vine, Richard (2011-06-14). "4hero remix Nuyorican Soul's I Am the Black Gold of the Sun". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  36. ^ Braithwaite, Andrew (2023-06-20). "Q&A: Ada Morghe talks new 4hero remix, love for jazz & more". Music Talkers - Latest Music News & Artist Exposure. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  37. ^ "Goldie The Alchemist - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  38. ^ "Mentors: How 4Hero Programmed Goldie's Software". Telekom Electronic Beats. 2016-02-26. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  39. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (Virgin Encyclopedias of Popular Music). Virgin Publishing. p. 283. ISBN 978-0-7535-0252-5.
  40. ^ All music guide to soul : the definitive guide to R&B and soul. Internet Archive. San Francisco, CA : Backbeat Books ; Berkeley, CA : Distributed to the book trade in the U.S. and Canada by Publishers Group West ; Milwaukee, WI : Distributed to the music trade in the U.S. and Canada by Hal Leonard Pub. 2003. ISBN 978-0-87930-744-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  41. ^ Bellini, Lara. "BBC - Music - Review of Various Artists - Brazilika". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  42. ^ Tim Cant (2013-11-05). "Marc Mac on getting back to his hardcore and DnB roots". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
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