Austrian musician Mark dives into memory, humor, and modern life in Rock Bytes, blending classic rock with digital edge. We spoke with him about inspiration, innovation, and timeless storytelling.
1. Mark,
congratulations on the release of Rock Bytes! Can you tell us how your fans
helped inspire this full-length rock album?
Well, over
time, I've received the best feedback from my fans for my rock songs
"Freeway" and "Welding Metal."
Furthermore, my rock songs are streamed more often than average, especially in
the Netherlands and the US.
My fans and friends seems to wanna rock ;-)
2. You’ve had previous success with singles like “Freeway” and “Welding
Metal.” What made you feel now was the right time to create a full album?
On the one hand, I already had some ideas and sketches in my drawer, and on the other hand, I finally had a vacation in March to have energy and time for the album.
3. You’ve mentioned artists like Queen and Dire Straits as influences. How
did their legacy shape your songwriting or production style on Rock Bytes?
love the theatrical and operetta-like elements that Queen brought to their rock songs. The cool guitar sound of the Dire Straights also grabbed me back then. I think if you were young between the 70s and 80s, you heard and experienced rock much more intensely.
4. The album’s title suggests a fusion of analog and digital worlds. How do
you approach blending classic rock elements with modern production techniques?
The album is produced completely digital but the steams, parts and loops are build, restructured, welded and forged in long lonesome nights. The stories and lyrics came over time through my daily life in the digital business, the transformations I see in all areas of life today...and through books and self reflection during my vacation on the Maldives.
5. One of the standout tracks is “Old Soul.” Can you walk us through how
this song breaks away from traditional structures and what message it conveys?
Old Soul
should have ended with “fee so sad” in the pre-chorus, but instead I cut the
usual arithmetic and exchanged the more intense chorus for a quiet, tender
conversation between the old soul and the newly reborn body, including the new
heart.
Perhaps the tension in our lives is the ever-aging soul with the ever-new
immaculate heart.
6. “Sugar Sugar” has a more playful origin — what was it like turning a
humorous moment with a waiter into a full-fledged rock song?
In the
middle of my vacation, I was in a great mood and had to chuckle because the
waiter wanted to add sugar to my coffee every day, even though I always
refused.
I once said loudly, finger raised, "No sugar at all." It became a
running joke and practically demanded a song.
7. You produced this album in your private studios in Vienna and Styria.
What’s the creative energy like in those spaces, and how do they influence your
sound?
I'm fortunate enough to be able to alternate between the big city of Vienna and a small rural town. High life and nature interact, or in a healthy balance, you could say. It's inspiring and grounding.
8. You’ve described some unconventional production choices, like cutting and
reassembling songs in unexpected ways. What did this experimentation bring to
the music?
Much of today's music tastes like old strawberry ice cream. Breaking up a typical song structure and using the last third as the opening or the bridge as the chorus brings something new to the song's development.
9. Cinematic and operatic elements appear in tracks like “The Stars” and
“Man or Machine.” What inspired you to include these epic, theatrical touches?
"The Stars" and "Man or Machine," in particular, are meant to tell a more epic story about creation and creation...something that spans human eras. I think such stylistic elements fit well and create a deeper atmosphere.
10. As someone who works professionally in digital transformation, how does
your tech expertise influence your music production or storytelling?
Digital transformation is omnipresent. I began experimenting with artificial intelligence, or let's say smart algorithms, in my music productions 10 years ago. "Grey Days Are Gone" was one such hybrid song. Today, AI is on everyone's lips, and many overestimate its short-term effects but underestimate its long-term changes.
11. You wear many hats — songwriter, producer, video creator, and more. How
do you balance the artistic and technical sides of being a modern musician?
As a child,
I portrayed people or drew pictures and stories. I think I still do that today,
only with many more wonderful possibilities. Usually, an image or a story first
forms in my head, which then finds expression in a song or music video.
With all the fascinating creative process, it has to be said that the last 10%
is the most difficult.
Producing a good song, whether analog or fully digital, with or without AI,
requires a lot of discipline and perseverance.
Then there's mixing, mastering, cover design, and promotion... that's a lot of
work.
12. Lastly, what do you hope listeners take away from Rock Bytes, and where
do you see your musical journey heading next?
A music
friend called me and said "Sugar Sugar" is world-class...the rest
just didn't stick.
We recently went on a sailing trip, and I told him the detailed backstory to
all the songs, or rather, we took the time at sea to listen to all the songs
twice together. Now he has 10 Rock Bytes favorite songs.
It would be nice if listeners would take the time to imagine the album as a
picture book from which an older soul is reading... about themselves, about the
work of humanity, about creation, about the hardship but also the lightness of
life, about all of us.
Post a Comment