Katie and Karleigh bring you up and coming Florida band Mark & James. They've toured with Avril Lavigne, Hanson, Aly & AJ, the Jonas Brothers, and many more. They are the Clear Channel "Artist to Watch" for 2008, performed on the Bandemonium Tour for 2008, and winner of the Best Central Florida Band by NBC and the CW. Check out the interview and learn more about this amazing group of guys.
K&K: Can you please introduce yourself to our readers, and your role in the group?
James: Hey, I'm James. I am the latter half of M&J. I play Electric in the band, and occasionally acoustic or piano. I also write half the music. To me, it's never really been about the instrument I play, I honestly love them all. Whatever I feel I need to learn to play to complete a song is just more fun than anything else.
Mark: My name is Mark Russell and I am the Mark of Mark and James. I play the acoustic guitar, Piano, electric guitar, and share the role as lead vocal. Other than James, the other band members are Preston (drums and percussion), Jordan (bass) and Glen (keys).
K&K: How did you get started in the music industry?
James: It's funny answering that because even though we've made some small steps (and a few giant leaps here and there), I still feel like a baby in the industry.
Mark: I got started in the music industry probably when I was about 15 or so. I started playing the acoustic guitar and singing in church and later became my churchs worship leader. When I started at the University of Central Florida I met James and we started jamming together.
James: Mark and I have been playing for a few years together now but our first official work in the industry was with Jessica Andrews and Johnny Wright of Wright Entertainment Group. Jess dots all our "i's" and crosses our "t's" so to speak, always making sure our heads are screwed on straight. Since our partnership with WEG, we've gotten to play some of the bigger stages as openers and got to open / host the Bandemonium tour the beginning of this past Summer.
K&K: How did you first come together as a group?
Mark: Well, that is kind of a tricky question. I was actually playing in an acoustic band for my freshmen year of college and due to a hurricane passing through Orlando I decided to go to an on campus shelter. Since 2004, James and I have been jammin away and have come to get the band that we have now within the past year or so.
James: Hurricanes will always hold a special place in my heart. Mark and I both ran away to a hurricane shelter on campus at the University of Central Florida. We both brought our guitars -
Mark: - trying to serenade the ladies!
James: I think the first thing I ever said to him was "Hey, I'm James. Wanna Jam?" We've been jamming since October 2004.
K&K: What has influenced you musically?
Mark: A lot of things influence me musically. I mean you have your awesome artists that you just love to watch that influence you and even other friends or musicians jammin can be the source of a alot of my influence. Not even to mention what influences us with our lyrics because that is basically anything and everything around us...but to be real, mostly girls.
James: I'm a huge John Mayer fan and I think some of that comes across in the music, but I'll pull inspiration from just about anywhere. It's a lot more fun working with someone else because in the end, it's not just my musical style or his, it's ours. In the end, it becomes a hybrid of our two preferred styles which always comes across as fresh to us.
K&K: What's your favorite song to perform?
Mark: My latest favorite song to perform would most likley be "Letting Go" because I just love the flow of the song and how the band blends together, plus I love rockin out on the piano. Although if I had to pick a favorite acoustic song to perform it actually hasn't been named yet so we will call it the "No name song", but it is one of our more recent ones that I just love to sing. Maybe because it is such a happy song.
James: This varies from time to time but right now for me it's "Beating of My Heart". We just added a new intro jam to the beginning and I get to play acoustic on the song. I love playing Electric, it's my heart and soul, but playing the acoustic really gives me a chance to sit back and relax on stage, and focus more on the words coming out my mouth than what my hands are doing.
K&K: If you could tour with anyone who would that be?
Mark: I would have to say Ryan Cabrera and I know James' answer will be John Mayer, but I have loved Cabrera's music for years now and would love to watch his performance every night. I think it would help my performance out greatly.
James: I'll have to get a music career started for Jessica Alba but as soon as I do she'd be my number one... Other than that, I'd be open to anyone. One Republic, Mayer (duh...), Daughtry.
K&K: What does the next year look like for you?
Mark: I'd like to think the next year is looking great for me. I mean besides hopefully graduating from college, I guarantee James and I will be jammin away, writing great songs, and playing amazing shows while meeting the coolest performers and fans that we could ever ask for.
James: At this point, I think just playing a lot more music and find new and better ways to connect with fans. We just set up a Say Now account and it's really incredible to be able to get in contact with fans and chat with them on an individual level. I like that they can find out we're just real people and these songs we write are equally as real.
K&K: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Mark: I dont know if I've actually thought that far ahead...I mean I can't even tell you how old I will be in 5 years haha. Hopefully still doing the thing that I love so much!
James: I have numerous projected paths for my life, but I guess time will tell. My most desired outcome would be to continue to grace the stage, big or small, and make the music I love. I've never been one to fret much about 5 years from now, next week, or even tomorrow, but I know that wherever I end up, music will still play a huge role in my life.
K&K: Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans?
Mark: There are a ton of things that I would love to say to fans - they are the reason that I continue to wear a smile. You can't really describe the feeling of playing a song and having people relate to it or just jam to it with you. Having people love our music and be a fan is really the greatest gift and I am so thankful for everyone.
James: I really just want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for liking the music and spreading the word. I would love for them to sign up for Say Now so I can call them and chat on my trips home from work or the studio. I'm just thankful that they're there and I know they're spreading the word.
Mark: We released an acoustic album back in May and you can pick it up either on I-Tunes or through our online merch store, and we're in the studio recording a full band album now that will hopefully be out in December or January, so be sure to check it out because we love when fans come to the show and know the songs.
James: We really love hearing from the fans either on myspace, facebook, SayNow - they're what it's all about and the reason we can play music as much as we do. We love talking to as many people as possible at shows, so please don't be shy to come up and say hello.
On the Web:
