Music has the power to express what words alone cannot, says the creator of the emotion-packed, new single "I Am Love."
When mod-country/guitar-driven rocker, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mark Mackay takes to the road, he carries with him soulful bits from his present Murfreesboro and Nolensville home turf. However, as a touring artist, he says what he witnesses among the rhythms of the road is also essential to his songwriting, introspective vibe and personal energy.
"Performing live with people who know your lyrics and wear your merchandise is everything you ever aim for. Concerts are like one of those memorable, exciting times, like when a kid builds a circuit board and finally gets to the moment to flip the switch to light up the board. Music connects us," explains Mark.
"We compose and sing and play to hopefully make people happy, or to relate to and change something in their lives in positive, supportive ways. I'm always zipping around the country, interacting with people, and reminiscing about their stories and how music brings us all together.”
He says the band is extremely grateful for people who come to see them, so they "give it everything they got" at each concert.
Fans have another aspect to which to look forward, as Mark says he and the band are planning to release a new, full-length album this fall. Recording band members include Tim McGraw guitarist Adam Shoenfeld, Gary Allan keyboardist Jeff Armstrong, as well as Peter Frampton drummer Shawn Fichter.
Notably, Mark has shared the stage with legendary artists, such as Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Gary Allan, Eli Young Band, Old Dominion, REO Speedwagon, Richie Sambora, Ted Nugent, Night Ranger and The Steve Miller Band. He collaborates with renowned figures, including Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame honoree Jeffrey Steele, Ted Russell Kamp from the Shooter Jennings band and multiple ACM Guitarist of the Year nominee Adam Shoenfeld, whose behind-the-board production expertise, plus his stellar guitar work, are notable contributions to Mark's newest recordings.
And, yes, Mark has commanded center stage at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Mark's Prelude
Classical piano lessons started when Mark was 8 or 9 years old. "I got my first guitar when I was 11 and found a passion for classic country music, too, often played by my father," he recalls.
Additionally, he grew up hearing other American rock bands, such as Kansas and The Eagles, while also jamming to Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp.
"During high school, my sister and I played in a local band at coffee shops on weekends, and I thought I wanted to be a rock star. Then I went to college at the University of Nevada-Reno, majoring in broadcast journalism and minoring in marketing. At 19, 20 years old, I landed a long-lasting marketing job with a ski and snowboarding company, mainly covering California. One day I realized that if I didn't pursue music, I would regret it," Marks says.
"So I moved to LA and immersed myself into the business, studying blues and rock guitar at Musicians Institute in Hollywood. I recorded demos in a garage studio. It was 400 times harder than you hear about, but now I feel like I'm coming full circle while still evolving. That original spirit never left me."
Songwriting
The creative process is both exciting and nerve-wracking, Mark admits.
"I love to travel, and I get inspiration from meeting people who operate differently than me and who have different lifestyles. Fans will often come up to revisit the last time we met. I even enjoy hearing about people's favorite restaurants. I keep a running list of aimless thoughts that could become song titles or lyrics; some are ones that wake me up at 3:30 a.m.," he says.
Some fans call Mark's song lyrics nostalgic storytelling; others describe them as authentic vulnerability. Yet others think of him as delivering intense rock-and-roll or soothing acoustic strumming.
Mark calls "I Am Love" an anthem of unity, saying its lyrics are a "reminder of something we should sing about every day in this country."
"This new single represents not just music, but an entire experience of personal growth and transformation. Although songwriting ends up being about love so often, it's also about the push-pull. Shared songwriting reflects camaraderie and everyone wanting to get each line right," he states.
"Sometimes, I speak songwriting ideas into existence. We might say, 'it feels like this' or 'this isn't it, but it's like this.' The goal, especially in country music, is to make sure every line isn't a throw-away."
Mark says he's learned over time that not every song is going to resonate with every fan in the same way. "So when writing songs, I'm guided overall by doing what's right for each song."