Ma9Na: Musician | Composer | Producer | Mixer | Engineer Living in Tasmania, a small island on the southern tip of Australia, which he fondly calls "the arts end of the world," is no deterrent. With technology and social platforms, the opportunities for sharing his creations are endless. From humble beginnings in the small city of Invercargill in New Zealand, my musical life began as a guitarist. At the age of 13, a simple visit to a music shop to return a broken amplifier resulted in a drum kit returning home with him. Sneaking into venues to watch bands set up and soundcheck led to a chance meeting with a visiting band that took an interest, and I was invited to play a song on the drums with them. He was invited to watch the gig that night from the safety of the side of the stage due to being underage. He was pulled on stage and placed behind the kit during their set, playing his first live gig. His first band was in the audience, and so began a journey that took me to eventually full-time touring New Zealand and Australia. Hobart became his home in 1981, and for nearly two decades, he was a member of several successful bands, which included recording and touring band Reckless Hearts from 1993 to 1996. Fast-forward to 2020 and creating Ma9Na (ma-nine-nuh) as his artist’s name, He began writing, recording, and releasing songs featuring local, national, and international musicians to support his multi-instrumental abilities. Drumming will always hold a special place in Ma9Na's heart, but his passion for music extends beyond this. He profoundly loves writing, recording, and producing his original songs. His home studio allows him to create music at leisure, showcasing his multi-instrumental abilities. In addition to his love for drumming, Ma9Na also enjoys playing bass and guitar on his songs, and he humorously describes his keyboard skills as being like a “one-finger typist. “ His first release, “Down for the Count,” and its subsequent remix, The WAR Mix 2022, is an Anti-War, Pro-Humanity Stadium Rock Anthem. It focuses on the violence, greed, and selfishness that seem so commonplace today. It reminds listeners that this behavior and state of being is unnecessary and should not be accepted. Describing the details of war and its sometimes-selfish purpose, Ma9Na asks the listeners, “Why would I want any part of that?” These songs mark a significant shift in my career, as I began to use my music as a platform to express my views on critical social issues. The INXS tribute SnakeHips’n’LizardLips has surpassed all Ma9Na’s expectations as it heads towards 1 million streams on Spotify. The song pays homage to Michael Hutchence's incredible talent and the unique musicians who formed INXS. I wrote this tribute to express my admiration for their work and influence on my musical journey. Blue Blue Blue, Ma9Na’s latest release, which has two versions, not only reveals a deeply personal story but also showcases the unique talents of musicians from Australia and the United Kingdom. The songs are already gaining many glowing reviews and getting support from unexpected new areas of the industry, like Warren Huart, an English record producer, musician, composer, and recording engineer based in Los Angeles. <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/Ma9Na">Read more on Last.fm</a>. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.