Described as ‘the James Blake of Pōneke’, Wellington based NeilMacLeod’s fresh and emotive sound brings soul and electronic genres together in ways designed to challenge audiences and disrupt preconceptions around what electronic music is. Through the duality of an electronic and acoustic sound that is fragile and bombastic MacLeod creates a sonic world that is bittersweet. Expertly manipulated vocals and the heavy use of distortion add to the dramatic and unique genre blurring sound.
DAZED wrote 'Neil MacLeod articulates a very specific strain of percussive electronic soul music. Set against stuttering backbeats that draw from the LA beats and post-dubstep traditions, he blends tastefully digitally manipulated vocals with electronic textures and melodies. The results are a richly cinematic set of songs that put the darker side of human nature under the microscope'.
MacLeod has been featured on BBC Radio 6 Music, DAZED, Pilerats, Noods Radio, Dublab, RNZ, Under the Radar, Sniffers, Hype Medium,Counter Journal and The Residents, and his music has held playlist spots with the student radio network across the country. MacLeod’s headline ‘To Unfold’ tour sold out in both of his home cities, three consecutive sold out shows at Wellington's BAT’S Theatre in 2019, and a sold out show at the Loons in Christchurch where MacLeod spent his youth. MacLeod played support for Drax Project at Hawke’s Bays iconicBlack Barn at the end of 2020.
Collaboration has presented many opportunities for MacLeod to explore genres and expand his musical experiences. ‘We Have Known Lost Days’ and MacLeod’s debut EP 'To Unfold' were co-produced with DevinAbrams. MacLeod has himself worked as a writer and producer with abroad range of artists including writer and producer on AACACIA's debutEP. MacLeod has producer and co-writer credits for two tracks, and writing and co-productions on a third track alongside multi-platinum group Drax Project. He is also credited as a co-writer on American duoNi/Co's 2020 release 'No man's land'. Other co-writing and production projects include work on Solomon Crook's 2021 EP 'I&You', ZO's EP 'DoYou Mind?', TOI's recent releases, and working on 3 of 5 tracks on the EP'Handle With Care' by NOURI.
MacLeod composed a 40 minute soundscape piece ‘He Tangata’ the musical accompaniment to the opening gala of the Wellington PrideFestival 2021. It was in this process that he met songwriter and taongapūoro practitioner Te Kahureremoa, they went on to collaborate on TeKahureremoa’s debut album ‘Acts of Service’ released June 2022(MacLeod as co-writer and Producer). This collaboration earned high praise from award winning RNZ music journalist Tony Stamp “The two working in conjunction reminds me of the partnership between Moana Maniopoto and Paddy Free - a mix of modern sounds with traditional songwriting, and an infusion of te ao Māori.”
Neil MacLeod revels in moving audiences with his dark cinematic electronic music juxtaposed with intimate soul, he takes this to a whole new level with his "We Have Known Lost Days".