Exclusive Song Premiere: ‘Young Blood,’ Mac DeMarco

ABOVE: MAC DEMARCO. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINA HICKS

Over the past year or so, Canadian-born Mac DeMarco has made a name for himself crafting the sort of stoner fuzz-rock that can be appreciated by teenagers of all ages. In his lackadaisical world, DeMarco sings about the solar system of snacks, beer, and relationships that revolves around a particularly comfortable sofa.

For his new track, “Young Blood”—inspired by the 1986 sports drama, obviously—DeMarco puts a rockabilly spin on his formula, incorporating a driving bass rhythm and country-tinged guitars. His vocals, too, take on a little bit of a drawl as he sheds his lovable loser persona in favor of a lothario who regales us with hockey-based innuendo. “Youngblood, baby, let’s get back on the ice for just one more night,” he croons. (If you were somehow worried that DeMarco has started taking himself too seriously, the goofy spoken-word interlude, in which he does a sportscaster impression, should quell your fears.)

The story behind the track is also pretty much what you might expect. “My friend Jon Lent visited me in Montreal last summer, my apartment was very hot, so we went to Walmart and bought two fans,” explains DeMarco. “To celebrate cooling down, we ordered a pepperoni pizza and watched the movie Youngblood with Patrick Swayze and Rob Lowe.” (“Youngblood” happens to be Rob Lowe’s name in the film.) “Sometime after the movie finished, we flipped on the four-track, and the song came out,” he says DeMarco-proving that best rock-‘n’-roll can be no more glamorous than an old movie and a trip to your local superstore.

Hear the track below via the ever-reliable Adult Swim Singles series.

FOR MORE ON THE ARTIST, VISIT HIS BANDCAMP.