Getting To Know... Marcus

After the enormous success and praise he garnered for his stunning debut single 'Obey' last year, fast-rising Irish singer and songwriter Marcus has now returned with his equally breath-taking new delight 'Redemption'.

Channelling a bright and uplifting direction throughout, 'Redemption' sees him in a far more humbled light. With his beautifully textured voice layered amongst a broad and captivating array of laid-back production, it feels like this is the start of something very special for the artist at the helm.

So with the new single available now, we sat down with him to find out more about his background and what has inspired him most over the years.

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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?

The first instrument I fell in love with was the guitar. My Dad taught me to play it when I was a kid. I still write a lot of music on the guitar and play it to relax too.

What kind of music did you love when you were younger?

I used to listen to bands like Sum41 and Blink 182 when I was a kid. As I got a little older I began listening to hip hop, guys like Nas and Mos Def.

What was the first album you remember owning?

I remember being the proud owner of Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park. That album is wild. I used to have the cover stuck on my wall.

What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?

Black Flies by Ben Howard. I think the chorus is really strong. I can remember seeing a live version on YouTube a few years ago and thinking “man, I wish I wrote that hook.” The lyrics and melody are really good.

Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?

Yeah, for sure. I find it easier to write music if I have been meditating beforehand. I think it encourages flow state. I don’t have any set way of writing music, I just do whatever feels natural. Sometimes I’ll have an idea for a hook when I’m on the bus or something and I’ll save it as a voice note and come back to it later.

Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?

I’ve been listening to a lot of J Cole and Citizen Cope recently. I’m also listening to a lot of Irish acts, there are too many to mention but the scene is in a really healthy place right now.

If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?

Kendrick Lamar would be a great one. I went to see him in Dublin a couple of years ago when James Blake was opening for him. The place was sold out and the energy was insane. I'd love to play in that venue too, the 3 arena. It's not far from where I live and I used to work there as a bartender, so it would be an incredible place to play.

What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?

Seeing your music resonate with people who you’ve never met is incredibly rewarding. I’ve gotten some lovely messages over the last year and it's a great feeling.

And what is the most frustrating part?

Sometimes searching for the right sound in the studio can be frustrating. There are so many variables and I’m pretty wet behind the ears when it comes to production. I’ve been lucky enough to work with some great producers so that hasn’t been a major issue. It’s all part of the game I guess.

And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?

I remember I played an open mic in London before and nobody was listening to me. The organiser came up to me afterwards and told me not to take it to heart and to keep it up. Maybe he was just being polite, but it was what I needed to hear at the time.

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Marcus' new single 'Redemption' is available to stream now. Have a listen to it in the player below.