AN INTERVIEW WITH MARK BLEASDALE

Following the release of his brand new single ‘Lies on Lies’ I managed to grab a chat with the super talented Mark Bleasdale to find out a bit more about him and the stories behind his songs.

Your new song Lies on Lies was released a few days ago on the 14th of October. Can you tell us a bit more about the new song and the meaning behind it?

Well, the song is basically about the “Player” round town (male or female) who’s dated that so many of the locals that when they see some “out of town” people they are all over them with their chat up lies. I’m pretty sure I was one of these when I was younger and anyone living in a small town or village will definitely know someone or have been the person.

There’s a free B-Side to go along with the single, how do people get a hold of that?

Anyone who has bought or buys Lies on Lies, just send me a DM on any on my twitter, Facebook or IG showing your purchase and I will send you a link for the download. The track titled “Don’t Call this a fight” is very different to Lies on Lies and very Noel G esc 🙂

You are quoted as being a multi instrumentalist. What is your favourite instrument to play and why?

Yes, I play a few instruments, some better than other but my first love was The Drums. I started playing at a really young age and then progressed into playing guitar and Piano. I run a music school in Cheshire out of my studio and teach Drums and Guitar from 5 y/o right up to 58 is my oldest student.

Your single ‘Stay in tonight’ which reached number 2 in the iTunes UK Singer/Songwriter charts was written about being in lockdown, did you find it easier or tougher to make music during lockdown and how did being in lockdown inspire you?

So, lockdown for me was a really creative time, it inspired me not only to write Stay In Tonight my 1st solo single but also to release it, something I had not previously done. I have always written or co written songs for the bands I have played in previously, however I was always stuck behind the drums . I decided to take the step forward to the mic which was something I had planned on doing for a while. I moved to NYC in the 2000’s and signed a management deal to become a solo artist and had some label interest but VISA issues stood in the way and when I returned to the UK I put music to bed while I re started my life in the UK. During the lockdown I must of written 15 -20 tracks mostly because I wasn’t out in the pub I expect.

Now that we are no longer in lockdown how does it feel to be back playing live music again and which of your upcoming gigs are you most looking forward to playing?

playing life again has been great, especially now I’m at the front, it feels great to be able to engage with the audience and strut my stuff lol. I have a home town show on October 22 at a local venue called Kash22. I’m in the processing of booking gigs in the new year also but working with other musicians is a pain in the ass as everyone has different schedules. 🙂

Having preformed as both part of a band and solo which do you prefer and why?

Although I write and record as a solo artist, I do prefer to play as part of a band. The writing is so much easier as I get my own way an the decision although I do procrastinate over silly things.

All proceeds from your song ‘Here I am’ are being donated to a mental health charity can you tell us a bit more about what inspired you to do that and why you wrote this song?

The song came about as I was training to do a charity 34-mile trek with 20 of my mates. A friend had organised for us to trek along the Sandstone Trail in Cheshire to raise money fro the charity MIND and I thought this would be another way to raise money as at the time I didn’t think I would be able to complete it, so a kind of back up plan to be honest. Like most people I have challenges in life that have effected my mental health and writing and performing music has always be my escape. When I was in my mid 20’s I struggled with anxiety and in most social situations I would struggle however when I was writing and performing there was none. The track came about quickly in the studio and I recorded all the parts, mixed and mastered in a few days.

How important do you think it is for people to talk openly about their mental health and what would you say to anyone particularly men who might be struggling with their mental health?

Firstly I think its tremendously important for everyone to talk about their Mental Health and thankfully it seems that more and more people are, however there still seems to be a stigma attached to it. Obviously, I can only talk from my perspective but talking to friends about the subject really helped me when I was struggling and helped me understand that it’s ok not to feel ok.

There is a line in a Pink Floyd song titled Final Cut that goes: “If I showed you my dark side would you still hold me tonight?” And this line has always resonated with me as that was my issue with my mental health issues, will people still like me, accept me knowing that I was a 6’3” man feeling uncomfortable in a busy room of people? It turned out that when I did speak about it, they did and they helped me get through it.

I guess my advice is that for anyone struggling with mental health is to reach out to a friend or family member and talk frankly about it and if that’s not possible or you feel that you can’t talk about it with them then reach out to some of the organisation available to you like MIND

Article by Danielle Wield