I could listen to your new single “Damsel In Distress” for hours on end! Congratulations on this awesome release. What message do you hope will resonate with your listeners when they hear this new track?
Mars: When I was writing this track, I was hoping to invoke a sense of 2000s nostalgia mixed with an energy only modern sound could provide. Putting an upbeat spin on all too known feeling of young heartbreak.
What first got you into music and inspired you to make your own?
Mars: My passion for music sprouted from early childhood memories, of my family filling the house with various genres of song, which granted me a deep appreciation for all things musical. Lip-syncing to all my favorite songs gave me a drive to one day perform my very own music. I later gained an interest in the more technical side of music production by seeing it portrayed in films I enjoyed. All these things made me the musician I am today.
I can tell from this new single you have an amazing talent for storytelling in your music. Do you have any tips or go-to tricks for other songwriters out there that help you when writing your own work?
Mars: One method that seems obvious but seemingly gets overlooked by many aspiring artists, is drawing from one's own experiences in a dramatized format. When that well dries up, my next go-to is normally drawing from the people around me. Art most often mimics life, and music is no exception. I've found that trying to complicate things early in the writing process tends to cloud an otherwise compelling story.
You have such an incredible sound, I hear odes to pop punk in there for sure!! Who would you say are some of your biggest music influences that help create that sound?
Mars: As previously stated, I don't only experiment with only one sound or genre. But for this song specifically, I pulled from the influences that accompanied me throughout my rebellious teenage years. Earlier sounds like; Blink-182, The All-American Rejects, and Paramore, and even some later sounds such as Neck Deep and 5 Seconds of Summer.
Do you have a moment in your career that you’re most proud of thus far?
Mars: Something that's really important to me is to be able to maintain my close connections while trying to achieve my goals. So it's great when both of these things align and I get to make the music I love with my closest friends. That's why if I had to pick a moment in my career I'm proud of, it'd be my feature release 'Nervous' alongside my childhood friend Charlie Ulia. Sharing this journey with others has been really inspiring for me.
This new song really blew me away, I cannot wait to hear what else you have in store for us! Any hints on what we can expect next from you?
Mars: I'm really close to perfecting this sound of mine, and within my next few releases I wholeheartedly believe I'm gonna produce something really special, as I'm already seeing hints of this in my next release. I can't wait to share my passion with the world, so get excited!
Interviewed By Sarah Curry
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