Mega Music Talent

Posts Tagged ‘interview’

Mark Evans who is known as “Mark Discovered” or simply “Mark” is a 26 year old singer/songwriter from London/South East England. Mark comes across as a very realistic and genuine unsigned artist who has a strong and mature energy driven voice.

Mark has a lot going on at the moment with the launch of his debut video and album all kicking off this year.

We have been lucky enough to obtain an exclusive interview with Mark which gives us a real insight into his music, style and future plans.

So how did it all start? How did you get involved in Music?

Going back in time, for as long as I can remember I have been performing in one way or another. Back then it was a lot more stage performing and a heck of a lot of acting.

There was always something very appealing in being able to step on stage and be another character. It has then developed from there.

In terms of music, I studied it at school which had a much bigger classical emphasis which, although I enjoyed, I wanted to break free from and try something new. I just didn’t have a clue how to begin with. I would write my own tracks using basic midi systems and would really plod through things with very little technical know how. It wasn’t until a little bit later on when I entered an x-factor/pop idol style competition at a theme park did I really get going. The first year I entered I actually didn’t even get through to the final round.

I’ve never been one to give up too easily so I went back the following year having practised my stage performance a lot more and went on to win. From that, I got a day in the studio which really opened my eyes up to the industry I guess. Straight away I got the song up on MySpace and began looking at pushing the music further.

From there, I threw myself into getting my own tracks written and started by taking an Artist Starter Package at a studio in Battersea called Parkbench Studios. I don’t want to name drop, because it really isn’t my style BUT I got the opportunity to work with Ben Adams who is in the boy band A1. We went on to co-write more songs together. I learned a great deal from him in terms of song writing skill and technique and I am now in a position where I feel great ease in writing everything from the ground up.

Which artistes inspire you?

In terms of inspiration it is really hard to know where to start. I have had so many influences in musical taste because I have always made a point of getting to know people from all walks of life and therefore their musical tastes and so on. To begin with my parents have quite different musical tastes but they interchange so I learned very early on that it is perfectly acceptable to like more then one genre of music.

Nowadays it seems a lot of music fans get tied up in being totally biased towards a single genre and a belief that everything else is not proper music. When you come from a household that has 80’s Pop and Dance music like Madonna, A-Ha and Black Box playing one day and then Rock like Meatloaf or the Jam the next day you become very easily adjusted to all types of music.

Nowadays I will always lend an ear to something, regardless of what genre it is so it can sometimes be hard to pinpoint an inspiration.

Anyone who can bend the genres and take on different styles successfully is highly regarded in my eyes. The obvious being Michael Jackson but artists like Kelis, Meatloaf, Kylie Minogue, Justin Timberlake, Eminem, Melanie C and Lady Gaga have all given me moments of inspiration and ideas about my music. I can draw on all of them depending on what it is I want to achieve when I am writing.

Your due to shoot your very first video on 11^th April.

I am indeed. The first video is for a new track that I have only just recorded called “Supernatural”. It actually launches on April 2^nd on MySpace – the song that is.

I don’t want to give too much away because the whole story of the video and the song is about empowerment and self belief but that is something you have to find on out on your own. Sometimes you come across people in life that are so narrow minded and blinkered that try to hold you back or bully you when in reality you can draw power from that. It can make you stronger, almost to the point where you feel like a superhero or “supernatural”.

The video and song centres around that theme and most of all I want people to be able to draw on it and take away their own empowerment.

Additionally, you are also working on your debut album “discovered” – is this an long awaited ambition?

Most definitely. Originally, when I started creating “Discovered” I wanted to create something simply because I have always wanted to do it. I have always wanted my own album that I wrote that is a reflection of me. I was never really entertaining the idea of being famous or releasing an album even, I just wanted to create an album that was mine. It was only when people did start hearing it and responding so kindly that I realised that I should indeed share my music with anyone who wanted to listen. I have had such wonderful and positive feedback that I’d feel bad not sharing it, after all, isn’t that what music is for, for everyone to enjoy.

What’s your favourite track on the album?

