MAKARI – AN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT AND BAND INTERVIEW
Photo credit: @caitlinallenphoto
By Ralph Beauchamp
I’ve always said that the A&R staff at Thriller Records have the best ears in the industry. Every band they sign is unique and innovative. Thriller just picked up another imposing artist. Orlando’s Makari is a five piece juggernaut whose sound fuses ambient music with alternative grooves, emo leanings and pop sensibilities. Makari has always focused on turning feelings into cinematic sound. Their music is boldly original with soaring vocals, shimmering guitars and demanding backbeats.
Makari is composed of Andy Cizek (Vocals), Eric Stewart (Guitar), Matt Beljan (Guitar), Jay Tomasso (Bass) and Kevin Benjan (Drums). The band has several full lengths and EPs to their name. Their last album, Wave Machine, was released in 2024. Their first outing for Thriller Records is the brazen single, “Speed Freak”. The track features Andy Cizek’s expansive vocal stylings. His emotive delivery adds depth and vulnerability to the song.
Another Makari major achievement is their use of sublime arrangements and atmospheric orchestration. Their music blends dreamy ambiances with energetic rock instrumentation. Every song meshes beauty with raw edges. “Speed Freak” is a perfect example. The song carries brazen vocals and immersive hooks. The guitars float with vigor while the bass lays down vibrant inflections. In addition, the drums are daring and explosive. The track is both heartfelt and dynamic.
On their signing with Thriller records the band states:
“We’re very excited to be joining Thriller, and can’t wait to share all we’ve been working on together! We’ve been DIY for a bit, but it feels like we’ve found the right partnership and team that feels just as passionate about our work as we do. This is only the beginning, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.”
Makari was kind enough to sit with AMP for this in-depth interview.
AMP How would you describe Makari’s musical identity to someone who has never heard your music before?
KEVIN: I would say we’re an ambient/ alternative/ emo rock band that balances intricate and spacious guitar work that is anchored by a confident rhythm section, and is elevated by powerhouse vocals, as well as lyricism that can be both sweet and devastating, but always grounded in hope.
AMP: How do ideas develop within the band once someone brings in an initial concept?
ERIC: We always write the instrumentals first. I will normally put together an instrumental demo, and if we’re all vibing with it, everyone adds their own flair. After that, Kevin writes the lyrics and melodies for a scratch vocal—though for this new record, absolutely everyone in the band brought in some lyrical and melody ideas that made the final cut— then Andy helps make the whole thing sound larger than life! Once that demo is locked in, we take it to our producer Andrew Wade to fine-tune it even further, and re-record it for the album.
AMP: What sonic elements do you consider essential to a “Makari” sound?
ERIC: The essential Makari sound has always leaned heavily into ambient, spacey guitars paired with really impactful, introspective lyricism. We love creating a massive, cinematic atmosphere, but it has to be anchored by a tight, energetic groove so it hits you straight in the chest.
AMP: How do you balance raw energy with polished production?
KEVIN: I think we bring a lot of the raw energy into the live performances and songwriting, and then when we get in the studio we try to focus more on a polish product.
AMP: Your new single is “Speed Freak” being released by Thriller Records. Can you give us a little insight into the track?
KEVIN: I was driving on tour near sunset in Southern California, wishing my partner was with me, wishing we were sharing the same magenta sky, just having a joyride. So yeah, this track about is about being wildly in love; the type of love that feels like you’re going 100mph and the world could be blurring and falling apart around you, but the person you’re sharing these moments with is in clear focus, and you feel happy, you feel serene.
AMP: Are there songs that have transformed significantly after being performed live?
ERIC: I wouldn’t say the songs themselves transform significantly, because our main goal live is to deliver a performance that sounds just like the album recording. We want to give people exactly what they fell in love with on the record. If anything, the real shift happens once we’re fully locked in as a unit. When we’re playing that song tight on stage, the raw energy of the room takes over and it starts to sound even bigger and more massive than the original recording. It’s less about changing the structure and more about elevating the power behind it.
AMP: What do you want audiences to feel during a Makari show?
KEVIN: I want audiences at our show to feel whatever they need to feel. I always want our shows to be a place where people feel like they’re seen through our music: that it resonates with them, says something they’ve been thinking or trying to say, feels like something they need or have been trying to get ahold of. Also, I want our shows to be a free exchange of energy, us to them. I want it to be as therapeutic and as enjoyable as it is for us as it is for them.
AMP: Do you think your songs are telling stories, capturing moods or something else entirely?
KEVIN: I think we do a little bit of both. Some of our songs have clear stories, or are about events in life, others are definitely explorations into emotions. I think in every song we make, we’re trying to offer a glimpse of the deepest parts of ourselves, and hoping others see themselves in it as well.
AMP: If you could point to one song that best represents Makari right now, which would it be and why?
KEVIN: This is a hard one hahah. I think besides our latest song “Speed Freak,” which I believe shows our continued evolution, songs like “Transient” showcase our desire to offer hope when dealing with overwhelming negative emotions, as well as our song “Contigo,” which highlights our instrumentation, as well as lyrics centered around beauty and love.
AMP: What is a musical risk you’ve taken that paid off?
KEVIN: I think working in the music industry in general is a risk haha. We’ve all had trouble with other jobs for trying to pursue music: being forced to quit, being let go, struggling financially during those times. It can also put strains on personal relationships— leaving your partner for months at a time, missing birthdays, not being there for anniversaries, etc. I think in this new chapter of Makari we’re starting to feel like all those risks are paying off, and know ultimately you have to take a chance on yourself and your art in this one life we’ve been given.
AMP: Where do you see Makari two years down the line?
KEVIN: I see us doing even better, making even better music, and having more fans who love what we’re doing and feel excited to hear our songs and go to our shows. I hope to see us in larger venues, and making a larger impact on the world. I’ve always wanted our music to be enjoyable, to be a bit of an escape from the— let’s call it “real world”— but I’ve wanted our music to be therapeutic and a catalyst for positive social change. So yeah, I hope in two years we’re doing that even better and at a larger scale!
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