Sydney – Larissa McKay Music

March 14, 2018

Rieteke & Max’s Wedding at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

The ceremony for Rieteke and Max’s beautiful wedding was held at McKell Park, at Darling Point overlooking Sydney Harbour. I played music solo for the ceremony and then Jake and I played an acoustic duo set at The Royal Botanic Gardens while guests enjoyed drinks and canapés by the pond.

We moved up into the main reception room at The Botanic Gardens Restaurant just before the bride and groom and the rest of the bridal party made their entrance and as they settled in we played more acoustic live music as a duo through dinner and up until speeches. Then after speeches we switched to DJ for the rest of the evening.

Here’s a testimonial from Rieteke and Max.
“We are so happy we stumbled across Larissa while we were looking for musicians for our wedding. She is incredibly talented, and was more than happy to learn a new song for our ceremony and take the dance floor play list off our hands. Larissa played solo at our ceremony, was joined by Jake for a duo for our reception, and then they DJ’d for the rest of the evening – a fantastic all in one package! We got glowing reviews from our guests and would not hesitate to recommend Larissa.” – Reiteke Grosser

Photo-739 — Reception at Botanic Gardens acoustic DUO

Photo-250 — Wedding Ceremony at McKell Park, Darling Point

Here are their Song choices.
Ceremony entry: Still Falling for You by Ellie Goulding
Signing: Latch by Sam Smith
Ceremony exit: Walking On Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves
Bridal party entrance: you Make My Dreams by Hall and Oates
First dance: For Once In My Life By Michael Buble
Final song of the night: Higher Love by Steve Winwood

Being surrounded by lush greenery and native plants was absolutely incredible. Thanks for having us as part of your special day.

Photos are by the wonderful Charlie Ralph.

Larissa x

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November 13, 2017

Recap: Ramani & Daniel’s Wedding Ceremony in Double Bay, Sydney

It was an absolute pleasure playing live music for Ramani and Daniel’s wedding ceremony at Blackburn Gardens in Double Bay, Sydney.

Ceremony song choices
Entry: Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis
Signing: Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Lauryn Hill
Exit: Aint No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye

Thank you for the kind testimonial Ramani + Daniel. ❤️
“Larissa has the most beautiful & soulful voice – her singing really made our wedding ceremony special. Being able to walk down the aisle to ‘Can’t Help Fallin’ In Love’ was perfect, and we appreciated that she also learned two new songs for us.”

The lovely photos were taken by @cavanaghphotography

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It was such a stunning day overlooking the harbour and I felt very honoured to play acoustic music for them and to witness an authentic and heartfelt ceremony.

Larissa x

November 2, 2017

New cover – Free by Rudimental

June 9, 2017June 15, 2017

Why I Love Playing Music for Weddings (& my favourite songs)

I love playing live wedding music for ceremonies, there’s nothing quite like it in terms of music performing. I love being a part of a couples’ special day; creating a beautiful atmosphere as guests arrive, settling everyone but also building excitement and joy in the space through music. Everyone is slightly nervous and I feel like I am the anchor that happily grounds them. I love watching the emotion and expressions of joy on their faces and hearing the words they have chosen to express the way they feel about each other. I see the reactions of their loved ones, the often unseen support from groomsmen, the flutter of anxiety from friends rushing around organising things and the zen of the celebrant.

My wedding day was so special and I felt so engulfed by love and joy. When brides and grooms choose me to play music for their wedding it really is an honour.

My favourite wedding ceremony songs to play..
Can’t Help Falling in Love – the lyrics to this song are so cute & who doesn’t love Elvis
Latch – the dynamics in the melody create some beautiful rise and fall moments
At Last – the melody of this song is so fun to sing with all those bendy notes

Being a live wedding musician is the best job. I get to travel all over Sydney and to beautiful places in the country like Orange and the Hunter Valley which I may not have visited otherwise. I get to try lots of different beautiful wines and food and work with other creatives who are passionate about what they do. I get to meet lots of different people and all with my hubby by my side (most of the time). But the thing I love most is that I have the chance to share my gift of music to so many different people of all ages, walks of life and to see them enjoying themselves is just the best.

Love & gratitude..
Larissa x

17757156_10154808688833292_3813211400663378514_n — Jake and My Wedding Day

photo (61) — Reunited with a piano while travelling

live wedding musician, sydney wedding music, acoustic duo, acoustic music, wedding venue sydney, DJ.