That one is tough. As clichéd as it sounds they are all my favourites. They are all different strands of thought and feeling. It really can depend on my mood. Turn It Up or 2^nd Rate Love Song are great when I am getting ready to go out and party. Discovered (F.Y.I) is definitely one for when I need to remember what I am trying achieve and so on. I would say that right now, my favourite track is the new one, Supernatural. Simply because I feel it captures everything I am trying to say right now and the mind space I am in.

When do you plan to launch your album?

I haven’t set a date yet. Simply because I don’t want to get too bogged down in having a deadline for something and rushing myself to get stuff out. I am strong believer in letting the creative process flourish naturally and I keep writing with that regime in mind.

However, I do have a whole bunch tracks that are ready for the studio and from that I think it is safe to say that the album as a package is almost exactly where I want it to be. The other side of it is that of course, I am unsigned and the whole recording, mixing, mastering, printing and releasing of a record is a very expensive business and in this current climate I don’t want to take unnecessary and poorly judged risks in getting it out.

Don’t worry though, it isn’t far off and the first people to know when it is coming will find out directly via the MySpace page.

Do you write your own tracks?

Yes. As I mentioned earlier, a few of the tracks on the album have been co-written whilst I was still learning and getting to grips with how it all works. Of course, I was already writing alone long before then and I have continued on that way. I enjoy working with others but I also love the feeling when something is completely your own.

Listening to your tracks available from your myspace at myspace.com/markdiscovered you showcase a wide variety of catchy tracks, along with powerful ballads such as I’ll be there. Does this song have any personal reflections from your life?

Oh without a doubt. I always write from personal experience and reflection or even expectation. I’ll Be there was written for my other half as a Birthday and Christmas present.

Romantic? Ever so slightly.

At the time I was going through a real tough time and felt I was being a bit unfair to my partner so I wanted to get down in music the way I feel towards him. I think to say something with a song can be really capture an emotion if it is done well.

Do you prefer singing the ballads or pop related songs?

Again, it really depends where I am at emotionally. I absolutely love singing something that engages a response from someone.

Quite often I find that singing a ballad is real chance to show off some technique and really convey an emotion that can sometimes be frowned upon for a man to have. On the flipside, the mood can carry me to want to just have a whole lot of fun and dance a lot which is where a great pop or dance track comes in handy.

Have you any up and coming gigs coming soon?

Well, I am actually performing on Monday 12^th April at POP-REVUE! Which takes place at the Freedom Bar in Soho and it is a really big deal for me. I have found it very difficult to find nights that cater for a pop act or for someone that isn’t playing acoustic or in a band. This gig is my first major gig in London and is a massive opportunity to perform alongside some of the unsigned or newly signed talent that is out there. Naturally, I am always on the look out for more gigs and performance opportunities.

Do you enjoy the audience atmosphere?

The audience atmosphere is really important in any gig. I drive off of that atmosphere. I remember the gig where I launched the track Turn It Up. Although the audience was quite small they were electric. It is really difficult the feeling that gives you. An audience buzzing for you. I definitely felt that my performance went into total overdrive that night in a brilliant way. I can still feel the energy from that sort of gig days later.

What’s your favourite type of audience?

Having not had a massive amount of experience in larger venues it is hard to say. I have sung in many bars and pubs and the audiences are fantastic because it feels that much more intimate. When they respond well you can really feel it. I like to believe that if you have a much larger audience you may not have that intimacy but the energy is amazing. It is a flipside really and I would definitely like to keep a trend of catering to different audience sizes and venues.

Every artist whether signed or unsigned have had unexpected encounters on the stage. Can you recall an unexpected encounter on stage that wasn’t suppose to happen?

Ironically I haven’t had any encounters that were unexpected whilst singing. It has always been a real positive experience.

However, I have had some really bizarre experiences whilst I was in college.

