Adventures in Pop welcome Mark and the Clouds to the Jenny Lind

The band spoke about their music to Jude Montague in advance of their gig at the Jenny Lind on Tuesday 2 September.

MARCO: I’m Marco Magnani, born in Bologna, Italy, in 1968.

I got into music around the age of 12 learning the first guitar chords from my brother though it was my sister the first bringing a guitar into the family. I got obsessed with the Beatles which gave me the joy of singing and playing, learning a lot from the records and soon I got to discover all other great bands from 60’s , 70’s and beyond. I love the Doors, Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Velvet Underground, Dylan etc. I started writing my own songs around late 80’s when I joined Avvoltoi, Italian band and after that I moved to London in 1992 amidst the days of Grunge and Brit Pop, playing solo gigs where I could before having a band.

JUDE: What brought you two together for music – what do you like about each other’s songs and ways of playing?

MARCO: I played with John O’Sullivan since 2007, when he joined Instant Flight, my previous band.

We met at the Boogaloo Bar in Highgate, London, when our friend Anna Page was running an acoustic night.

A friend suggested I’d ask John ’cause he sings great, he knows how to do vocals harmonies, and although he plays bass with Mark & The Clouds he’s a brilliant guitarist and songwriter. Plus we love the same kind of music.

JUDE: What’s the musical designs of Mark and the Clouds? I would describe your work as a kind of pop surrealism, with psychedelic rock elements – is that fair?

MARCO: Yes, I think you described it well.

We’re often described as “Psychedelic” on reviews, like Shindig Magazine, R’n’Reel and other magazines outside UK, since our Instant Flight days. We did gig with Arthur Brown a few times and had him as special guest on the band’s first album, but although 60’s Psyche is an element of our influence it’s not really a sound I always aim at. It’s a definition we can’t get rid of, so to speak.

I mean when I write a song I try to get a catchy tune, memorable to our ears, but when I think of the word “Psychedelia” that often implies something weird, where really what I try to make is something beautiful. Just saying I’m trying. Basically we love Rock’n’Roll but if we classified ourselves as that, I feel that wouldn’t match some of the more folky songs we have on our albums. So I often find it hard to describe our music in the right way, but your description nails it.

JUDE: I wondered if you could tell me about a musical highlight in your life, a gig or getting to do a favourite project, or writing a special song?

MARCO: I have special memories of gigs we played with Mark & The Clouds in Spain and Italy. Fond memories of gigging with Arthur Brown in Paris.

When I listen to our 4 albums I’m particularly proud of the sound considering we recorded them using a cheap room we rented for a few months per album, with me operating Cubase Program, a sound card and a laptop and really a few microphones which weren’t exactly top of the range, nor too expensive.

So thinking of those tiny rooms we used to record I have fond memories of those sessions, mostly recorded with 3 of us in the room: me on guitar, John O’Sullivan on bass and Shin Okajima on drums. Other members were added to the songs later.

I did the mixes and final touches at my home.

JUDE: If you could do a dream project next what might it be?

MARCO: Good question, but I’m not sure except that at the moment I’m recording new songs at home using programmed drums, so I’ll have to decide whether I want to finish it as a solo album or turn it into a band one, with real drums. I’ll see.

JUDE: What’s your favourite pedal/amp?

MARCO: Although I did have a Vox AC30 and a Marshall, lately I use a Peavey Classic 30.

As for pedals I like the Big Muff pedal when I used it as an imitation of the fuzz sound of the 1960’s. You know, the one you hear at the start of Satisfaction by the Stones. I like fuzz guitar on those old 60’s garage songs. I like other pedals like Wha-Wha but I’m not always using it live, especially when I’m busy singing. The more pedals I have it gets more confusing.

JUDE: We are really excited to have you at ‘Adventures in Pop’ at the Jenny Lind and hope to enter another portal in another universe when you come play for us.

MARCO: Thanks Jude. We’re also excited to play there again.

We look forward to it.

 

MARK AND THE CLOUDS play the Jenny Lind on Tuesday 2 September for Adventures in Pop. Also on the bill are Montague Armstrong Rippengal and James Friis-Lawrence.

TUESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER

JENNY LIND, High St, Hastings

FREE

Adventures in Pop is a monthly night on first Tuesdays put together by house bands Montague Armstrong Rippengal and The Barbarian Horde. The night promotes original creative pop music and has a featured guest band.

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