News
17-Nov-09: Melbourne tour 11.09
GREAT NEWS: Its just been confirmed that Drew and I will be heading to Melbourne for a series of gigs… a tour some might even say! This is exciting as it’s the first time Drew and I have played as MA in Victoria.
26th of November – Gertrude’s Brown Couch
Playing with the lovely gentlemen from Pryor Theory
27th of November – Bar Nancy
28th of November – Horse Bazaar
29th of November – Pure Pop Records
So all you Melbournians I hope we get to see you all there, you know you can show us some of that good ole Melbourne hospitality!!!
More details check out http://themusicofma.wordpress.com/ and to listen to or download our album or remixes at mamusic@bandcamp.com
25-Sep-09: The first remix is IN! Download it NOW! And Beyon
Well, in the growing music industry trend of drip-feeding the salivating music consumer public new content, we’ve decided to add the MA remixes that come in one by one for you to download – none of this waiting for a complete “work”, an “album” of remixes carefully curated by the band. No sir! Though eventually we’re thinking about putting them all together with some of the live material we recorded earlier this year and sending them out to radio and giving them away to special people that we love (like people in radio). I like the title Across the city and into your Remix. Look out for it.
Anyway, luckily for us the first remix in is terrific, one I really like and would curate onto an album of remixes no matter what. It’s the Light Summer Dress (ISAAX remix) by Isaac Campbell and it’s arrived just in time for you to enjoy with the (rather startlingly early) summer weather here in Sydney. Download it now from mamusic.bandcamp.com! So many people wanted to remix Japanese Bones it wasn’t funny, so I’m really glad that Isaac took the former iTunes Single of the Week for a spin. Launching with JB in weather like this would have been such a downer…
Speaking of which, and without wanting to mix messages too much with this post, I saw Beyonce on Saturday night at Sydney’s Acer Arena, and she is amazing. She didn’t sing Halo for a little girl with cancer the night I was there, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she can actually perform miracles – what else can you call singing with that kind of control and power whilst dancing as well as she does? And sexy! She was also able to perform a ballad to a video backdrop of crashing waves – it sounds hopelessly corny but was absolutely stunning. As I said, a miracle.
Drew (MA)
22-Jun-09: KINO KABARET PART 2 - LYNCH! feat. MA
Once a year, Kino Sydney runs a special edition event called Kino Kabaret. Taking place over 6 days, the Kabaret is a creative filmmaking marathon: amateurs mix with award-winners, artists mix with technicians, and locals mix with international participants. Local filmmakers, actors and crew members will make films during 48 hour sessions, each culminating in a screening and party.
MA is performing two live duo sets at KINO 27, the first screening and party at the fabulous Red Rattler! (Only a short walk from Sydenham station) but be warned: there is a dress code (Lynch: think Eraserheads, Amnesiacs and Elephant Men - prizes for best dressed!).
$15 at the door includes films, food, Jamesons Irish Whiskey, Coopers Pale Ale, and Lynchian installations courtesy of Punk Monk Propaganda!
When: 2 July 2009 6:30pm
Where: The Red Rattler
6 Faversham St, Marrickville
4-May-09: Bringing the MA love to Darlinghurst
DJ Nick La Rosa has asked us to come and play at his gorgeous, low key, lo-fi night Sin-E at Cafe Lounge next Tuesday, so we're going to use the opportunity to experiment as a duo with some new MA sounds. Come on down! It should be very special.
May 12, 2009 6-10pm
MA live at Sin-E
with Maxine Kauter and Lili
Cafe Lounge
277 Goulbourn St
Darlinghurst
26-Oct-08: Back In the Swing/Newtown Festival 2008
Thanks to all those who sent emails of support as both Victoria and Drew launched themselves on the world over September-October. But now they're back, and looking to end the year with a bang!
MA are very excited to announce that they have been selected to play for your pleasure at the Newtown Festival 2009. Main stage no less! Details below.
We'll also be spamming you in the near future about our huge end of year gig at Melt in November - a gig where we'll be reminding you of just how amazing the MA live experience has become over the course of 2008 and, not to rest on our laurels, we plan to test out a brand new song on you all... Stay tuned!
MA play the 30th Anniversary Newtown Festival
Sunday 9 November 2008 11.10am
Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, Newtown (one block behind King Street)
FREE!!
MA see out the year in style (and we do mean style) at Melt
12 Kellet St Kings Cross
Friday 28 November 2009 9pm
$15
24-Jul-08: MA plays Newtown... finally!
MA has bizarrely never played a gig in the inner west... but now that's all about to change...
Come and see MA supporting Move Trees (and Lost in the Woods and Ophelia of the Spirits) at the legendary Sandringham Hotel...