We were doing panto and I would have to run up some stairs directly from the stage, chasing Cinderella. Near the top she would drop a shoe and I was supposed to pick it up and bring it back down the stairs. On one performance I got the slipper, turned and headed back down the stairs beginning my line “the slipper…“ and when I was about 4 steps away from the stage I tripped and literally flew down the rest and landed in a heap on the stage. I could hear the audience gasp as they realised it wasn’t a set up and all I could do was to raise the slipper and finish the line as if it was all planned “…your majesty”. Half of the cast and myself ended up in heaps of laughter the moment we got backstage. It was hysterical. Things like that can actually make a performance, you just have to learn the art of picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and get on with it.

Although you are not world class recognised. Myself, and I’m sure all your fans would agree that your music is world class, especially the professionalism of the songs showcased on myspace and I’m sure your future album. Would you like to be recognised as a world class performer and artist?

Wow. Thank you for that! I would love to be recognised that way most definitely. I wouldn’t say I necessarily want the celeb culture that goes along with that though. Being plastered all over the tabloids isn’t my idea of fun. I just want the world to hear my music and enjoy it, take something from it, whatever that might be.

Have you ever considered auditioning for reality programs for shows like X Factor?

I always wondered how I would respond to a question like this. I think I possibly consider it for about 2 milliseconds. Simply put… NO. I have too many ideas and things I want to do in a certain way and I honestly don’t think that X Factor offers that kind of versatility.

I am a tad selfish like that, but I know how I would want to do things. This isn’t taking anything away from shows like that though! If people really disliked them then people wouldn’t watch, simple as. Shows like X Factor give so many people an opportunity to get into the industry where they may have never been given that chance before. I mean seriously, Alexandra Burke is fantastic. I’ve heard people say things along the lines of “well if she was so good, why wasn’t she noticed before?”. Perhaps because she was never in the right place at the right time, who knows? The point is, she very much deserves to be up there on that stage doing what she does best as much as (and in some cases more than) some of the other artists around.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?

Hmmmm, I honestly couldn’t guess it or even take an educated stab at answering that fully. I know for sure that I will still be singing, I’ll still be writing and I will still be putting music out there for the world to hear. I have no idea what circumstances that will be under though. I wouldn’t want to be so presumptuous as to say I’ll be rocking the o2 and all that stuff but I can certainly dream about it.

Do you have any future plans once you have launched your debut album?

Well the first thing is to either settle a record deal or release the album under my own steam digitally at the very least. From that, I would really like to go on tour with it. Whilst this is all going on I have also been asked to play a villain in an independent movie. I can’t really reveal too much because it is in it’s early stages but I am certainly up for the challenge. I’ve always wanted to play a bad guy in a movie so this is a must do really. After that I want to continue writing more material and start looking forward to a second album.

Mark is producing some quality tracks at the moment, and I for one shall be looking forward to the release of his debut album and video. Mark’s music and official updates can be found on his myspace at http://www.myspace.com/markdiscovered/

Source: This article is © Gary Vine Associates. All rights reserved worldwide. Gary Vine is an internet Marketer who regularly writes music articles & promotes unsigned. Visit our news site at www.megamusicnews.com. We also promote unsigned artists through our free mailing list at www.megamusicdiscovers.com where we present you with quality music you never knew existed.

The Norwegian heavy rock band Toxic recently toured the UK to promote their new album Fear. I was very pleased when bassist Rolf Lura agreed to be interviewed and following you will find the outcome:

Trish: I always wanted to play an instrument well but after a screechingly dismal attempt at violin lessons and not much more success with a piano I decided that it was best to leave music making to others like yourself whom I feel quite envious of – just how many instruments do you play and which is your favourite?

Rolf: My main instrument is the bass, that’s what I play live with my band, Toxic. On our new album “Fear”, I’ve also played some double-bass, cello and organ in the studio. I like all the instruments that I play very much. If I have to pick a favourite, it has to be the bass.

Trish: Which was the first instrument that you ever played and how old were you?

Rolf: I started to play the Tuba in my local school band at the age of 9.

Trish: Why did you choose the tuba?

Rolf: In fact it wasn’t I that choose the Tuba. It was my music teacher. I was the tallest and strongest boy in my class, so therefore he advised me to play the heavy Tuba.

Trish: Very democratic of him! Is there any instrument that you can’t play that you would like to learn?

