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John-Mark
John-Mark interview conducted September 2005 by Rachel Carrie Wann.|
John-Mark: Vocals, Guitar Rachel: John-Mark as a band has celebrated some success after signing with Maverick Records earlier this year. How did the whole journey begin? |
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John-Mark: Well, I guess you could say it began when we picked up our instruments...
James: Basically, it started when we were 13 or so and started playing music.
Rachel: How did you all come together as a band?
John-Mark: Scott was in a band with my brother, and then I picked up the guitar and so then James and I were in a band together...all four of us were in past punk bands. After all that, I kinda wanted to start fresh and pick up my acoustic guitar and wrote a few songs. I got Scott to come in and play on recordings for demos and we kind of evolved from there. We grew from a singer-songwriter project, into a full band.
Rachel: Did you all know each other from childhood?
John-Mark: Yeah, James and I went to grade school together, same with Scott...
James: Scott and I were enemies. He was a Crypt and I was a Blood.
Rachel: How did Vito come into the picture?
John-Mark: Well, we met him from an 800-number...no, actually, we were going through a lot of drummers...we were looking for the special one, one that would commit and stand out when we heard this roaring engine...and it was Vito and his mustang.
Rachel: Your sound it notably different from what most bands in San Diego are offering and on the same note, what most fans are used to hearing coming from the likes of Soma, the Epicentre, etc. How would you describe your sound?
John-Mark: It's just rock with pop influences. to band: What would you guys describe it as?
James: Rastafarian Hardcore.
Rachel: As far as your musical inspirations go, who would you consider to be your heroes?
James: John Lennon...and you know, NWA...
John-Mark: I think everyone would agree that
if it's good music, we were probably influenced by it, whether if its the
Beatles, U2, or if it's
Tom Petty, or Aerosmith.
Vito: Dave Grohl. He's just a beast, he makes all other drummers look stupid. I really like [Ryan Dusick] the drummer from Maroon 5.
Scott: John Lennon. He was a genius.
James: I just really loved his message of being in unity even though we have differences...that's what I've extracted from his music.
Rachel: You recently were talking to your A&R guy about other artists you would like to collaborate with. Who would you list?
James: Ken Andrews...he was in a band called Failure and he's doing a lot of producing for indie bands these days. Also, I love Paul McCartney.
John-Mark: It would be interesting be in the same room as Rivers from Weezer. I think it'd be cool to work with Dave Grohl because of all his past experiences in Nirvana and Foo Fighters...he's like a muscle of rock.
James: Their going to think Dave Grohl paid us...
Rachel: John-Mark, tell me about your experience studying at the Musicians Institute in L.A.?
John-Mark: My manager at the time, Gary Nuell, who's still with us now, lives up in Los Angeles, and I needed to move up there to work more closely with him. So I did that, and I went through the Artist Development program at Musicians Institute.
Rachel: Did it strengthen you as an artist?
John-Mark: Yeah, it was cool. I studied vocals,
guitar, songwriting...I met with producers. It didn't make this career, but
every little step
along the way was like building blocks.
Rachel: Being offered a major record deal is an amazing opportunity that most bands dream of, how did the whole process work?
John-Mark: Well it didn't happen over night...
James: John-Mark had showcased multiple times, I showcased with my old band many times...then when we started showcasing as this band we'd hear that there was interest from certain labels and we'd get really excited, but then they never came through with the contract. We felt led on in a sense. We recorded a new demo and our manager shopped it out and then we got the offer from Maverick.
John-Mark: I think if I can give any tip to anyone else trying to do this, it would be that you shouldn't be doing this to get signed, you just have to do what you love and if that lines up with the right company, then great!
Rachel: Was Maverick your number one choice for a label?
John-Mark: Scott and I had done an acoustic showcase for them years back and they had always been the number one label for me personally.
Rachel: How was your trip to New York?
John-Mark: It was great, we got asked to play this conference in New York City, so we went and got to play a show in Times Square. And yeah, what happens in New York, stays in New York...
Rachel: Interesting...Well, tell me about your writing process.
John-Mark: It's pretty simple actually... it's just always different every time. Our songs are based, primarily on life experiences, relationships. Yeah, I write relationship songs. I write the lyrics and the music and bring it to the band and then we jam it out.
Rachel: You guys have played a lot and showcased in L.A. How's the vibe there?
Scott: It's competitive, and everyone is doing something completely different trying to get to the same goal.
Rachel: How do you feel you'll be received by San Diego audiences being that you're not as "punk" or hard as many of the popular bands here?
John-Mark: Hey! Isn't this SanDiegoPop.com? laughs
Rachel: Has music become your full-time job?
John-Mark: It has, I'm always song-writing or working up in L.A. Same with Scott... his whole life revolves around music.
Scott: I drive up to L.A. every week and work in studios, yeah, I put a lot of miles on my car.
Rachel: What do wish to accomplish overall?
John-Mark: Well, long term, I'd say we'd all like to make a difference, get our message out there. Hopefully, people will receive us well, and relate to that message.
Scott: The short term is just to get our record done and go on tour.
James: Also, long term, I'd say to gain experiences with one another, grow as friends, you know... One Love.
John-Mark: We're looking at finishing the record by the new year and having the release be in Summer, 2006.
Rachel: You mentioned wanting to make a difference.
Elaborate on that, and tell me who is someone you consider to be making legitimate
changes throughout the world in the music industry.
John-Mark: Bono. He's really making a difference
using the stage he's been given for good, with the One Campaign, for example.
He's always been a good guy. I think that's what really matters and if that's
something we were ever able to accomplish...we would.
Rachel: That's awesome. Thank you guys!
Website: http://www.johnmarkmusic.com
mp3s: http://www.myspace.com/johnmark
Interview by Rachel Carrie Wann
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