Following on from our evaluate of Mark Ciani’s single and lyric video, ‘Some Variety Of Purgatory‘, we communicate with Mark himself.
How does “Some Sort of Purgatory” mirror your background and creative journey up thus far?
Effectively, I’m not a lot of a poet. Nonetheless I endeavor to seize life experiences in a manner that feels genuine. I received’t draw back from the complexities and nuances that authenticity calls for, even once I’m writing a three-minute pop music. There’s a doomed relationship on the middle of “Some Sort of Purgatory” and I believe it’s very “me” to current the narrator in 3 ways. On the one hand, this particular person is sympathetic. Their coronary heart is damaged and it’s simple to really feel sorry for somebody experiencing that. Then again, the particular person is just not doing themselves any favors in how they select to manage. Possibly that’s additionally relatable, though I hope not. And eventually, the particular person makes some progress by the tip of the music. They will acknowledge that the one that harm them wasn’t all unhealthy. I believe the music displays who I’m as an artist at this level as a result of I’m cramming all of that dense lyrical content material right into a raucous rock music that jerks from one sonic theme to the subsequent in a reasonably chaotic method. That’s kind of what I attempt to do.
In what methods do you resonate with the story instructed in “Some Sort of Purgatory?” Is the idea rooted in a private expertise or reminiscence?
The music is just not biographical within the sense that I used to be not writing a couple of particular relationship of my very own. However I drew by myself experiences to put in writing the lyrics. Definitely, I’ve skilled relationships flip bitter the place I vacillated between anger and despair to real remorse to some extra difficult fact in between the 2. And I’ve performed video video games that I don’t like, fallen asleep with a Keanu film enjoying within the background, and been laughed off a dance ground. So there’s that.
Discuss to us slightly bit concerning the writing and creation course of for this music. Did you’ve a selected imaginative and prescient in thoughts?
Not at first. I have a tendency to put in writing by bashing across the piano till a melody drifts into my in any other case empty thoughts. I had this chaotic melodic hook for the verses and the refrain, however I wasn’t positive what to do with it till I began writing the lyrics. The germ of the lyrical idea got here from the soul traditional, “Some Sort of Great.” I assumed I’d be so intelligent if I might write a music concerning the darker aspect of romance known as “Some Sort of Purgatory.” Right here we’re, no extra intelligent however with a brand new single. I’d name {that a} win. As soon as I had the title, I began to consider trustworthy, ugly emotions that I hardly ever hear in music — just like the petty (and pathetic) urge to analyze an ex’s on-line presence, and the equally deplorable hope that they’re not doing effectively with out you. I knew I hit on one thing once I completed the tip of the final verse. In spite of everything of that ugliness, there stays an admiration and craving for the particular person.
Did you encounter any challenges or surprises in the course of the manufacturing course of for this music?
The manufacturing course of is at all times, equal components, an anxiety-inducing nightmare and a euphoric end result of a months- or years-long inventive journey. For this explicit music, I used to be shocked by how few challenges it introduced. I recorded the synth components by myself earlier than heading into the studio, however I had no prior rehearsals with the band. I anticipated that speaking my imaginative and prescient for the music, significantly as a result of there are such a lot of shifts from part to part, would require a whole lot of trial and error. However the guys (Kirk Schoenherr, Grant Zubritsky and Jon Smith) understood what I used to be going for in a short time. Jeni Magana, who sings the background vocals added a stunning concord within the refrain. My co-producer and recording engineer Fernando Lodeiro captured incredible sounds and helped direct us by way of the recording. I attribute the benefit of the manufacturing to having labored with most of those people for a number of albums. I belief that they are going to perceive my imaginative and prescient, and I belief that they are going to add to it; I simply have to stay versatile sufficient within the studio to allow them to flex and take a look at stuff. I suppose that flexibility ends in some (very optimistic) surprises as a result of they add a lot of their creativity to the songs.
How does “Some Sort of Purgatory” steadiness staying true to your indie roots whereas evolving musically?
In 2022, I launched two albums known as King of Dying and King of Dying Returns. I felt like these albums have been one thing I had been attempting to put in writing for years. For me, it was “mission achieved.” I had written my massive, sweeping, melodramatic rock epic. After I completed them, I felt so unburdened. Since then, I believe my writing has grown extra fascinating than ever as a result of I don’t really feel tethered to the style, to expectation, and even to my concept of what my songs ought to sound like. So, to reply your query, “Some Sort of Purgatory” and the album it’s going to quickly seem on titled The Catacombs, are one other step into the inventive unknown. I believe my music is shifting away from an simply categorized style into one thing that’s uniquely my sound. Whether or not that sound is nice or not is for the listener to determine, however I’m personally and selfishly gratified to look at my evolution as a songwriter, producer, and performer.
What visible components within the lyric video stand out to you? Why did you select to accompany the music with these components?
The lyric video is all concerning the vibes. My precedence with the lyric video was to incorporate a collection of photos that conveyed the temper of the lyrical content material and sonic components with out attempting to be a visible duplicate of them. The photographs of static on a tv and flying birds in opposition to a gray sky are good examples. They mirror a sure sort of introspective discomfort that underscores a whole lot of the lyrics. Credit score goes to the director, Mike Kundrath, for actually pulling it collectively. I believe he did an exquisite job of capturing the spirit of the music in a visible medium.
As a music that explores emotions of uncertainty, what feelings are you hoping to stir in listeners of “Some Variety Of Purgatory?”
If somebody dives into the lyrics, I hope that they resonate. The individuals we spend time despising are sometimes the individuals we admire and love as a result of they’re those with the capability to harm us probably the most. However truthfully, I very intentionally baked these lyrics into a really chaotic, enjoyable, anthemic music that may be loved with out fascinated with something too heavy. So, maybe I’m primarily hoping to elicit pleasure from the sonic expertise, and secondarily, catharsis by means of the lyrics.
Following the album launch, what targets do you hope to perform as an artist subsequent?
My objective is at all times to create the subsequent challenge. I attempt to write about 50 songs per album, after which decide the perfect and/or most cohesive set of songs to bundle into an album. I’ve accomplished writing my subsequent album and now I’m simply looking for time to get the band collectively to document. Then, I’ll obsess about that document till it’s completed and instantly start writing the subsequent one. I’m Sisyphus, pushing my musical boulder up an everlasting hill. The satisfaction comes from the method, however I additionally hope some listeners proceed to hitch me on the journey.
You possibly can watch the music video for ‘Some Variety Of Purgatory’ beneath, and observe Mark Ciani on-line for extra about his music on Instagram, and TikTok.
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