Artist description Mars is the songwriting project of Stephen McIntyre a singer songwriter fron Christchurch, New Zealand. Stephen's current project Mars sees him continue on with the melodic pop direction in his work, having just completed work on his debut solo release contain 10 scintilating slices of hooky melodic pop.

Music Style melodic trip pop

Musical Influences The Beatles; World Party; The Las; Neil Finn; REM; The Byrds; Brian Wilson;Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Ben Harper.

Similar Artists Coldplay; Chills; Crowded House; David Gray; John Lennon

Artist History Stephen McIntyre has a musical career that stretches back twenty years. He was signed to New Zealand's trail-blazing Flying Nun label at the tender age of 16, releasing music through the art-rock band Ballon D'essai and being interviewed in the country's top music paper Rip It Up in the early 'eighties while still a high school student! The band - New Zealand's first but certainly not the last two-bass guitar band - released a couple of records before breaking up prematurely in 1984. A couple of years later, McIntyre switched from lead bass to lead guitar when he joined forces with rising pop stars All Fall Down. He contributed half the songs for the critically acclaimed "My Brand New Wallpaper Coat" LP, and sang lead on the record's single "Black Gratten". McIntyre then left New Zealand to explore Asia, and wound up busking in Tokyo's busiest subway stations, earning up to $1000 a night! After touring the country, establishing a school, learning to surf, and starting a family, he finally returned to his native country to complete (as he terms it) "the final part of the chain" - establishing himself as a solo artist and finding success on his own terms. Mars is the name given to McIntyre's current project, and although he writes, sings, and plays most of the instruments himself, is open to collaborating with other like-minded artists. The "Live From Hempfields" LP finds him working with (amongst others) Degrees K drummer Chris Sparks and gold-record achieving soundtrack composer Adam Bonello. Not content to simply follow one particular style of music, Mars follow many different paths to get where they want to go. McIntyre describes the music as "trip-pop" - songs which range from upbeat, catchy and great to dance to; right through to slow, beautiful, meditative numbers that sound like absolutely no-one else.

Group Members Stephen McIntyre - Guitars/Bass/Vocals Guest Drummer - Chris Spark. Guest Keyboards - Adam Bonello. Guest Cello - James Donaldson.

Instruments Guitar/Bass/Vocals/Keyboards

Albums Live From Hempfields

Additional Info http://www.failsaferecords.com

Location Christchurch, Canterbury - New Zealand

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