Five Years in the Making: M A CE Introduces Flay the Tormented
Hamilton-born and now operating out of London, M A CE steps forward with a statement years in the making.
His debut release Flay the Tormented lands on Ranger Records as a four-track introduction shaped by five years of refinement.
For those already in the know, this moment has been a long time coming. For everyone else, this is the first glimpse into an artist who’s been quietly sharpening his sound behind the scenes, now ready to present a fully realized vision.
We caught up with M A CE ahead of the release to talk about the journey so far. From New Zealand roots to London’s pressure cooker, the meaning behind the EP, and what it takes to stay the course before your first release ever sees the light.
Origins & Journey
Q: What originally pulled you into drum and bass, and what was it about the genre that made you stick with it early on?
A: Initially, one of my best mates showed me Off One’s Rocker in high school when I was 16, and I was just hooked. I loved the fast-paced vibe it had and it felt like my brain had found a pace I could actually associate with. My first proper introduction was watching Alix Perez, and that completely changed my perspective on what it meant to be a musician and artist. A true goat.
Q: You’ve taken around five years before releasing your first body of work. Was that a conscious decision to refine your sound, or did it naturally take that long to feel ready?
A: A bit of both. The first single was actually three years old, and it was the first song I felt was truly me. I went to release it but got cold feet, pulled it back, and waited until I had more music that matched it and also matched me. Shoutout to Sustance and Monty for telling me to wait and give it time. That was truly what I needed.
Q: Were there any moments where you almost gave it up, or questioned whether you would ever release music?
A: Not really, if I’m honest. Ever since that Perez gig, I knew it was what I wanted. There were, and still are, times where I think I’m trash and not going to go anywhere with this. But then my ego takes over, shuts those thoughts down, and I remember this is what I want out of life.
M A CE - A Forbidden Depth To Us
NZ to London Shift
Q: You made the move from Hamilton to London. How has that shift influenced your sound and mindset as an artist?
A: I think it’s definitely gotten darker in my recent songs, and I feel like it’s developing a serious edge. I’ve had some rocky things happen to me, and I can’t wait to properly channel those emotions and see where it takes me. London has an edge that, sadly, NZ can’t quite give to this music. Being at a real epicenter is helping me take steps toward the sound and vibe I’ve been chasing.
Q: What are the biggest differences you have felt between the NZ scene and being in London, especially as someone still unreleased at the time?
A: The biggest difference is the care for the space at venues. The venues here really care about things that a lot of clubs back home are missing. Except Neck of the Woods — if you know that space, you know ball. The systems here and the differences between them all really stand out.
Having a space that reflects the music it champions, and lets people properly experience the vibe they’ve curated, is something I didn’t experience often back home. I know there are spaces back home doing it right, but a lot are still missing it. At some stage, I’d love to curate something that captures even a small part of what I’ve learned here.
M A CE - Flay the Tormented EP Artwork
The Debut Release
Q: Flay the Tormented is your first-ever release. Why did now feel like the right time to finally put music out?
A: I think the move definitely solidified it for me that I needed to just fire it out at some stage. I had built up such a large collection of tracks that I felt were ready. They’re never really ready, because you’re always improving, but I needed to get it out there to build a name for myself and show people I’m not here for a moment. I’m here for the long run.
Q: How did the connection with Ranger Records come about, and what made it feel like the right fit for your debut?
A: I had seen them releasing really strong music from our side of the world, and I wanted to be involved. I also liked how serious the label is. They’re doing proper releases with amazing artwork, and it all feels very professional, which is something I find really important. I’m just glad the label saw the same vision in my music that I did.
Q: The EP feels really refined for a debut. Roughly how much material did you create over those five years before narrowing it down to these four tracks?
A: It wasn’t until about year four or five that things really refined and became consistent. But I reckon I made roughly 20 to 30 projects every month over those five years. So probably somewhere around 1,200 to 1,500 projects.
M A CE - A Deal with Atrocious Love
Q: The tracks all feel quite distinct. Was that a conscious decision to showcase a range of your sound, or did it come together more naturally?
A: I think it came together more naturally. They all share a similar vibe, just heavier in some areas, and they all have a certain roughness to them. It wasn’t until I started listening to more rock again that I reconnected with my childhood, which opened up new possibilities in my mixdowns and also sparked my curiosity again. I was getting a bit stale for a couple of months, and that really unlocked things creatively. But I did also want to show some range and make it clear I’m not just a one-trick artist.
Q: The title Flay the Tormented is pretty striking. What is the meaning behind it?
A: In all honesty, the way I come up with names is I close my eyes and let the words come to me. It’s the same with all my creative decisions. I just trust my intuition. But I do feel like the name fits the vibe perfectly. It has that moody, sad, but also slightly evil nature to it. To me, it feels like cutting open something tortured to reveal the beauty underneath all the darkness and fear. Which ties into the four tracks as well.
Looking Forward
Q: Now that your first release is finally landing, how does it feel seeing your name out there properly?
A: It feels really cool, man. I feel like I’ve finally let the beast go, and it’s exciting to be able to share that side of myself with the world.
Q: What can people expect next from M A CE, are you already sitting on more music?
A: Yeah, I’m sitting on a lot of music. Some of it is getting a bit old, but it still seriously slaps. I’ll get it out there. I’ve got some labels in the pipeline that I’m working on, but I’ve learned it all takes time.
Q: If someone hears your name for the first time through this EP, what do you want them to take away?
A: That I’m here to stay. A name that should be in your rotation. I’m going to bring serious heat over the years to come and I’m not letting up, so take that how you want.
M A CE
Five years in the making, the EP marks the beginning of a new chapter for an artist who’s taken the long route, refining his sound away from the spotlight before stepping forward with a clear and uncompromising vision.
As he bridges his New Zealand roots with the energy of London, this release sets the tone for what’s to come.
Flay the Tormented lands April 24 via Ranger Records.
Get the release - Flay the Tormented EP
↟ M A CE
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↟ Ranger Records