I sit down with Central Ohio singer/songwriter Pete Mako. He’s played shows in cosplay. He’s toured with punk bands. We’ve played numerous shows together. He’s been making his rounds in the local clubs and I figured I’d get the skinny on Pete Mako.

Tuned Up: Pete, lets start with your music history. You mentioned you used to play in a punk band? Which band(s), how long?

Pete Mako: I was in a band called “Lancetta” from 2007-09 with mainly classic punk influences. It was me and 3 close friends. Then after bouncing around and changing our sounds I found myself a three piece punk band called “The Rebound Effect”. Between 2010-12. It was very pop punk in nature. We had one CD called “Homerun? Touchdown!” It kinda fell apart when the drummer left the country and the bassist and I had a disagreement about the direction of the band. In 2012 I started a fresh band Called “Returning April”. We had a vinyl record come out in 2014, and from there we started to slow down and eventually went our own way in April of this year, 2015.

Tuned Up: Now that you’re solo, how have you found the process of transitioning from being one amongst many to a one-man-show?

Pete Mako: Now that I’m solo it is a very different vibe. It requires me to be a lot more focused and forces to play more precisely. It’s an unforgiving thing to play a sour chord or wrong note with the full sound of a band to kind of cover it up. In that regard though, you get more of an honest feeling with the artist. You get to connect with them during a show on a higher level. So, I like being able to sing a song or tell a story, be myself without 3-4 other people changing the feeling.

Tuned Up: You have a cool background, you mentioned you’ve spent time in Australia and Canada? Care to elaborate?

Pete Mako: Moving around as a kid, just business really. I don’t have much of a memory of it. When you’re a 1-4 year old the only thing you care about is napping, food, and toys. In no order… Most of my conscious memories are of Ohio. I will also mention, I was in a diabetic coma when I was 16, so most of those memories are extremely fuzzy.

Tuned Up: What’s the name of your current album, where can we find it?

Pete Mako: My album is called “Relationships with Monsters” it’s available on Bandcamp, and through links on my website. It’s very focused on things that go bump in the night, if you will…
The places to go would be:

www.iampetemako.bandcamp.com
www.iampetemako.com

Tuned Up: You work in social media, and you also have a really cool website. Do you think your day-job gives you advantages as a performer?

Pete Mako: As far as my day job goes, it really helps with my performances, I work with people online and over the phone, so taking and communication is important. It’s good to pick on cues from an audience to tell if they are into it or not, sometimes you’ve got to do what it takes to keep people interested.

Tuned Up: Recently you’ve been ushered into many of the sub-communities of the Columbus Ohio performing arts scene. How has that experience been?

Pete Mako: I think as a solo musician, it’s been easier getting into the local arts and music scene. Not that bands aren’t able to do so, but not everyone I used to work with are as open minded. I’ve met so many great people and the experience has been awesome. I want to do anything I can to promote Columbus music, arts, and events. I really like to show my work ethic and people have certainly taken notice. I still have a lot to learn about things, but the scene has been teaching and taking me in with open arms.

Tuned Up: Thoughts on DIY in Columbus? DIY in general?

Pete Mako: DIY to me is essential to me and Columbus. The do it yourself idea is fantastic and it allows us to showcase a lot of acts and artists that wouldn’t normally get the chance from a venue. It allows us to host a lot of amazing traveling acts and overall I feel like Columbus’s scene is really great. I’m a fan of it. In general, I think it’s pivotal to promoting tours and acts all over.

Tuned Up: Whats next for Pete Mako?

Pete Mako: What’s next? I’ve got a laundry list of things I want and need to do. I have a video in the works, my full album release is coming up, and I’m working on trying to piece together a band. I’d like to record again sometime in the spring with a full band, and I have pre-production of my next CD already started as far as concepts and ideas are concerned. That’s really what’s next, I’ve got a ton shows booked and in the works, so be sure to check my site to see my full schedule and my blog has a weekly news and updates post as well on my site, So check it out.