*
I'm here to interview Mark Mathews an unsigned musician currently bobbing
around the Camden music stream. For many years he's lurked beneath the waves,
waiting for the moment to surface from the salty depths of musical existence
into the mainstream. But before Mark does dry himself off with the
metaphorical beach towel that is a record contract and become part of the
corporation, I want to interview him while he still has his innocence, passion
for music and a relatively low drug habit.
When I arrive, Mark is standing next to his favourite brick wall. He tells me
that in times of need it provides solace, friendship and a place to urinate. He
invites me to urinate upon the sacred brick wall but I declined this offer, I
did enjoy two large Pepsi Cola's on the long train ride a few hours previous,
but I did not feel the need to release them back into the wild just at that
moment. I spotted a picnic bench a few yards up the path and suggested to Mark
that we do the interview there, he agreed.
Digital Lard:
Thanks for inviting me up here Mark, the cheque you sent for my train
tickets bounced but nay bother, on with the questions.
DL:
Mark, you’re currently an unsigned artist, are you
looking for a record deal or are you happy not being part of the ‘corporation’
just yet?
Mark Mathews:
I have been ready
to join the corporation for about nine years now! I want to get out to the
biggest possible audience that I can and that means getting signed. I am
not arsed about this recent trend of bands and acts actually wanting to stay
underground and not become big, I think that's bull shit. Give me the deal, put
me on the tour and get me in the charts!
DL:
So what genre
would you say your music is at the moment, and has it changed at all from when
you started?
MM:
I guess I would
say that my music is classed as Melodic Indy Pop, which is what I have always
been into, but I have played different styles in other bands and duo's over the
years playing folk, rock, and indie...most of those were shit though hence why I
aborted and went solo.
DL:
My spies tell me
you’ve been doing ‘Adult Movies’ in your spare time. I this really true, or a
viscous rumour spread by someone?
MM:
Depends what you
mean by "doing" adult movies! Look, basically I work as an editor and I do edit
porn, but like a game of Chinese whispers it has gone from that (the facts) to
me being a handle bar tash wearing porn star, starring in my own Grumble
flicks!!!!
(I did ask if Mark had any of this porn on his whereabouts, strictly for
interview research you understand - he said it was all in the back of his
car, but if I was in town at the weekend he would have a stall setup at Camden
market).
DL:
It’s good to
hear that you’ve been influenced by the Beatles, of course everyone has in some
way or other really, but, you realising it (or admitting it) is very cool. Can
you possibly choose a single Beatles track as a favourite and tell me why?
MM:
It is near on
impossible to have a favourite Beatles track. They did so many classic
tunes that the minute I say "PaperBack Writer" I'll then think, what about
"Helter Skelter", or "A Day In the Life" etc.
However, one of their defining points has to be "Tomorrow Never Knows" from
Revolver. I just reckon if that was released today it would blow everyone
else out the charts and still be ahead of its time.
DL:
Apparently you
did 106 gigs in one year; you certainly must have a lot of stamina. What sort
of exercise do you do to keep fit?
MM:
An unhealthy
amount of Guinness and a few slaps round the face in the morning generally does
the trick!
DL:
Another one of
your influences from your Myspace page I notice is Pulp. Now I must tell you,
they are my favourite group, and Jarvis Cocker is a lyrical genius, so come on;
tell me what it is about Pulp and Jarvis that has influenced you.
MM:
Pulp is a fine
"favourite band" to have I must say. I, probably like you Russ, got Into Pulp,
mainly because of Jarvis' lyrics. I remember hearing "sorted for e's and whizz"
and "Mis-Shapes" and being blown away by how Jarvis was able to paint a picture
of a situation and make it universally understandable, in just a few lines. But
also the tunes were just so
catchy. They had bags of melody and tons of ideas and it was hard to not to be
inspired by such a seminal band.
(At this point Mark goes much higher up my ladder of appreciation, anyone
who, like me, is into Pulp and Jarvis Cocker must have something right about
them, I even thought about inviting Mark to my Sisters engagement party next
week, but I remembered Mark's love of brick walls, and thought better of it).
DL:
When you’re rich
and famous will you remember us at Digital Lard with your cheque book in hand?
MM:
Sorry, who are
you again?!
(Ah so not just a musician but a comedian too, well I couldn't let Mark have
the last laugh at this point so I whipped out my handy pocket book of Knock
Knock jokes and barraged Mark into comedy submission,
Bwah ha haha ha!!)
DL:
Have you seen
Breaking Glass with Hazel O’ Connor?
MM:
No
DL:
Well you should,
it's a classic and will teach you a lot about the music industry. If you're
worried about getting the money for the DVD Mark, you can
watch most of it on Youtube for free.
DL:
Finally have got
a something you want to plug?
MM:
I have a five
track E.P that can be purchased at my gigs or if someone drops me a
myspace message we can arrange something. I'm playing the XFM
sponsored Festival 24 (Cardiff's answer to the Camden Crawl) on 7th September,
and tickets are now on sale. The link can be found on my
myspace as well.
I have two tracks on a compilation album that has been released on This Time
Next
Year Records, which features all the best Unsigned talent at the moment. You
can
buy it here:
Apart from that I am a gigging whore so my
myspace page has loads of gigs that everyone
can come along to!
DL:
Thanks for that
Mark, that's all the questions I have now, any chance of a lift back to the
station?
MM:
No sorry, I've
got to get back to my brick wall now.
* Non-interview parts of this article are a complete work of fiction, so
they can be ignored if you so wish, but if you are an industry insider and have
noticed my superb writing skills, please please please get me a well paid job!
Many thanks, Russ Greeno.