BLUE BOY

Next to the front door of Mac DeMarco’s home in Los Angeles hangs two sets of keys with matching lanyards. One says, “SASSY.” The other, “STRESSED OUT.” It’s safe to assume the former belongs to Kiera McNally, the Canadian songwriter’s long-term girlfriend. The latter seems a better fit for Mac.

It’s the day after his fourth album Here Comes the Cowboy (featuring lead single ‘Nobody’) was announced, sparking outrage among fans of Mitski, whose album Be the Cowboy (also featuring lead single ‘Nobody’) topped numerous best-of-2018 lists. The online furore grew until Mitski felt compelled to clarify that, as grateful as she is for the support, it feels terrifying to have lots of strangers acting on her behalf in ways she’d never act herself. So perhaps unsurprisingly, Mac doesn’t seem keen on the idea of an interview today, even in the comfort of his Echo Park home.

After leading the way to his studio via the kitchen and the pool (surrounded by ashtrays piled with fag ends), the 28-year-old curls up, legs crossed in the opposite direction, as far away as possible on the other end of a couch. At times he lights a cigarette and then crosses his arms while inhaling, his shoulder turned towards the door. He looks like he’s trying to shield himself from attack, his body language screaming: ‘Don’t do it.’

“It always kind of smells weird in here, I’m sorry,” he begins. “I had a couple oranges… I remember dropping one of them. I haven’t been able to find it.” It smells of studio and hard work, I say, to relax him. “Okay,” he says with a