We Speak Music
Hollyoaks star Paul Danan directs ‘Follow’ video for Bristol hip hop artist Phil Mac
In the heart of Bristol’s vibrant music scene emerges Phil Mac, an artist whose journey from adversity to triumph encapsulates the spirit of the city’s influence on hip hop, trip hop, and drum ‘n’ bass. Raised amid the creative tapestry of Bristol, Phil found solace in the spoken word, realizing his talent for rhyming.
However, challenges with alcohol and drugs cast a shadow over Phil’s aspirations until a fateful encounter with a friend changed everything. Sponsored by a mentor, who happened to be Hollyoaks star Paul Danan, Phil found himself in a dry house, navigating the path to recovery alongside Paul, who was two years sober at the time.
What started as a shared love for rap music evolved into a unique friendship and partnership. Over daily coffee conversations, Paul playfully proposed managing Phil, setting the stage for a transformative collaboration.
Phil’s turning point came when he played ‘Follow,’ a track that left Paul astounded. The offer was laid on the table: Paul would manage Phil, secure a record deal, and even direct a music video. With a handshake and the playful exchange of “Twenty percent,” the deal was sealed.
As the duo embarked on their creative journey, an unexpected opportunity arose. Paul, approached by a filmmaker from the Bristol Film Institute, proposed a deal: an interview about his life in exchange for a music video shoot for ‘Follow,’ directed by Paul himself. The stars aligned, and the deal was struck.
However, just weeks before the shoot, a setback threatened to derail everything. Phil, facing the challenge of maintaining sobriety, found himself in a precarious situation. Paul, demonstrating the strength of true friendship, offered tough love and a lifeline, urging Phil to get sober within a week if he wanted to seize the opportunity.
Phil rose to the occasion, achieving sobriety and fulfilling the promise of ‘Follow.’ Today, Phil has a record deal and a music video, a testament to the unwavering support of a friend and mentor. ‘Follow’ is more than a track; it’s the chronicle of resilience, friendship, and the triumph of the human spirit. Phil Mac’s journey is a testament to the power of music to heal and inspire.
‘Follow’ is released through Stray Cat Records on December 1st 2023.
Aaron makes music about meaningful topics that rocks and grooves – and sometimes it even skanks on a rock steady beat!
His new song ‘Geeks’ has been released on all major music platforms on November 15th. It is an anthem for the heroes of the digital age: computer nerds, also known as geeks. It is driven by an off-beat ska guitar, a sticky bass line and a groovy brass section. The icing on the cake is a jazzy saxophone solo.
“I have always loved Ska, I even saw the Specials, the Selecter and Madness live in their heydays”, says Aaron. “I chose the topic although I am not a geek myself, but I have a lot of sympathy for them. Geeks are often frowned upon because they can be socially awkward, but they are the ones who are building a better world. So I think they deserve an anthem.”
The music video is mostly made up of typography, minimalistic ASCII graphics and heavily pixelated images – it surely looks geeky! Watch it here:
Aaron writes catchy songs that are made for people who like meaningful, uplifting topics and guitar-driven, hand-made sounds. His musical journey started young but it wasn’t until he discovered Bitcoin and became so invested in it that he used music to express his new found joy.
“It’s mostly rock music, with excursions into funk, soul and other styles I grew up with. In general, it’s guitar-driven and hand-made, often with a punkish energy and beatlesque harmonies. What all my songs have in common are meaningful lyrics about being in the here and now, about transforming disturbing emotions into wisdom, about being in the flow, things like that.” says Aaron in an interview.
“I have always been making music and writing songs, starting with a punk rock band when I was 15. However, I never saw it as a career. I played in several bands in my teenage years and my early twenties, but after my media studies in Berlin and Rio de Janeiro I focused on other things. I first worked in TV production and then founded one of the first Internet agencies in Germany. I discovered Bitcoin in 2011 and became fascinated by it. I wrote five books about it, made lots of promotional videos and educational series for Bitcoin and blockchain companies, and organised events. I even wrote some songs about Bitcoin, which became quite popular in the community, like my Reggaeton about the Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador. People always liked that my songs are catchy and provocative. It was by the end of 2023 that I decided to go full in on music. It’s what I enjoy the most, so now I want to fully follow my passion.”
Since May 2024, his songs have been streamed more than 250,000 times on Spotify and his music videos have been viewed more than 350,000 times on YouTube.
Read more about Aaron King: http://aaron-koenig.net/press/
-
We Speak Entertainment1 week ago$um1: The Enigmatic Artist Redefining Music
-
We Speak Music1 week agoCopper Lungs explores bold new sounds with their latest track Pieces of Me
-
We Speak Music4 days agoTony DeYoung: Defying Doubt, Redefining Success
-
We Speak Entertainment3 days agoCONAN O’BRIEN TO HOST 97TH OSCARS®