Kathy Powers caught up with Marc recently and asked him about the new CD

First of all, Marc, congrats on the album. It must be good to get it all finished?

Yeah, it’s great to get it all done. Not that it’s been a bind at all because it hasn’t, but it’s always good to see a finished project especially when you’re happy with it.

So are you happy with it then?

Yeah, I am. It’s by no means perfect but I’m more pleased with this album than any other I ever been involved with. But then again, I’m bound to say that aren’t it? I could have gone on forever with it but there comes a time you have to stop and say, “That’s done… let’s focus on something new “.

 With you recording the album pretty much on your own that must be easy to do?

Oh yeah, defiantly. But I always remember an old saying that ‘art is never finished … just abandoned’ and it’s true. You can spend months tidying up all the loose moments in performances but it’s starts taking away the ‘human’ feel, I think.

 Your voice sounds practically good on this album. Is that down to taking more time when recording or just that your voice has matured?

 Well, I hope it’s a bit of both really. I’ve spent a bit more time getting the right performance but I like to think that singing 4-5 gigs a week it’s starting to give my voice more of a mature, ‘lived in’ sound…, which it really needed to be honest! I dislike my voice a lot on older recordings as sometimes it sounds like I’m still trying to sing like an American teenager! It’s with listening to all those Bon Jovi albums in the 80’s I’m afraid!

 Was that the sort of music you used to listen to as a teenager?

 Oh yeah, it was Bon Jovi, Survivor, FM…. All those ‘AOR’ bands. Loved it. But you know, you mature with age yet those influences unfortunately still seep out of me from time to time …. I’m trying to get it seen to!

Your not a ‘rock’ fan anymore then?

 Oh no, I’m a big ROCK fan. I still buy Bon Jovi records but they don’t have the same impact on me as when I was 17…. but why should they? Tastes change don’t they as you get older. I love stuff like Keane now…  , Maroon 5, Train…. Loads of different stuff. Most of those bands have all been influncesed in some way by the rock music of the 80’s. Music evolves just like people.

And, look, no one wants to see a 38 year old bloke trying to sound like Jon Bon Jovi! Least of all ME!!!

Well, you don’t on this album

 (Laughs) Cheers 

So, this is yet another very personal album then? The CD booklet is filled with pictures of your family and friends and the songs are so obviously about real life… 

Well I don’t really know of any other way to write songs to be honest. You’ve got to write from experience and from the heart, there’s no other reason to do it really. My fiancée, Tamsin, has been so encouraging during the making of this album. She’s certainly inspired some songs! When I sent my rough ideas for the CD cover to the guys from GABRIEL for feedback they sort of said, “Yeah, but it looks like a family photo album”, ……but I thought ‘that’s good!’ My family and friends ARE the songs, in many instances. They should be celebrated and put on display, as I’m very proud of them all :o) 

There is a distinct religious aspect to some of the songs is it important for you to express your own beliefs? 

Well, yes, but I’m not religious….. I consider my self ‘spiritual’ but I’m actually quite strongly anti-dogmatic religion. You can look at the trouble that’s happening around the world right now  and know that the main motivation is all down to religion. Religious theology is, for me, the biggest threat the world faces, so I’m bound to write about it.  I do believe in ‘God’ but I believe ‘God’ is just another word for ‘life’… And the CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD books have been an inspiration for me for the last 10 years or so. I find them very positive, loving books that match my own Truth, in many ways, so I think some of the words in there deserve to be heard. I’m not trying to preach or anything just wanting to share something that I’ve found to be of comfort. If anyone doesn’t agree that’s ok…. There’s no hell fire or anything! 

So it’s not “read this book or burn forever!” 

(laughs) No… exactly. But I know  a lot of people feel that about other books and that’s the problem isn’t it? God is ‘Love’. Unconditional Love. 

Amen to that  

(Laughs) 

You’ve got some great musicians on the album. Ex- MOSTLY AUTUMN member Iain Jennings plays some wonderful keyboards. 

Iain’s done an amazing job. As soon as he played on the songs the standard rose another 5 levels. I’ve known him for about 12 years… and actually he was in a earlier version of GABRIEL. After he’d left AUTUMN I saw that he might need some session work and I certainly needed his skills, so I rang him and he came along for three days and created magic.

I got Dave Clements on bass who, again, was in an earlier GABRIEL. He mastered the album for me as well and he’s a real talent. My sister, Jan, always sings beautifully for me and she’s been joined on here by my step-daughter Kassie who’s voice is like an angel. My daughter Enya is even singing on a track… and she’s only just turned two! 

And most members of GABRIEL make an appearance too. 

Yeah, Rob Swann been helping me so much with the REASON programming I’ve been running for this album and he’s done some great additional keyboard work too. Paul Cusick’s done a great job on 4 songs and Andy Seddon is on one track. Graham Hodge is on two tracks also… they’ve all helped brilliantly.

I’ve got two  cousin’s on there too, Hannah and Gary, and a guy called Mark Rowen who is actually in Iain’s new band BREATHING SPACE. He co-wrote CONVERSATION DRIES with me and has been a great help through out the making of the album. 

Speaking of GABRIEL, what is happening with regards any future album? Last time we spoke just after your last solo album came out you told me you were all working on a new GABRIEL album and that was two years ago! 

Yeah, but I also said I wouldn’t be surprised if I released another solo album before GABRIEL get’s any thing out! :o)

We were working on a load of new tunes and we did a lot of recording but nothing really emerged that we were all really happy with. Well, actually the only song that I personally felt worked was ‘WHERE WERE YOU?’ which actually ended up on my album. It was that recording that made me realise what I could achieve for my own album with the REASON programme on the computer. That was the template.

But we do still intend on releasing a new album at some point. Andy has left us now… he’s in ROTTN KARMA along with Rob…. So we still need a bass player. Rob is still with us but playing drums instead of keyboards so now we need a keyboard player too! Q (Paul Cusick) has had a bad arm for the last few months and hasn’t been able to play guitar properly… no change there then :o) …. Only joking, he’s recovering well so we’re actually getting together next week to start banging out some ideas. Now I’ve completed my album I’m feeling more confident in my song writing ability so I’m really looking forward to seeing what we co-create over the next few months. It should be fun. 

So, apart from the GABRIEL project, what’s next for you? 

Apart from spending some quality time with my family, I’ve just got to do what I can to promote this album really. I want to get it out there as much as I can. I make music that I would love to be heard by as many people as possible. I’ve no visions of grandeur… I’m not expecting a phone call from EMI or anything… any step up would be a bonus. But just to know that this album has touched someone in some way will be reward in itself, to be honest. So I’ll just keep on gigging… it’s my job…. And see where this album takes me… or not, as the case may be. 

Good luck with it. I certainly hope it does well for you. 

Thanks, Kathy. And thanks for the album review… the cheques in the post…..