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Newport City Radio – Live Right here, Right Now
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Episode 78: What'll be in the box at Elimination Chamber?
Graphic of Kym and Ian Mac sat on sofa
Tales from The Warm Hub
It was a warm and laughter-filled Monday night at Newport City Radio as musician Ian “Mac” Mack reunited with fellow artist Keys and host Kym for a catch-up filled with travel tales, new music, and creative plans.
For Keys, it was a familiar return (“She lives here now — she’s in the basement!” joked Kym), but the big update of the evening came from Ian, who has spent the past year living a life many only dream of.
Trading Bricks for Waves
After relocating abroad, Ian made a bold decision in January last year — instead of buying a house, he bought a 45-foot steel yacht and moved aboard. Since then, he’s sailed from the Arctic Circle down through Norway, Sweden and Denmark before mooring in Stralsund, Germany.
“The scenery in the Trollfjord was just pure and majestic,” he shared. “The photos couldn’t do it justice — it was stunning.”
The voyage took three months with stops to shelter from storms and even icy dips to check the underside of the boat. “Caribbean-white beaches, turquoise water — but it was freezing!”
New Album: Honesty & Innocence
Despite his nautical lifestyle, Ian hasn’t strayed from his music. Before setting off, he completed vocal work for his new album, Honesty & Innocence, releasing soon — with the single “You Are The Flower” out 14 November.
The album blends delicate romance with rockier tracks, and the floral-themed cover art was painted by Ian himself.
“You Are The Flower came from researching flowers that bloom all year,” he explained. “The idea is you’re always in bloom — whatever the season.”
Future Musical Adventures
With his latest project nearing launch, Ian is already planning the next:
a 12-track album performing duets with 12 female artists.
Keys may be one of them — and Kym jokingly put herself forward, though she admitted she’s “no rap-a-doll”. Ian, however, wasn’t ruling out adding rap elements to future songs. “Two of my kids are into rap, so who knows — maybe a rap bridge one day.”
Keys, meanwhile, shared two ambitions of her own: releasing softer acoustic music that nods to her singer-songwriter roots, and reinventing unexpected songs into high-energy dance tracks.
“I love taking something soft and turning it into a techno moment — shaking it up completely,” she said.
Life Between Land and Sea
Though Ian misses performing, life aboard the yacht allows space for writing and recording. He plans to rehearse and gig during the winter before setting sail again.
And what about danger on the open sea?
“I sleep like a log,” he laughed. “There are parts of the world where pirates are a risk but not where I am.”
Keys, meanwhile, celebrated her latest achievement — “a very good nap on Sunday,” she proudly announced.
Good Friends, Warm Studio, Big Dreams
The conversation ended the way many creative meetings do — with talk of tea, chocolate hobnobs, and the kind of camaraderie that fuels artistic sparks.
As the rain tapped outside, the trio chatted future music, travel plans, and the joy of shared inspiration.
“Everyone knows something the next person doesn’t,” said Kym. “And that’s the magic — helping each other move forward.”