Sibling-fronted band MACK & BEN released their highly anticipated debut EP Underthinkers on June 30. This introspective collection takes listeners on an emotive journey through the personal experiences and collective growth of Mackenzie and Ben Di Millo. With influences ranging from Emily King to Stevie Wonder, MACK & BEN blend pop sensibilities with soulful R&B.
Underthinkers is a compilation of honest and genuine songs that will resonate with listeners and reflect their own experiences and lives. The EP opens with the pop/neo-soul vibe of “Springtime,” featuring a powerful and memorable chorus that will stay with you long after the song ends. The track sets the tone for the rest of the EP, which takes unexpected turns and explores different emotions and themes. The dark and introspective “Bitter/sweet” showcases the band’s ability to create lush, layered compositions. Another standout track is “Slow Me Down,” an edgy and angsty anthem that invites listeners to surrender to its irresistible rhythm. “See This Through,” a tension-building and expressive piece, explores the longing to fulfill someone’s needs, even when unable to. The EP concludes with the bright and groovy “Hey, Hello!”, a perfect summer anthem that will have listeners tapping their feet and singing along.
The EP was written and arranged entirely by Mackenzie and Ben. To bring their vision to life, they enlisted the help of multi-talented instrumentalist Stephen Adubofuor, known for his work with JESSIA and Kasador. The recording took place at the iconic Bathhouse Recording Studio in Bath, Ontario.
We spoke with the Di Millo siblings about their creative process, vision, and working together.
Images courtesy of MACK&BEN.
APT613: Can you tell us about your artistic vision for this album? What themes or emotions are you exploring through your music?
MACK&BEN: It may sound a bit cheesy but truly, our vision for this EP was authenticity. We wanted to remove ourselves from the confines of genre, and share the music that perfectly feels us, even if it’s a bit tricky to categorize. An overarching theme for Underthinkers is change: a lot of it was crafted over the last few wild years, which gave us ample time to reflect on the way that the people in our lives, the losses, the gains, the experiences, and onslaught of emotions that come with them, mold us into who we are, for better or worse.
Can you share a glimpse into your creative process? How do you bring your ideas to life and transform them into fully realized songs?
Our creative process is totally all over the place! As you might expect with siblings who work together, we sometimes feel like collaborating, and sometimes, not so much. Each of these tunes came about in a different way—some began on the beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park, some in our parents’ living room. Some with Ben’s riffs and melodies to kick us off, and some with my (Mack) piano ballad writing as inspiration. Although we fully demo the songs at home as a pair, bringing them to the band (Clayton Connell, Stephen Adubofuor, and Caylan Penny) is the best part. Their creative input and tasteful, unique touches breathe life and personality into the songs like never before.
How do you navigate the balance between staying true to your artistic vision and adapting to the changing trends and expectations of the music industry?
We’re trying our best to do exactly that—stay true to our vibe and vision, while staying semi-relevant to the rest of the world. A big part of that has been our attempt to connect through genuine content—our home-video campaign (who else is lucky enough to have a lifetime full of bandmate footage!), personal notes and behind the scenes tidbits, intimate listening parties, etc. Really, we just try to write music that we find interesting and fulfilling, and hope that other people also find something fun and relatable within it, even if it’s just some fellow music nerds enjoying a few quirky chord progressions and turn-arounds. Most of all, we can’t wait to play it all live and connect in person. Live shows are the best part of it all and the best opportunities for building those amazing relationships that we all love as listeners ourselves.
MACK & BEN will host an EP Release Party on September 28 at Club SAW in Ottawa. The band also have plans for more performances in and out of Ottawa. For more information about MACK & BEN and their upcoming projects, visit their official website here or follow them on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.
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