With sounds primed for a hot summer ahead, Christchurch four piece Mako Road have arrived with the perfect soundtrack for long nights, cold drinks and hazy days with the ‘Local Safari’ EP, which releases today.

Infused with a melodic reggae, ska and folk inspired sound on this, their second EP, Mako Road deliver five sun soaked tracks punctuated with cruisy riffs, laid back harmonies and easy vocals. Following on from their debut EP ‘The Green Superintendent’, the ‘Local Safari’ EP continues to display a love for great pacing and sonic builds while still progressing their own unique sound. “The Local Safari EP was written with more focus on where we want to go with our live sound”, Rhian Ward, vocalist explains. “‘Happiness & Misery’ and ‘Open Plan Living’ are a step in a different direction, we wanted to push the boat out with what we can do musically. CJ’s bass fills and slap bass feature in this EP and Connor brings more developed effects and variety in his lead guitar this time around.”

Lead single ‘Local Safari’, released with a premiere through Australian tastemaker site Cassettelist, paints a picture of easy days spent beachside, soaking up great times in excellent company. Recorded with Thom O’Connor out of Christchurch’s Orange Studios, the single is a fitting representation of where 2018 has taken the band. “We chose ‘Local Safari’ as the single ‘cos it best sums up our attitude towards life at the moment. We get heaps out of travelling ‘round and meeting people, seeing new places and experiences. It’s been a huge part of this year for us, and we’ve all cleared out summer schedules so we can do more of it over the next few months”, the band states.

To coincide with the release of Mako Road’s new EP, the band have also gifted fans with a brand new music video for ‘Open Plan Living’. A cosmic traipse through a number of different settings, Mako Road make themselves at home outdoors, in the office, on the sea, in a number of different guises. Directed by Tom Irwin, ‘Open Plan Living’ clearly shows the good times ethic that underpins the group and the fun Mako Road have while bringing this project to life.

In celebration of the Local Safari EP release, Mako Road will be hitting the road for a pre-Christmas jaunt around the east coast of Australia before coming home to the New Zealand Summer for the second leg of the tour. Whether you’re stuck city side, at the beach or heading out of town on a roadie to enjoy some of the summer festivals, Mako Road will be performing near you. Tickets are available through the Mako Road website. For updates and set times head to Mako Road’s page on Facebook.

Mako Road Tour Dates

Australia

Friday 7 December The Penny Black Melbourne

Saturday 8 December Heritage Hotel Wollongong

Sunday 9 December The Brass Monkey Sydney

Thursday 13 December Marlborough Hotel Sydney

Friday 14 December Byron Bay Brewery Byron Bay

Sunday 16 December Heya Bar Brisbane

New Zealand

Thursday 27 December Water Bar Wanaka

Saturday 29 December Yonder Queenstown

Monday 31 December Tides NYE Festival Tauranga

Wednesday 2 January Sprig & Fern Nelson

Thursday 10 January The Butter Factory Whangarei

Friday 11 January Neck of the Woods Auckland

Friday 18 January Soundsplash Festival Raglan

Saturday 19 January Tora Bombora Festival Martinborough

Friday 1 February Totara St Mount Maunganui

Saturday 2 February The Cabana Napier

Friday 8 February Waterfront Bar Kapiti Coast

Saturday 9 February Meow Wellington

Friday 15 February Winnie Bagoes Christchurch

Saturday 16 February Venue TBC Dunedin

Saturday 23 February Electric Avenue Festival Christchurch