Rolf: The Church organ it’s a majestic and powerful instrument, I would love to learn to play it.

Trish: Yes you are right there; perhaps I will invite you over to learn in the church at the bottom of my street! Now for something different.

The very first single that I ever bought was See Emily Play by Pink Floyd and I still think that track is amazing. Which was the first single that you ever bought and what do you think of it now?

Rolf: It was “I was made for loving you” by Kiss. Now I wonder “Where the hell was my brain at the age of 12?”

Trish: I think that I see what you mean after watching the video on YouTube, those outfits and the white face paint eeeewh. Do you have a record in your collection that the rest of the band would tease you about?

Rolf: Maybe “Gothic Impressions” by a Swede called Par Lind. It’s an organ-based album that I adore, but the rest of the Toxic lads probably think that I’m insane in my brain because I love that album.

Trish: Maybe they have secret likes too! Which band or artist do you currently listen to the most?

Rolf: I never stick with just one artist for a long period; I try to vary a lot, so that I don’t get tired of a good artist. The bands that I listen to for the moment is: System of a Down, Opeth, Queen, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica ++++

Trish: If you had just one wish and could perform with any band or artist – alive or dead; who would that be and why?

Rolf: Queen w/Mr. Mercury or Judas Priest.

Trish: Ah!! I wrote on my blog last week that if I could go back in time the band that I would most like to see perform live would be Queen with Freddie Mercury – you have good taste.

Whenever I return home from holiday it’s a real let down having to return to work and reality. Toxic have just completed a 2 week tour of the UK, how does it feel to be back to reality?

Rolf: To be honest. This return to work and reality was the hardest ever in my life. We had two fantastic weeks and were longing to go back to England on the air trip back home.

Trish: I hope that you will be coming back soon, is there another tour planned?

Rolf: Our manager is in touch with several UK festivals, so we’re awaiting the results of his work. So the plan is to base our next UK tour around a festival next Summer, early Autumn.

Trish: That’s great, something to look forward to through the dreary winter months. This is your second tour of the UK, how did it compare to the first?

Rolf: This tour was definitely the best. Everything was well planned and prepared by our English manager, Mark. We felt so much welcome everywhere. You Englishmen are such a great people.

Trish: Er don’t forget English women! What was the highlight of the tour for you and was there any low?

Rolf: The highlights:-

Our first night in England was fantastic. We spent it at Josi’s radio studio. She works for ”Hard Rock Radio Live” We did a live radio show. Her comment after the radio session was. “You’re the craziest Vikings I’ve ever met, and this has been my funniest/best radio show ever”. Our last gig at “The Purple Turtle” in Camden/London was the best one. We had an amazing audience and a fantastic sound engineer.

The “Downside”:-

We played a gig in South London, upstairs in a pub in a crummy area. There was just a few people attending the show.

Trish: Darn it I missed the radio show it sounds great. Do you have lots of groupies flocking around you or aren’t we allowed to discuss that?

Rolf: There is only one thing to say about that. You didn’t turn up at any of our shows lol

Trish: You sweet talker! We have a saying in the UK – ‘do not judge a book by it’s cover’, but people do judge others by appearances. For instance some people see a biker and they fear them – OMG a hells angel type of reaction – when really most bikers are decent folks who love riding bikes. In the Chronos video the bikers are the good guys, was that intended as a statement or just a different twist to make the video more interesting?

Rolf: Chronos is the God of time. Our intention with the video was to make people wake up and see that things aren’t always what they look like. We try to put things upside down. Like you said. A biker can be good man, and a vicar can be a cruel one. We also turned Elvis into a Messiah. But, I have to admit that we like to be a bit provocative!

Trish: Provocative I like and I agree with what you are saying. I’ve been listening to your album Fear and appreciate the contrasts. Image means a lot for a band and the perceived image is not what I believe to be the true Toxic who from my limited contact are much nicer guys than the image dictates.

Trish: I’d like to thank you Rolf for your cooperation with this interview, you have given me some great answers. Hopefully we will see you in the UK again soon.

