By Geoffrey Rowlands

 

Life changed for Mark Wilkinson when he was 14 years old. Learning just a little in school about music technology set him on the path to becoming one of the hottest DJs/ producers on the contemporary drum & bass scene.

“I didn’t have any thoughts at that time about the possibility of doing what I do now,” smiled the man known professionally by just his family name. “Music technology sparked my interest. It was nothing too serious, I was just playing around more than anything else.

“Things changed when I was 16 and discovered drum & bass. I was intrigued by how tracks were made using synths and samples. I wanted to seriously explore this kind of music.

“It took me ages to get everything right. All the time I spent in my room trying to create the sounds must have driven my parents crazy. But they recognised my passion for drum & bass and never tried to discourage me.”

Wilkinson enjoyed a wide variety of music before falling in love with drum & bass.

“Like most kids, I loved all kinds of pop and rock. I got into hip hop when I was 12 becoming a big fan of artists such as Jurassic 5, Nas and A Tribe Called Quest. At the same time though, I was playing drums in a jazz band so I certainly had a diverse musical taste.”

Despite their tolerance of his musical endeavours, Wilkinson’s parents never failed to emphasise the importance of education.

“They were absolutely right. There are no guarantees in the music business. Ironically though, it was during my final year at university that I realised I had enough talent to at least try for a career in dance music. I used the studio at college to create tracks of genuine quality.

“This led me to buy some really good equipment for my bedroom studio at home. I continued working there until, probably much to the relief of my parents, I was able to find a studio in south-west London not far from our house.”

Submitting his work to specialist dance music labels saw Wilkinson’s tunes released initially by Hospital Records and then Ram Records. His breakthrough came in 2010 when three of Wilkinson’s tracks featured on Ram Records label boss Andy C’s Nightlife 5 album.

“I suddenly became a name on the dance music scene, not just in Britain but throughout the world. Opportunities arose to perform DJ sets and remix tunes by other artists.”

While his own work created waves in dance music circles, like so many artists in the genre, he failed to achieve mainstream chart success.

“That’s just the way things are in dance music. You can be massively popular in your particular field but totally unknown by the average mainstream music fan.”

This situation was rectified by the enormous chart success of his latest single, Afterglow. In addition to topping the UK dance chart, the song has become Wilkinson’s first mainstream top ten hit.

“I never imagined Afterglow would be so popular. It has an old school, liquid style. I think the track was really made by the amazing vocals from Becky Hill. She appeared on the first series of BBC Television’s The Voice. I thought she would be the perfect vocalist for the song.”

Despite Wilkinson’s praise, Becky’s only credit on Afterglow is as a co-writer. She is among several largely unknown singers who provide vocals for the songs on his newly released debut album, Lazers Not Included.

“Some of the tracks are actually quite old. Tonight was released as a single almost two years ago. But the songs represent the best of what I have to offer at the moment.

“It’s an album which works just as well listening at home as it does in a club. The only thing missing at home is the laser light show. That’s why it’s called Lazers Not Included.”

 

 

IN BRIEF

 

Demi Lovato

 

Anyone expecting the usual teen appeal pop star autobiography from American singer and actress Demi Lovato is in for a surprise. There is nothing lightweight about the over-riding message in her newly published book, Demi Lovato: Staying Strong 365 Days A Year.

The book pulls no punches in chronicling Demi’s dark days of depression, bullying, bulimia, self-harming and addictions to drugs and alcohol. Yet it also offers hope. Her own example demonstrates there is light at the end of the tunnel for those who seek help.

Demi’s latest musical offering is Let It Go. This is the theme song from Frozen, a new computer animated movie from Walt Disney Pictures. The video for Let It Go, which also features brief clips from Frozen, can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHue-HaXXzg.

 

Cheatahs

 

Cheatahs are an indie rock quartet based in London. Yet only guitarist / singer James Wignall is English. Guitarist Nathan Hewitt is Canadian, drummer Marc Raue hails from Germany while bassist Dean Reid is American.

The band have been championed by numerous influential critics during the course of this year. Their self-titled debut album is scheduled for release in February, 2014.

Check out their music by listening to the band’s new double A-side single, Cut The Grass / Kenworth. Both songs are posted at (no www.) cheatahs.net/.

Two more album tracks, Fall and The Swan, can be heard at (no www.) soundcloud.com/cheatahs. Three older songs, plus The Swan, are at (no www.) soundcloud.com/wichita-recordings/cheatahs-sans-1.

 

Invisible Twin

 

Anyone familiar with mid-’90s indie pop duo Shoestrings will already know singer / multi-instrumentalist Mario Suau and singer / keyboardist Rose Uytuico. Their 1997 album, Wishing On Planes, attracted enormous critical acclaim. It can be heard in full at www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnLU2UwHj50&list=PL6E514A18CF221081.

After marrying and taking an extended break from the music scene, Mario and Rose are back now under the name of Invisible Twin. The new name was thought necessary because their latest material is said to be darker than Shoestrings songs.

This transition seems more like an evolution than a sea change. Certainly in the remixing work they have done on songs by artists such as Acid House Kings, Alpaca Sports and Dylan Mondegreen. Indeed, Trouble, their first single as Invisible Twin, seems little different from Mario and Rose’s output as Shoestrings. Judge for yourself by checking out the song at (no www.) soundcloud.com/invisibletwin.

 

Maris and The Merry Rockers

 

Marissa Lelogeais is living proof that disablement is no barrier to a career in music. Suffering from cerebral palsy and a visual impairment which left her partially blind has not prevented Marissa from writing songs and forming indie folk collective Maris and The Merry Rockers.

The band’s debut six-song mini-album, The Fruit Of Life, can be heard at (no www.) marisandthemerryrockers.bandcamp.com/album/the-fruit-of-life. Also here is a link to their single, Rock Me Home.

Marissa performed with her band at the recent Vista and Visions fundraiser in support of the Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation at New York’s Bank of America Tower. It marked her debut as the official advocate and role model for the global community of people living with disabilities.

“I hope to educate everyone about cerebral palsy and empower those living with development disabilities,” Marissa explained. “The musicians I admire have inspired people in some way so I hope I can do the same.”