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Singer-songwriter Will Makar may only be a sophomore at Berklee College of Music, but his experience as a performer already extends more than a decade. Will has just released his self-titled debut album, featuring the singles "I Won't Make It Out" and "For You." Hailing from Houston, Texas, Will is now based in Boston where he is pursuing a degree in vocal performance at Berklee.
During Will's sophomore year in high school, he auditioned for American Idol’s fifth season and quickly became one of America’s favorites. Once the season began airing, Will moved on through the auditions, making it through Hollywood week and into the top 24. Will appeared in front of more than 30 million viewers on American Idol Season 5 for months. He finished as the eighth male vocalist out of tens of thousands who auditioned that season. Upon elimination, Simon Cowell said “You handled yourself like a gentleman. What ever you go into, you’re going to do well. I like you.” Will told Fox News "Music is what I love to do, I love everything about music. That's what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna pursue it."
After Idol, Will returned to College Park High School in The Woodlands, Texas and began performing and weighing recording contract offers from various labels. Will appeared on The Super Idol Tour throughout the southwest in October, 2006, and has performed the National Anthem for the Houston Astros, Dynamos, and Texans, for The Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, and at the Westside Men’s Clay Court Finals. He was guest soloist with the Houston Symphony’s Star Spangled Salute on July 4th, 2006.
Will finally decided to sign with an indie label, which would allow him to finish his last two years of high school, all while continuing to define his own sound and recording his debut album. Will spent his junior and senior years of high school flying back and forth to New York City on weekends and school breaks to record his debut album with the staff producers from his new label, and he released his debut album nationally two weeks after high school graduation.
Will spent late June of 2008 in New York City promoting his album and in songwriting sessions with Australian pop star Nathan Leigh Jones. Those sessions yielded Will's next single "Love Cliché" as well as the song "Pick It Up" which is being recorded by labelmate Ayla Brown for her next release.
Will then moved to Austin, TX in July of 2008 and spent the next 6 months performing live (including a standing gig at Momo's), songwriting and studying recording production. SInce moving to Boston, Will has already started performing at bars and venues throughout the Northeast, gaining new fans wherever he plays.
Will Makar was a member of the Houston Children’s Chorus from 1996-2003. His HCC singing experiences took him around the world, and included performances at the 1997 Economic Summit, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and the American/Japanese Summit in Hiroshima, Japan. Will also had the opportunity to perform for three US Presidents (George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush), and to perform as a backup singer for Celine Dion during her 1999 "Let's Talk About Love" tour. He has studied voice with Tom McKinney (Beyonce, Mario, Ray-J) and was named to the 2006 and 2008 Texas All-State Choir.
Will's debut album was released in June 2008 on Double Deal Brand Records. Will's first single from the album is "I Won't Make It Out." Will has written or co-written the majority of the tracks for his album, many with frequent collaborator Scott Harris (The Scott Harris Project.) The album was produced by Jim McGregor (Ayla Brown) and recorded in New York at Raw Sugar Studios, A-Pawling Studios and Double Deal Studios. The record was mixed at A-Pawling Studios by Peter Moshay (Mariah Carey, Hall & Oates.)
The album is currently available at itunes and all other digital stores online. Now that's some rockin' stuff right there...