Rolf: I would like to thank you also for your questions. They were very good. Most interviewers ask the same questions over and over again, yours were something different. It was a pleasure to answer you back. If you feel that my English sucks, feel free to adjust it

Trish: I always like to be different. Your English is excellent, much better than my Norwegian, which is limited to Tusen takk (thank you very much)

Steven Hitchens is a talented young singer songwriter from the UK. Steven has just released his debut single Whoops on the Internet and is preparing his debut album. We have reviewed Whoops and below you will find an exclusive interview with Steven. You can find Steven Hitchens at: Official Website MySpace Facebook Steven Hitchens profile & Review Of Whoops

Gary: Hi Steven! It’s great to have the privilege in interviewing you and welcoming you to megamusicvideos.co.uk and megamusictalent.com as our November Headliner. So how did it all start? How did you get involved in Music? Which artistes inspire you?

Steven: I’ve always been into music from a very young age. At the age of six I started dance lessons and at eleven I was doing drama lessons, but I’ve been singing since as long as I can remember. I wrote my first song when I was ten called ‘Baby Blueday’ and my friend played the guitar. It was awful!

I am loving the music scene at the moment as there are so many fantastic artists out there. Ultimately I would like to have the longevity and massive would tours like Madonna and I am really into urban music at the moment, so I’m really like Ne-Yo and Taio Cruz and think they are both amazing artists.

Gary: Of all the bands / artists in your CD / record collection, which ones do you own the most albums by?

Steven: I would say Madonna. I’m a bit of a collector when it comes to CD’s. I find an artist I like and buy every single album and sometimes singles that they release.

Gary: What was the last song you listened to?

Steven: Lie to Me by Ne-Yo

Gary: What’s In Your Record / CD Player right now?

Steven: In my CD player I have a vocal warm CD as I am rehearsing for some gigs I have this weekend but now I have an iPod I mostly listen to that!

Gary: What song would you say sums you up?

Steven: There are so many songs that I identify with. There’s nothing like listening to your favourite song when you are feeling down. I think I’d say ‘I Can Be’ by Taio Cruz as I listen to that all the time. It psyches me up for whenever I have do a gig or something.

Gary: What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?

Steven: I never manage to see as many show’s as I would want to. But Justin Timberlake’s Future/Sex/Love/ Sounds tour was very good. I don’t think that there’s anything that the man can’t do!

Gary: What’s the worst band you’ve ever seen in concert?

Steven: I won tickets to Liberty X in concert they weren’t that bad but they were very rude to the fans afterwards and refused to sign any autographs.

Gary: What band do you love musically but hate the members of?

Steven: I love Amy Winehouse’s music, but her private life being on show all the time takes some of her achievements away. I don’t care what she gets up to behind closed doors!

Gary: What show are you looking forward to?

Steven: I’d love to see Ne-Yo in concert.

Gary: What musician would you like to hang out for a day?

Steven: I wouldn’t mind hanging out with Pink. I think we’d get on great. We both speak our mind and stand up for what we believe in!

Gary: What in your opinion is the greatest decade for music?

Steven: 90’s definitely! You had wicked Britpop. The great bands, Blur and Oasis, the Spice Girls and it was when Madonna was at her best. Some of the tracks on my album have a slight 90’s feel.

Gary: Your debut single “Whoops” is due to be officially launched on November 3rd. Are you excited about the prospect of having your own single released?

Steven: ‘Whoops’ is the first single I ever professionally recorded, so it’s only right it’s my debut single. I can’t wait for the release and hope that everyone will love it. All the feedback I’ve had so far has been overwhelming.

Gary: Please provide some more information on how you put the single together?

Steven: I actually started writing ‘Whoops’ in my Kitchen while doing the washing up! I’ll be in the strangest of places and I’ll have the lyrics and melody forming in my head. Then I use the voice recorder on my phone and forward to my producer who then creates the music for the track based on the styles and brief I give him. I recorded this song late last year in a recording studio in South London. I was thrilled when it was completed. I didn’t expect it to sound so good!

Gary: Listening to your tracks available from your myspace at myspace.com/stevenhitchens you showcase a wide variety of catchy pop songs, along with powerful ballads such as passionate which is sung as the title explains. Does the song Passionate have any personal reflections from your life?

