How I Built This with Guy Raz Merge Records: Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan
Dec 6, 2021
Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan, co-founders of Merge Records and members of the influential band Superchunk, take us through their wild journey in the indie music scene. They discuss the spontaneous creation of Merge while juggling life as indie musicians. Balancing art and emotion, they share stories of navigating a professional partnership post-relationship. The duo reflects on discovering talent, collaborating with bands like Arcade Fire, and the unique challenges of the evolving music industry, including the digital age and resurgence of vinyl.
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Budweiser Bass and Romance
- Laura's roommate's father, a Budweiser employee, gifted her a Budweiser-themed bass guitar.
- This led to Mac teaching Laura to play bass, a catalyst for their relationship.
Finding Belonging in Punk Rock
- Laura Ballance, a self-described introvert, found a sense of belonging in the punk rock community.
- She embraced a goth aesthetic, using egg whites for hair styling and experiencing ridicule from peers.
Early Music Influences
- Mac McCaughan's early music exposure came from his lawyer father, a fan of classic rock like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.
- Mac's own tastes gravitated towards harder rock such as AC/DC and The Who.