History
1991: born
1999: started learning guitar
July 2007: 1st gig, acoustic in a pub
2008: got band together, Polly Mackey & The Pleasure Principle
2009:
Played at SXSW 09 in Austin, Texas.
Won Supajam competition (against 1700 other European bands) to play at FIB Heineken Festival in Benicassim, Spain alongside Oasis, The Killers and Kings of Leon.
Won the 2009 MIBI National Songwriting Awards.
Played at Great Escape, Brighton.
Played at the Liverpool SoundCity Music Festival.
Played at the MTV Music Week.
Headlined Liverpool's Red Festival.
1999: started learning guitar
July 2007: 1st gig, acoustic in a pub
2008: got band together, Polly Mackey & The Pleasure Principle
2009:
Played at SXSW 09 in Austin, Texas.
Won Supajam competition (against 1700 other European bands) to play at FIB Heineken Festival in Benicassim, Spain alongside Oasis, The Killers and Kings of Leon.
Won the 2009 MIBI National Songwriting Awards.
Played at Great Escape, Brighton.
Played at the Liverpool SoundCity Music Festival.
Played at the MTV Music Week.
Headlined Liverpool's Red Festival.
PROFILE
Polly Mackey
On herself:
When I started gigging I had an idea in my head about what I wanted to achieve. I wanted to take a gap year before university to really make the most of my music and decided to pursue this side of things. I am really focussed when it comes to my music, this is the career that I really want, and the other band members have an equal amount of drive…
On life:
If I’m quite busy with gigs lined up then I’m really positive it’s great when people come up and say they wish they were doing what I’m doing… other times it can get a bit negative… I just take life as it comes, but on the whole I’m a positive person.
On work:
We got the Texas gig last year (SXSW) just by applying; they liked our stuff and invited us over. We had 9 gigs in 5 days, if anything it was really different so it gave us a taste of what it can be like and we’ve really grown as a band since then. Everyone in the band has their day jobs and at any point we’re ready to move forward, but right now we still need to pay the rent. We’re like anyone else who’s got a passion for their work; instead of going to the pub we’ll go and practise or we’ll sit in a venue waiting around for hours before a gig. It can be hard work but it’s what we want to do.
At the moment:
We’ve just recorded 4 new tracks and we’re releasing first single in early April, followed by the EP to coincide with coming back from the SXSW gig in Texas this year. We’re booked for the HMV Next Big Thing, and we’re the only unsigned band, we’re in really good company it's a great event for us to be at.
On defining influences:
I wouldn’t strive to sound like anyone else - I’m inspired by seeing bands live. I like the way that bands like Velvet Underground, The Kills and Radiohead have their own sound, that’s what I’m inspired by. With a band like The Kills it’s not just the music but the way the artwork is incorporated into their music, they live in their headquarters so it’s not just the music but the whole lifestyle for them, that’s how I want to be.
On the future:
I’m planning to be able to do this as my official career, it’s what we love, it seems too good to be true at times so to carry this on would be amazing. This year we want to capitalise on everything we’ve built last year… who knows what’s next?