Steven: Thank you. I’m not in a relationship at the moment but I do dedicate ‘Passionate’ to my future lover! It’s a pretty romantic song and I guess it can be quite romantic. It was one of the easiest songs to record because it is quite simple and so heartfelt.

Gary: Do you prefer singing the ballads or pop related songs?

Steven: Both are just as good, there’s nothing like pop songs to get a party started and it’s also good to have a slow dance at the end of the set. There’s nothing like helping people get together.

Gary: Have you any up and coming gigs coming soon?

Steven: Yes I have 3 gigs at the end of this week at venues in South London in aid of a breast cancer charity. They should be brilliant nights with lots of other singers performing. So hopefully we’ll make a lot of money for a very worthy cause.

Gary: Do you enjoy the audience atmosphere?

Steven: The audience are the best thing about performing live. There is nothing better than recording an album, rehearsing it and then getting to perform it. Doing gigs is also the best way of getting people’s reactions from yours songs.

Gary: What’s your favourite type of audience? (i.e. pub, club, mini arena, etc)

Steven: I’ve only done intimate gigs so far and I love them because you get to really make a connection with the audience but I would love to do an arena tour with backing dancers and a live band.

Gary: Every artist whether signed or unsigned have had unexpected encounters on the stage. Can you recall an unexpected encounter on stage that wasn’t suppose to happen?

Steven: I recently did a gig at my sister’s wedding and the wrong backing track came on. I thought I could carry on and sing on backing tracks I haven’t practiced for months or I could stop, get the right CD with the right backing tracks. Luckily the wedding was in a big manor house in the country and we were staying in rooms upstairs, so I legged it up to my room, got the CD and carried on with the show. No one seemed to mind and the set went on without any further hitch!

Gary: Next year you are due to officially release your debut album. Are you excited about this?

Steven: I spent about a year making this album and because I have no financial backing at the moment, it has all come out of my own pocket. So it is very special to me. I always wanted to record an album but it was one of those things I never thought I’d do.

Gary: I know the launch of your new album is “hush hush”, but can you give us a preview in telling us what this album means to you?

Steven: This album means everything to me. In some places it is quite autobiographical. There are songs that are about my demons and flaws. But it’s not all about me. I also like writing songs about other people. There is a song on the album about my best friend from college who had a hard childhood and came out on top and got a great job. I love writing songs about other people and life situations.

Gary: What is your favourite song on this new album?

Steven: I gotta say ‘Whoops
’ as it’s my baby but they’re so many other great tunes on there.

Gary: What is the launch date of your debut album?

Steven: I haven’t got an exact date at the moment but it will be late spring next year.

Gary: Although you are not world class recognised. Myself, and I’m sure all your fans would agree that your music is world class, especially the professionalism of the songs showcased on myspace and I’m sure your future album. Would you like to be recognised as a world class performer and artist?

Steven: That would be great! I love touching people with my songs as they come from my heart. I’m not really materialistic or bothered by fame or celebrity, but honestly… who would say no?! If I can inspire others with my music and I am successful in what I do then that is all that matters.

Gary: Have you ever considered auditioning for reality programs for shows like X Factor?

Steven: You can see some great artists from shows like the X Factor, but then there are also the 5 minute wonders too. I’d rather do some gigs and put my album out there and see what happens.

Gary: Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?

Steven: As long as I am happy and successful I don’t really mind. It would be great to do a world tour with the album, so I’ll see how things go.

Gary: Do you have any future plans once you have launched your debut album?

Steven: I am going to be promoting my album all year and hopefully I’ll be doing more gigs as well and I’m am returning back into the studio at the end of the month to start on my second album but I’m really going to take my time with this one. I’m working with new producers so maybe you’ll be hearing a different sound from me in a year or so.

Gary: Thank you Steven, it has been a pleasure talking to you and I wish you all the success with the launch of your debut single and shall look forward equally to hearing the completed version of your album.

The single “Whoops” is a catchy pop song written and performed by Steven and is available for MP3 download now. Check out the review.