A quick chat with Sam Marks
Sam Marks only debuted a few months ago and has just last week has followed that new single 'Eventide'. The upbeat indie-rock track will have you feeling like you're out in the open road heading to the beach in no time making it a perfect addition to your playlist for Summer. We had a quick chat with Sam about his track and found out what beach we might be able to catch him at this summer.
Congrats on the new release Sam, the track has a real summer vibe. Can you tell us more about the track and how it came to its final state?
Thanks very much! The writing of the track was mostly influenced by a trip to San Francisco in 2018, where I met someone and had a connection with them. It was a brief and exciting ride. Eventide is kind of an enigmatic cousin of my first release 'Ellie Mae'. It's definitely more open to interpretation and impressionistic in its lyrics. The song had a number of iterations and I took some time getting it to its final state. There was a bit of sending chorus and structural ideas to Callum (producer and engineer), and working away and until I didn't think it was terrible!
We know you just debuted in September with your solo work, what you were doing beforehand and what has led you to this solo project?
I've spent years playing in rock bands. My band White Bay is currently on Hiatus while I pursue this solo project. I've also spent years studying classical composition, film music, classical music on the whole from a young age. Most saliently though, I felt like a change in my contemporary band music. I'm fairly mercurial when it comes to going between styles and writing, and this has been one sitting in the back of my mind for some time now.
Who are your biggest musical influences and do you think those influences come through in the music you write?
I've got a fairly broad range of interests and influences, from a degree in composition (Sydney Conservatorium of Music), to growing up playing in rock bands alongside classical piano, and now venturing into Gypsy Jazz! I'd say my rock or band influences (old ones and new ones) include anything Chris Cornell, Kings Of Leon, The Strokes, Bob Marley, Foo Fighters, Ray LaMontagne, to name a few. But I'm always hearing new things I like and feel inspired by - like Lime Cordiales new album. That is bloody unreal! Of course I love all the locals like Sticky Fingers, Ocean Alley, Skeggs. Also some slightly less well known bands like Turnover, Alvvays, Ocie Elliot.
It's hard to say but I'd say a few influences come through. I'm always keen to hear what subjective things people have to say about sounds in my music and how they relate to them, because it can be hard to tell objectively for myself!
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
This is a very tough question. Many artists for various reasons! I'll do my best to choose one.
Chris Cornell. He has been a huge influence on me as a singer. I've always loved his enigmatic and smokey low vocal tones. I've equally always loved his aggressive, gritty, but tasteful high range vocals. I'd love to collaborate with him and pick his brain about his vocals, and writing. He certainly wrote about philosophical and literary themes we are curious about as humans. He presented them in his own unique way, through his writing, and his vocal styles.
Summer is here and we'll be on the road to our favourite beaches playing 'Eventide' in the car. Where is your favourite beach and why?
My beach choice is definitely mood dependent and activity dependent! If I want that tropical island feel, have some work to do, or want something smaller, I'll head to Shark Beach (Nielsen Park) and do the coastal walk there, dipping in and out of an array of small beaches.
To get out into the surf I'll head east to Bondi, where you get the international feel as a bonus. Of course any of the Northern Beaches. Umina beach in the central coast where my cousins live is pretty swell. (Can't choose just one!)
What are your plans for 2021? Any new music? Any New Years Resolutions you plan on starting?
I'll be beginning the year by finishing this EP off with Callum Howell (producer / engineer) starting Jan 25! I'm currently writing and writing to find the best three songs I can for the recording. New years resolution may be to ease back a little on too many musical ventures and stop inundating myself with work, giving me a little more time to relax and hang out with mates. It's all about balance, so they say!d
I'm hoping to have a second EP out next year after this current one. I reckon I'll be booking in studio time pretty soon after finishing this one up!