May 24, 2017May 24, 2017

Recap of Nick and Kate’s Wedding at Racine in Orange, NSW

Congrats Kate and Nick on your beautiful wedding. We loved playing music for your special day at Racine Restaurant in Orange, NSW. I played solo for the ceremony in the gardens amongst the vineyard and then Jake joined me as a duo throughout canapés and lunch.

SONG CHOICES

Entry Latch by Sam Smith

Signing By Your Side by Sade

Exit Baby I Love Your Way

First dance At Last by Etta James

Mother & son dance Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwoole

Bride and groom exit Follow the Sun by Xavier Rudd

TESTIMONIAL from Kate and Nick

Everyone has travelled home and things have gone back to normal around here 🙂 and I just wanted to send a quick note to say thank you to both you and Jake for such a fabulous day on Saturday!! Everyone was absolutely raving about you all weekend, and couldnt stop talking about the fabulous entertainment we enjoyed!

Thank you so very much for bringing our vision for our wedding to life and for being just generally amazing people! One of our guests took the attached pic that I thought was just beautiful and that you might like to have!

Please do not ever hesitate to pass on my contact details to any couple that might need convincing that you guys are the perfect match for their wedding entertainment dreams!!

November 14, 2013November 14, 2013

In the Clouds EP – OUT NOW

I am so happy to announce that my EP, In the Clouds, is now available to everyone around the world via Cdbaby and iTunes.. so go get it and enjoy x

July 24, 2013July 24, 2013

Storyboarding

The ‘In The Clouds EP’ is being pressed as we speak. I’m flippin’ excited! All the beautiful people who donated to my Indiegogo campaign will receive their copy first and everyone will have to wait til it is released in October. In the meantime Boat, the first single is available to download at iTunes and Cdbaby. Boat has reached number one on the Pop Chart on Triplejunearthed so thank you everyone who rated and commented.

Pre-production for a music video for Boat has begun!! I’ve been busy scouting locations, moved a lovely but heavy pianola (I didn’t move it. Matt, Lakey & Jakey did) and have a great cinematographer and director on board. Film days are set for the beginning September and fingers crossed it warms up. I’ve been developing the storyboard with my beautiful friend Gianna, and it’s so much fun. Takes me back to London and making the other videos with Greg.

I’m getting heavily into yoga. It seems like the perfect exercise for me and I’m definitely reaping the physical and mental benefits. After a few weeks of terrible headaches, I had another scan and it appears I still have severe sinusitis – WHY DID I HAVE THE SURGERY??? – Breaks my balls off. My doc told me I could be allergic to the cold. That seems about right. So with this depressing news I leave you with a few lovely quotes. “Just because you’re in pain, doesn’t mean you have to be a pain.” And below..

Just want to say a few big thanks to some radio stations that have played my music in the past few weeks.

– Macca at Joy FM in Melbourne – Download the app or you listen online here – http://joy.org.au/

– Rosie at Triple J Unearthed Digital Radio – Download the app or listen online here – http://www.triplejunearthed.com.au/

– Hauaki Radio in New Zealand – http://www.hauraki.co.nz/

– Larry at Fbi 94.5fm – http://fbiradio.com/

My next gig is at The Acoustic Picnic on Friday August 9th. It’s a new night in Brookvale on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and I will be doing a duet or two, so it should be a great night. Here’s the Facebook event for more details and if you would like to book a table click here. Oh and did I mention I’m off to Splendour now.. roooooaaaaaddtttrrrriiippp! Larissa x

May 28, 2013May 28, 2013

And if you don’t know…

I think it’s safe to say that back in the early naughties I missed the boat on the r’n’b craze. Blink 182, Sum 41, Yellowcard and P.O.D were the bands I connected with and I think my childhood friend Chris is to thank/blame for that one. Me and a few exclusive friends (Fliss, George, Sam and Sof) bought skateboards, hung out in moshpits and wore sweat bands to school. We dressed our folders in pics of said bands and when we started going to parties we called “gatherings”and all the other girls were wearing skirts that showed off their pre-pubescent butts, we were wearing Sum 41 tees.

I’m not ashamed of this phase at all. Because I wasn’t even mildly appealing to the eye of a 16 year old boy, I worked on other things my personality and got to know boys from the inside out. This brings me to biggie smalls. At a hen’s weekend not long ago, amongst a tribe of Kiwi’s, the old time classics made a severe comeback. At first I resisted the unfamiliar sound of Biggie, and the way the other girls got low. They were astonished I hadn’t heard of Biggie Smalls. Notorious B.I.G? Nope. Just to check, I asked Fliss. She doesn’t know if Biggie either. However, now a few months after the Hen’s weekend, Biggie’s song has made it’s way to my Spotify playlist. How? I’m not sure, but that Juicy song’s like crack.

