Laura Sandra MacFarlane (also credited as Lora MacFarlane) is a Scottish-born Australian multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and audio engineer. Since 1996 she is the founding mainstay of the Australian indie rock band, ninetynine. MacFarlane also performs solo and has been in other bands, including as an early drummer and singer with United States rock group, Sleater-Kinney (1994–96).
Biography
Laura Sandra MacFarlane is from Glasgow, Scotland. Her parents are George MacFarlane (1936–2006) and Patricia "Patsy" MacFarlane. She has two older siblings and one daughter. The MacFarlane family migrated to Perth in October 1978. She performed in other local bands, including Halcyon Days on drums<!-- Last names not in source -->
MacFarlane then joined Manic Pizza, on bass guitar and vocals, with Gareth Edwards (Sandro) on guitar and Cameron Potts on drums. As a member of Manic Pizza, MacFarlane relocated to Melbourne in the early 1990s. on guitar, viola, percussion and vocals, with McIntyre and Potts. That group's material was later included on a compilation album, Jelly (1995).
thumb|MacFarlane on keyboards and vocals with [[ninetynine, Northcote Social Club, 2007]]
MacFarlane began playing drums and vocals in 1994 with visiting United States rock group, Sleater-Kinney, and in 1995 she went to Olympia and Seattle to tour and record with the band. She is the drummer, co-producer and co-writer on their self-titled debut album, Sleater-Kinney. She is also lead singer and guitarist on the track "Lora's Song". MacFarlane provided drums, backup vocals and guitar (track 12) on their follow up album, Call the Doctor (March 1996).
In 1996, MacFarlane returned to Melbourne and founded an indie rock band, ninetynine, initially as a solo project, playing all the instruments on the debut album, 99 (October 1996). Her project soon became a band, including Potts (from 1997) and McIntyre (from 2000). By 2010, ninetynine had released eight albums, and toured the world several times. The band celebrated their 20th anniversary with the release of Further in 2016. MacFarlane founded her own record label, Patsy, She has worked with other artists, including Lee Memorial (alongside Karl Smith of Sodastream), Bombazine Black, The Wonder, Winterborn, Tarantula, Trixies Undersea Adventure, Boo Who, Popemobile, Dragster, Scared of Horses, Cold Cold Hearts, Madigan, Disaster Plan, Clag, and Low Talk.
MacFarlane has worked as audio engineer at 3CR Melbourne radio, and on many recordings, including solo work, recent ninetynine releases, Covens Revenge, The Hatchets, Cleber Claux Memorial Singers, Baseball, Love of Diagrams, The Stabs, and Jules Sheldon. MacFarlane is also a teacher and educator of music, establishing Augment Music Education in 2016. She is based in Melbourne, and still plays as a member of ninetynine, as well as performing solo.
In 2020, during the Melbourne Covid lockdown, MacFarlane started the Vivid Recording Project, which was a series of three EPs that featured a specific instrument, and only that instrument, with vocals. The EPs were Into the Metalude (vibraphone), The Narrows (guitar) and Future Obscura (Casio keyboards). Their initial releases were in conjunction with the Bandcamp Fridays, held to assist music artists during the pandemic. In 2021, the whole project was released as the album ViViD.
Discography
Ninetynine
- The Triantiwontigongolo – Ninetynine EP CD 1996 (Woozy)
- 99 CD 1996 (Patsy/Endearing)
- 767 CD and LP Album 1998 (Patsy/Endearing/Chapter)
- Girl Crazy – Woekender LP 1998 (Remedial Records)
- Ersatz Split 7" 1999 (Radio One)
- 180 Degrees CD and LP 2000 (Patsy/ Radio One)
- Vivian Girls Split 7" 2001 (Chapter)
- Anatomy of Distance CD 2002 (Patsy/Stckfigure)
- The Process CD and LP 2002 (Trifekta/Appliances & Cars)
- Receiving the Sounds of Science Fiction CD EP 2003 (Dark Beloved Cloud)
- World of Space World of Population World of Robots CD 2006 (UAR/Stickfigure)
- Chapter 99 – Compilation CD 2006 (Sones)
- Silo EP 2008 (Patsy)
- Bande Magnetique CD 2010 (Patsy)
- Woods 7" 2016 (Patsy)
- Further 7" and CD 2016 (Patsy)
Laura MacFarlane
- Into The Metalude EP 2020 (Patsy)
- The Narrows EP 2020 (Patsy)
- Future Obscura EP 2020 (Patsy)
- ViViD Album 2021 (Patsy)
Sleater-Kinney
- Sleater-Kinney 1995 CD LP (VVK /Chainsaw)
- Call the Doctor 1996 CD LP (Chainsaw)
- Start Together 2014 CD LP (Subpop)
Other
- The Brautigans – Walk Along the Waterfront/Homecoming 1991 Cassette single
- The Brautigans – Scar-red 1991 Cassette Album
- Manic Pizza – Deep Pan Delivery 1991 CassetteAlbum
- The Sea Haggs – Beastie 1993 Cassette EP
- The Sea Haggs – Jelly 1995 CD (Woozy)
- Dragster – Dragster CD LP 1996 (Little Teddy/Hoppel Di Hoy)
- Popemobile – The Triantiwontigongolo CD 1996 (Woozy)
- Pip Proud – Matildas You Fiend LP 1996 (BBAPTC)
- Madigan – Rock Stop 1996 CD LP (Moon Puss)
- Cold Cold Hearts – Yer So Sweet (Baby Donut) 7" 1996 (Kill Rock Stars)
- Casini – Woozy 20 Compilation CD 1997 (Woozy)
- Bruna – Lumber CD 1998 (Bun)
- Scared of Horses – An Empty Flight CD 1998 (Brass Companion)
- Sea Scouts – Beacon of Hope 1998 (Patsy)
- The Cat's Miaow – The Long Goodbye 10" (Darla Records)
- Boo Who – Tigers Are Better Looking 2000 (Patsy)
- Trixie Undersea Adventure – Life Raft CD 2001 (Patsy Radio One)
- Small Sips – Morning Ripples CD 2006 (Rogue Records)
- Up For Grabs movie soundtrack – Count with Kevin 2007 (Up For Grabs)
- Lee Memorial – The Lives of Lee Memorial CD 2009 (Dot Dash)
- Tunnel Vision Song Contest – No Tunnel No Way Single 2014
- Covens Revenge – Covens Revenge CD 2017 (Backyard Charlies)
- Sodastream – Letter From Melbourne Single 2020
References
External links
- Laura MacFarlane Bandcamp page
- Ninetynine Bandcamp page
- Ninetynine Facebook page
- Ninetynine Youtube channel
- Woozy
- "Artist on Artist: Dead River Vs Ninetynine", archived from the original on 19 April 2015, Mess+Noise, February 2014. Accessed on 6 October 2015.
- "Photo Gallery: Lou Barlow + Laura MacFarlane @ Northcote Social Club – 17 April 2012"