Exclusive Interview with 'MARQELECTRONICA'

MARQelectronica is an electronic and funk musician from the north of England. He is best known as the frontman of the synth rock band Sapien Trace, but he also participates in joint projects with other local musicians of a similar genre, writing songs or lending vocals and lyrics. However, he has also been able to find some time to work on his own initiatives, and he hopes you enjoy his music. His electronic music has a definite retro edge, and occasionally traditional instruments are combined with electronica to create a particular mood or feeling that is, if you will, almost impressionistic. His vocals, which some claim resemble those of Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley from the 1980s, keep everything together.
The funky orchestral, electro track “Next To Nothing” is just one example of how the new MARQelectronica album “Savage Times” demonstrates the pop dance credentials. With a dance beat and funky synth bass overlaid, it’s impossible to sit still and gets better with each listen. The topic is the rising cost of living in the UK, one of many discussed in the songs “Lifetime,” “Just look around you,” and “You do what you want.” Other topics include Marq’s opinions of the UK government in “You do what you want” and the recent trauma he underwent in “I’m waking up to you.” MARQ claims “All of the songs are intimately related to one another and are about me coming to terms with my past trauma and moving forward. Despite the fact that the subjects were frequently quite dark, I wanted to make something funk and danceable that made me think of fun times.”
Savage Times, a Harbourmaster production, will be available for streaming beginning on July 1, 2022, and the CD will be sold beginning on July 2 at HMV Eldon Square in Newcastle. Check out his latest album and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how you got started?
MARQELECTRONICA: Hi, yes I come from a small industrial town in the north east of England called Middlesbrough and after a short time in London I settled in Newcastle. I started when I accompanied a friend to her audition and I got the job years ago since then I’ve been in bands and solo projects for a long time.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
MARQELECTRONICA: Vocally I had some training when I was signed a few years ago and my weekly cover gigs have kept my vocal chords warmed up. The production skills I picked up through watching my colleagues in the studio and some self taught stuff from using my home studio too which I used to produce the album then I took it for mixing and mastering to a great local producer called Harbourmaster.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘MARQELECTRONICA’?

MARQELECTRONICA: My first influences were artists like Missy Elliott, The Freemasons and bands like Goldfrapp I chose the name MARQ at first but was sick of seeing almost every venue just playing guitar based bands and so I wanted my name to mention the music I was really about and try to use my name to say “HEY, there’s a scene here that’s almost ignored full of great electronic artists give us a chance and a platform.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
MARQELECTRONICA: Currently the key elements are the universal topics of love , hope and the absolute mess that our country is in. The dance music vibe has got the audiences moving and so that has resonated with people too. My sound ? I would describe it as a disco meets deep house and electro pop mash up with a conscience.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as EDM?
MARQELECTRONICA:
At first I would say I’ve emulated darker artists like Fever Ray and moved then into a more Example meets The Pet Shop Boys Vibe as I find my sound. I had wanted to mix more contemporary beats and bass with traditional strings and electro sounds and this led to my albums soundscape.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative and entertainment?
MARQELECTRONICA:

I think music can be a very versatile medium this album Savage Times has a political message at some points as well as a message of find your strength and move on. However there has to be some level of technical artistry for the songs to work.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfilment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
MARQELECTRONICA:

I find music is a massive release for me. Whatever stress and issue is affecting me, music is a way to exorcise it and often I can lose hours sitting in the studio and I feel so much better for it. It has certainly helped during some rather traumatic times lately.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

MARQELECTRONICA:

Often I use my loops and samples and they give me inspiration but sometimes I’ve got an idea musically in my head and I write the lyrics and melody first. I often collaborate with other artists too and love the mix of ideas.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
MARQELECTRONICA:

Losing my father and the breakdown of some family relationships has been really traumatic and musically working on this album has helped me work through this.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

MARQELECTRONICA: I am proud to say I have collaborated with other local artists in a collective called The Last of The Fallen Angels and I have worked with Simon Ellis an award winning producer who has worked with people like Britney Spears, The Spice Girls and Westlife, but I must say my proudest moment is this album and the positive reaction I am getting for my music.