Thanks for visiting my website.
'My Woolly Hat' is my artistic thinking-cap; the place where I test out songs, instrumentals, videos, thoughts and sketches. Back in the day, the domain name mythinkingcap.com wasn't available, so I went for what I saw as a humorous twist on that name.
The wisdom of that decision has proved to be - at best - questionable. The name 'MyWoollyHat' has consistently been described as a barrier to the material.
"The only thing you'll have to forgive about this band is the name.
Get past it, and there's much to enjoy." (RTE.IE)
What the hell, I'm a stubborn ole Taurean, and I've stuck with it anyway.
In 2001, I put together a 19-track collection, A Psychedelic Prayer, of recordings I had done over the years with various people in various places. The website launch went well, and I started getting traffic from all over the world. This was, clearly, the right time to stop playing live, concentrate on recording and release everything over the web.
"This website could yet become a real David Vs Goliath triumph for Dubliner Marcus MacDonald."
(Internet Advisor Magazine, U.K.)
Over the next few years I released the following EPs exclusively online:
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A Private Sky (2002) |
Darner of the Cosmic Sock (2003) |
Secret Societies (U.S. Election day, 2004) |
"All the tracks here will grow on you as will the feeling that
it's a shame you can't walk into a shop and throw your money over the counter for them."
(Harry Guerin, RTE.IE)
The following great people were involved with the making of those EPs:
Zamo Riffman
(Lead Guitars, Drums, Backing Vox, Production)
Andy McDonald (Bass)
Bryan Quinn (Trumpet)
Anthony McDonald (Trombone)
Bill Blackmore (Trumpet)
Mike Black (Engineering & Production)
Robbie Sexton (Engineering & Production)
I sang, played acoustic guitar, keyboards and Co-Produced along with Zamo, Mike and Robbie.
We recorded the EPs in STC Studios and Ashtown Gate Studios, in Dublin.
The photography on the cover of each EP was by my friend Ian Picken (www.TommyTraveller.com) [>>]
Since then, I've concentrated on recording on PC using XP, Cubase SX and Guitar Rig. I edit drum samples using Soundforge. In March of this year, Radiohead ran a competition on their website and my remix of their song 'Nude' got to number 34 out of 2,250 submissions. I'm still smiling about that one. A new one I've done for 'Reckoner' is [here]. Please vote for me!
I've managed to record about 95% of the songs I'd written in my life but had filed away in the 'must-come-back-to' category. I've done the best I can with them. They aren't perfect, in fact every single recording is basically a demo, but they make more sense here on this website than they do sitting in my head. Thanks, Ana, for being there while it all got done.
Writing, playing and recording music - apart from watching our beautiful children grow up - are the most satisfying things I've found to do in this life. The fact that I can combine this passion with my chosen career path of IT is more fortuitous than I could have dreamed of. I believe strongly that technology is a force for good, and in my small way I try to show how.
Thanks God for giving me the talent, which I hope I've made a go of and not wasted. Actually, I still love doing it and other people enjoy what I do too - it's nearly there.
My biggest thanks are for Zamo Riffman; a top gent, a true friend and an enthusiastic and talented multi-instrumentalist whose sonic additions to some of these songs are worthy of your attention, dear listener.
The significant people in making music such a passion in my life have been my Mum and Dad, Brother and Sisters, my piano teacher Mary Ellison Thompson, her husband Bryden 'Jack' Thompson, U2, The The, (thanks, Ita, for introducing me to the genius of Matt Johnson), The Waterboys, Radiohead, Greg Kavanagh, Dean Kelly, Zamo, Kealan O'Reilly, Rea Garvey, Daniel Lanois, Oasis, Coldplay, Ritchy Tobin, Gavin Bryars, Christy Moore, Prince, Jim Lockhart, Phil Cooke, Jeff Buckley, Graham Holiday, Crowded House, The Thrills, The Frames, Damien Dempsey, Liam O'Maonlai, Mike Black, Robbie Sexton, Andy McDonald, Quinner, Stevie Murphy, Uncle Tony, Brian O'Hara, Simple Minds, Talk Talk, Supergrass, Happy Mondays, Alan Morgan, Stone Roses, The Doors, Brian Eno, Nick Drake, Soul to Soul, Norman Keating, Beck, Ian Wilson, Dave Fanning, Kathryn McKinney, Dave Farrell, Roger Doyle, Led Zeppelin, Jeroem Struive, John 'Big Daddy Pops' Molloy, Carol O'Dwyer, Rollerskate Skinny, Chris Stubbs and the Room 215 crew in Melbourne.
Thanks to all for the music making, the inspiration, the encouragement, or in some cases all three.
Stay Good,
Marcus
Dublin, Ireland
2008
Me, Ana & Comedian Des Bishop at the 2008 Golden Spider Awards [>>]
Producer, Musician, Songwriter & Director Daniel Lanois
Musicians Liam Gallagher & Gem from Oasis
U2's The Edge
Director Oliver Stone
Performance Artist, Musician & U2 Advisor Gavin Friday
Producer, Musician, Songwriter & Director Daniel Lanois
RTÉ 2FM DJ Ruth Scott