Friday August 1
$10 Door 8:30pm sharp
387 King St
Newtown
29-Jun-08: MA at The Wharf Sessions 11pm Friday 4.7.8
We're very excited to have been invited to play at the brand new Wharf Sessions hosted by the Sydney Theatre Company at the Wharf Restaurant and Bar this Friday, 4th of July. Details below. Everyone is welcome so we hope you can come and join us for some MA tunes at this incredible harbourside venue! Come a little earlier to grab a drink and a good viewing spot...
Sydney Theatre Company presents
The Wharf Sessions
Free post-show live music at The Wharf
MA
Friday 4 July 2008
(approximately) 11pm - 12am
The Wharf
Free Entry
The Wharf Sessions is the new free regular series of post-show gigs at The Wharf, Sydney Theatre Company's harbourside home. These monthly gigs commence in the bar immediately after the performance of The Great by Tony McNamara. Entry is free and available to all. Bar food and discounted drinks will be available from the Bar.
16-Jun-08: MA @ Melt // 26.06.08 // 9pm
For everyone who's ever wanted to see Drew and Victoria stripped back and intimate, your prayers have been answered...
Fresh on the heels of our iTunes triumph, Thursday 26th June sees MA back at Melt in Kings Cross. Sydney's unique duo will be kicking off the night doing some lo-fi versions of MA 'classics', with a sprinkling of a few surprise covers thrown in for good measure.
Next we do the full the band thing, then more surprises for the adventurous after midnight with a moody late set featuring random musicians off the street... sounds exciting, huh?
$10 entry. Doors open at 9 and our first set is at 9.30, all in the velvety surrounds of Kings Cross's warmingest club - see you there.
21-Apr-08: Clips from MA at the Beach Rd
Last week the wonderful Brendan Young filmed our amazing band playing live at the Beach Rd Hotel - and what a gig it was! So for those of you who can't make it down to the LAST 2 SHOWS this month (22nd and 29th) - or if you ARE coming down and you just want to whet your appetite! - you can check out a few clips from the show on YouTube. Just go to www.youtube.com/themusicofma or follow the link from our Links page. The videos should be up here on our site as well in the next few days.
6-Apr-08: Review in Time Out Sydney, Apr 2-8 2008, Issue 21,
MA
Across The City And Into Your Room
Vitamin
***** (5 out of 6 stars)
MA (pronounced mah) is Sydney-based duo Drew Crawford and Victoria White, who have crafted a highly textured, lush album drawing on Crawford's work on scores for major Australian theatre companies. His classical training shines through to create a subtle, delicate and original listen, complemented by sublime vocals from White, both heartfelt and raucous. A perfect CD to play on a lazy Sunday morning. Nicely assisted by the Australia Council for the Arts.
6-Apr-08: MA at Surry HIlls Festival, April 12
Finally, it's official! MA will be playing a half-hour set at inner Sydney's favourite community Festival - Surry Hills Festival at Price Alfred Park.
We'll be playing on the new 'Fashion Catwalk' Stage, near the pool entrance, at 2.10 pm on April 12th - festival prime time!
Hope to see you there.
23-Mar-08: April is MA month at the Beach Rd Hotel!
Forget the autumn chill with an evening of warm melodies, lush art pop and cocktails, as Tunes Sound Sumptuous comes to Bondi.
Showcasing some of Sydney’s freshest original music, MA with full band will perform their acclaimed debut album “Across the City and into your Room” at Bondi’s Beach Rd Hotel over five Tuesdays this April with a new special guest each week:
1st Yen
8th Tether
15th Starcasm
22nd Benny Thatcher
29th Yen
We hope to see you there - we would love to see you on April 1 to get the month off to a kicking start! But you take your pick from what ever takes your fancy above or hey! why not collect the whole set!?
The night starts at 8pm, with music till 11pm.
9-Jan-08: MA at Beach Rd, Jan 29
It's going to be a busy week!
If you can't make it to MELT later in the week you can get your MA fix in the sublime, salubrious salt air of Bondi Beach at the Beach Rd Hotel.
8.30-11pm, Tue 29 Jan
Beach Road Hotel
71 Beach Rd
Bondi Beach, NSW
9-Jan-08: MA at MELT... again!
‡ Hey everybody!
We're about to bring our lush, electro-acoustic pop tunes back to MELT! By popular demand, we're having another ‡ Tunes Sound Sumptous ‡ at MELT on Friday Feb 1, 8 til late.
Blending Victoria's “delectable” vocals, Drew's laptop trickery and organic live sounds, we've transformed our critically acclaimed debut album into a sumptuous live experience that’s like nothing else in Sydney.
