Mark Winters Interview
Q: Can you talk about your musical history?
A: I have always been moved by music, it stirs my emotions and moods, makes me dance and have a competitive edge. My journey as a musician started later in life, 2011 performing a song for my wife for our anniversary. I feel in love with delivering a song to those I care about (and with her again!). From there I found some other music enthusiasts and formed a cover band, with one goal, to play a gig! The more I perform the more I know this is my path. My first original song took form in 2018 and became part of an album in 2019. I enjoy the complexity of music and the raw emotion, its like a tailor made profession for me!
Q: What are some topics and themes you explore with your music?
A: I'm a natural optimist, maybe relentlessly optimistic if you ask my friend and fellow song writer Joe Crump. Muses usually start with a mood for the day, maybe a haiku comes next, then some musical context. I am usually thinking of making myself a better person or how to make the world a better place.
Q: How do you approach songwriting?
A: My grandmother taught me to write poetry when I was a kid (thanks Grammy Dean!). Lyrics seem to flow first for most of my songs, likely due to my poetry hobby, and then the musical context. I started playing guitar as my first instrument and find myself drawn to compositions using it. I have learned some basic piano to help in the writing process, but rarely use it to compose. Recently I have started a few songs without any instrument just vocalizing the concept/melody. I'm excited to experiment more with this approach as it seems to emphasize the melody and mood.
Q: Can you talk about your musical history?
A: I have always been moved by music, it stirs my emotions and moods, makes me dance and have a competitive edge. My journey as a musician started later in life, 2011 performing a song for my wife for our anniversary. I feel in love with delivering a song to those I care about (and with her again!). From there I found some other music enthusiasts and formed a cover band, with one goal, to play a gig! The more I perform the more I know this is my path. My first original song took form in 2018 and became part of an album in 2019. I enjoy the complexity of music and the raw emotion, its like a tailor made profession for me!
Q: What are some topics and themes you explore with your music?
A: I'm a natural optimist, maybe relentlessly optimistic if you ask my friend and fellow song writer Joe Crump. Muses usually start with a mood for the day, maybe a haiku comes next, then some musical context. I am usually thinking of making myself a better person or how to make the world a better place.
Q: How do you approach songwriting?
A: My grandmother taught me to write poetry when I was a kid (thanks Grammy Dean!). Lyrics seem to flow first for most of my songs, likely due to my poetry hobby, and then the musical context. I started playing guitar as my first instrument and find myself drawn to compositions using it. I have learned some basic piano to help in the writing process, but rarely use it to compose. Recently I have started a few songs without any instrument just vocalizing the concept/melody. I'm excited to experiment more with this approach as it seems to emphasize the melody and mood.
Q: Have you played this music live and if so how does it translate with an audience?
A: I love playing live! First steps for me were with a four-piece band, and then during covid I morphed into a solo performer. Now I enjoy both type of acts, finding ways to share my positive energy with the world is why I do it. I love to see people smiling, singing and dancing to my message!
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: I have new music coming out late August 2023, "I See You" part of my upcoming EP releasing in early 2024. The song is a tribute to the special people in my life who show me the world in a different way and open my eyes to new beauty, all to a nice folk rock vibe (think Mumford and Sons meets Jason Mraz). I also enjoy writing haiku's and putting them in a musical frame work, you can find those on my IG/TT/YT feed.
A: I love playing live! First steps for me were with a four-piece band, and then during covid I morphed into a solo performer. Now I enjoy both type of acts, finding ways to share my positive energy with the world is why I do it. I love to see people smiling, singing and dancing to my message!
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: I have new music coming out late August 2023, "I See You" part of my upcoming EP releasing in early 2024. The song is a tribute to the special people in my life who show me the world in a different way and open my eyes to new beauty, all to a nice folk rock vibe (think Mumford and Sons meets Jason Mraz). I also enjoy writing haiku's and putting them in a musical frame work, you can find those on my IG/TT/YT feed.