Another cracker, more my style..

The band, Yanto and I have finished recording at Oceanic and Airlock and three songs (Boat, In The Clouds and Serendipity) have been mixed and sent to be mastered. Two remain (Get High and Writers’ Block) and I’m getting pretty exciiiited. I have had some beautiful artwork made by Laura-Louisa Betts who won the design comp I ran. CONGRATS! She is so talented and lovely to work with, so I can’t wait to get them out there for you to see. One poster she made is below.

Boat will be the first single off the EP and will be released in June.

I did a little photoshoot with photographer, Jocelyn Nguyen, Rhiannan Atchinson and Lauren McKay on Styling and Kim Kindratt on makeup and hair. Thanks for making it so much fun guys and getting some good pics out of me. You were all so lovely to work with.

I’m parting with the parentals and moving out with my besties Fliss and Sof. We have found a mad pad and move in weekend after next. Should be good fun and can’t wait to start this next chapter. Mum and Dad are pretty good to live with and I will miss walking in the door and seeing their and Lenny’s faces each night. But they’re only round the corner, literally.

I have a few gigs coming up while I am organising the shizzle out of this EP release so would love to see you there!

Next gigs are:

Sunday June 30th 7pm – Coogee Bay Hotel.

Sunday July 14th 4-7pm – Stowaway Bar, Freshwater.

Cheers & get ready to hear Boat in a few weeks!

Larissa x

January 16, 2013January 17, 2013

Sort Your Sinus Out

Been a while. Sorry about that. I had probably the most horrific week of my life post sinus surgery. I won’t go into the details but I will mention a few things. Nose packing. Nose bleeds. Colon cleanse and throwing up in a plastic bag with a hole in it.

I am on the mend and although I still have a headache 24/7, hopefully I have a healthy, headache free life ahead if me.

I have acquired a new bassist, Oscar, who is the most beautiful soul and a killer bass player, so I am so happy to have him part of the team. We played Upstairs Beresford last week for our first gig together with guitarist David playing this one too. Was great fun and hopefully there’s plenty more to come. Mad venue, mad audience.

So I have been a crazy woman as of late trying to organise and plot recording the next EP. Wooooo. The EP will feature the band and new songs and I am lucky enough to be plotting this craziness with producer, Yanto Browning. What appealed to me about Yanto’s work is his use of dynamics and layers which I think is very important for the band’s sound at the moment. He knows how to convey emotion through recording which is so important. You gotta feel something or what’s the point?

I’m also booking some Brissie shows for March so stay tuned for confirmations.. And always playing in Sydney.

Chrissy and the holidays were lovely. Rode bikes, played music, went to the beach, rinsed scabs out of my sinuses and planted flowers. Life’s good my friends. I also fed a goat grass at my cousin’s place, went snorkelling and saw Two Door Cinema Club live.

I am forever grateful that I have a beautiful connection to music, for no matter how bleak things look or how empty I may feel about something in my life, I always find escape and joy through music and I can’t be thankful enough. Cheers for the genes Mr and Mrs McKay.

I have started doing yoga every morning and I really think it is making me more nimble and happy. I do a homemade version, but none the less I feel I’m compensating for the ridiculous workload, emotional load and late night boozing.

I hope you are enjoying 2013 and feeling as positive about what the year will bring as I do.

I listen to this song a couple of times a day at the moment. LOVE the clip, the band, the song.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=kiqIush2nTA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DkiqIush2nTA&gl=GB

Larissa x

November 21, 2012

Calm Before The Storm

Had a nice time playing at The Empire for some new young fans – the two Sophia’s and their families. Glad you guys liked my singing and I hope you’re enjoying my cds.

Now I have a few weeks off in prep for my surgery and recovery. The doctors have told me I will be rest bound in between flushing scabs out of my head. Charming. A friend has promised Season 5 of Gossip Girl so hopefully I can smash that, along with 30 Rock and not be too sad faced.

I have written a few songs lately which I think my appear on the EP planned for April 2013. Getting very excited thinking about it.

I’m obsessed with Spotify. Get it if you don’t have it. It is the best tool for discovering, sharing and listening to music. I pay $11.95 a month and have discovered more cool music in the past few months than I have in ages.

Went to a 60th as Amy Winehouse. See pic

Till next time,

Larissa x