Mac DeMarco on the Stratocaster and Breaking Creative Roadblocks

Mac DeMarco studied music as a kid, but that didn’t much hold his interest.

“I became kind of bored with it, so I was like, ‘Okay, playing in a band doesn't seem that boring. I'm going to do that instead,” he said. “I understand keys and I can build a chord, but I'm not playing like some crazy arpeggios over something like crazy jazz triads. I can't do that.”

DeMarco’s easygoing approach to playing guitar is evident in his music, as highlighted on acclaimed albums like Salad Days or the recently released This Old Dog, which are chock full of lo-fi guitars and touches of spacey synths.

That breezy and laid-back attitude seems to come naturally to the Edmonton native. Eminently approachable and affable, DeMarco it just as chatty with his fans on stage as he is when encountering them in the real world.

DeMarco offered a taste of his unique personality to Fender when he sat down to talk about his musical beginnings, his love of the Fender Eric Clapton 'Blackie' Strat. Beautiful guitar. What do I do? First day, we played the Greek Theatre, and I broke the body on that one, too. That, that is sacreligious. That is not OK."

”I need something that's ready to rip, all good to go.”

"Playing old guitars, using old gear and stuff like that, a lot of the time I think, 'Well it's not going to sound good if it's brand new.' But then it's like, 'Ah yes it sounds like a Strat!' And probably a lot better than with new pickups and everything like that."

For more from Mac DeMarco, check out his official Facebook page.