Our new best friends and electro innovators Entropic and Yen top off a night of dry martinis, spicy sounds and sweet pop goodness. See you there!
1st February 2008‡ Melt, 12 Kellett St,
Kings Cross‡ $15 on door - 8 til late
2 for 1 Cocktails from 8 -10pm
13-Dec-07: 14/12/2007 CD REVEIW: SMH - Metro Section
14/12/2007
SMH - Metro Section, page 27
CD REVEIW
MA Across the city and into your room
(Independent/Vitamin)
4/5 Stars
A chilled out debut from this Australian duo, fusing composer Drew Crawford’s experiential pop sounds with the delectable voice of Victoria White. To say she sounds like Bjork would be a lazy comparison. To say she sounds like a lazy Bjork would be pretty accurate. That’s not a criticism: the fragile beauty of White’s vocals remain a tease without strangling the songs, preferring to let the warm beats slide around underneath. Orchestral moments are beautifully arranged on an album dripping with relaxed melody.
Paul Smith (Sydney Morning Herald)
27-Nov-07: CD Review: MA Across The City And Into Your Room
By Manisha Kanetkar | Published:21/11/2007
The debut album from Sydney-based MA is a soulful blend of classy electro-acoustic grooves that channels the sweet-raw-layered beats of Portishead. We listen in…
MA is vocalist Victoria White and composer / programmer / editor / arranger Drew Crawford. Weaving together a range of string, drum, sax and guitar samples with Victoria's pure vocals, the album takes you on a journey through playful pop, whimsical narrative, internal reflection and the melancholy.
When we first listened to the tracks, we couldn't help but be reminded of Beth Gibbons' sweet-yet-serious vocals on top of the sampled backing in Portishead's classic album: Dummy. White's vocals have that beautiful quality of a real mix of purity and power, and she is well matched with the atmospheric, textured, electro-acoustic arrangements of Crawford.
We loved the down-tempo honesty of this album; this is dimly-lit room, martini-in-hand sounds at their best. Sink back into your seat and enjoy.
29-Oct-07: Tunes Sound Sumptuous at MELT!
MA's first public performance has just been announced and it's only a few weeks away!
See MA premiere their lush, electro-acoustic, experimental pop album Across the City and Into Your Room live at Tunes Sounds Sumptous at MELT, Friday November 23, 8 til late
Supported by Entropic’s danceable sound experiments and Yen’s pop-soul-electro fusion, it promises to be a great night.
Friday November 23
8 til late
MELT
12 KELLET ST, KINGS CROSS
$15 on door
2 for 1 Cocktails from 8 -10pm
"[MA are] so fresh and edgy I know even know the band's name.” - Adam Spencer
"Victoria gave me goosebumps... [a] song seductress... syrupy, raspy sweet vocals…"- In the Mix Live At The Basement
4-Oct-07: Light Summer Dress video on Rage
We are very excited to announce that the video for our first single Light Summer Dress is going to be played tomorrow morning, Saturday the 6th October, between 4 and 6 a.m. on rage, the home of music video. Yay!
Sandwiched between Evanescence (!) and Take That (!!) you can see the morning schedule at http://www.abc.net.au/rage/ so all you all-nighters, make sure you tune in. And the rest of you, set your video recorders (or Foxtel IDs, or whatever the hell people are using these days)!
30-Sep-07: Launch a wild, heaving, mass-hysteria of success!!
Last night, Sunday 30th September, saw the much anticipated media launch of MA's debut album, Across the City and Into Your Room and the premiere of the video for the first single Light Summer Dress by Shahane Bekarian.
Over 200 hundred people ignored the football Grand Final and crammed into the newly-refurbished Grand Pacific Blue Room in Sydney's Paddington to see the video featuring a troupe of Nun's cavorting in the sunshine at Hill End and the first performance by the MA live band.
The band were magnificent and Victoria soared to her customary vocal heights, and the enthusiastic crowd were with them all the way, staying long after the band finished to help them celebrate the release. Thanks everyone who came and made it such an incredible night.
Stay tuned to details of upcoming shows, and we'll post photos and footage from the night here soon too.
21-Sep-07: MA is excited about Launch!
The Grand Pacific Blue Room, Sydney, 30th of September. The band is being wheeled out and shown to the world for the first time...as is the new video for "Light Summer Dress". Julian Morrow is helping out as MC...plus there will be a special guest performance by some of the Chaser Boys and Andrew O'Keefe!
3-Sep-07: Album hits the stores
Today is the day that MA's debut album, Across the city and into your Room, is available in stores.
Go buy a copy now!
2-Aug-07: The Ma Website Goes Live
The shiny, new, sparkly website that you are now looking at has just gone live. Hoorah!