1.) We’re excited to be speaking today with celebrated author, playwrite and – last but certainly not least –  musician Mark W. Collard; greetings and salutations, Mark! Before we meander down the proverbial Q&A pathway, hos have the last few months of 2022 been treating you?

The last few months have been very busy, recording and finalizing my Album and tying up the loose ends etc. I’m really enjoying going through all the PR for my album. Exciting stuff.

2.) Congratulations on your brand-spankin’ new album Sitting On The Edge Of My Bed which also happens to be your debut album! Does it feel at all surreal to have your first album out in the world after all of the work you undertook to bring it to listeners?

Yes, it does feel surreal, particularly having spent the last couple of years putting the album together and now to be in the position of dealing with the release and feedback, I can’t quite believe that it’s happening at last. It feels like a long time in coming.

3.) What was the genesis of Sitting On The Edge Of My Bed? How did this lovely and haunting album come into being?

I have lived with anxiety for most of my life and on the whole have been able to live a balanced and meaningful life, until the covid pandemic came along. Covid was the catalyst that led to me writing my concept album. On a daily basis I would sit on the Edge of my bed and write down my feelings and thoughts, initially turning them into poems but then the melodies just seemed to follow naturally. The more I wrote, the more it became clear that I was writing specifically about my anxiety and how I felt.

4.) How is Sitting On The Edge Of My Bed different from anything else on the 2022 music scene?

Where shall I start! I don’t think there is anything on the 2022 music scene that comes close to this album. I never purposely set out to be different, but I knew I wanted to make a concept piece that would pique the interest of multiple audiences and in particular draw attention to Mental Health Issues and anxiety.  The mixed music genres and spoken words seemed to have just come naturally as expressions of my story telling.

5.) Was it difficult plumbing your own emotional depths in order to bring Sitting On The Edge Of My Bed to life?

Yes, it was difficult to start, but the more I spent considering my own anxiety, the more writing I did and it actually seemed to flow naturally. Whilst having to be honest with myself about my issues was initially painful, the final outcome was actually a really positive step in accepting and dealing with my own emotions. It has also allowed me to be more open and empowered to talk about my feelings and thoughts about who I am.

6.) Who was your producer on Sitting On The Edge Of My Bed and what did the collaboration between the two of you look like in the studio?

I’m really fortunate that my producer Carl Simmonds is also a great friend. Carl is not only a producer, but also a sound engineer, arranger, and keyboard player. The album was put together at his studios, Pinewood Audio, Pontypool, UK. The collaboration between us has been honed over many years. It’s a simple process where each of us plays our part. From the lyrics and the basic melody, from my expectation of the final sound, Carl is able to put together a basic track, which we both work together on, to develop the finished version. It’s a good “marriage” and we can freely bounce ideas off one another, with no effort and in a workmanlike fashion.

7.) What do you hope listeners walk away with after giving Sitting On The Edge Of My Bed a few dozen spins on their record players?

It’s a straightforward answer – that the album gives them a better awareness and understanding of mental health issues and how it can affect anyone. Of course, I want them to enjoy the experience of listening to the unique sounds and arrangements, and the spoken word. I want them to be able to emotionally connect to each of the tracks.

8.) What does your touring dance card look like on the heels of the release of the new album?

Let’s just say it’s a work in progress. The concept is really a full experience for the audience. Currently my exposure has only been local, so I’m really hopeful that the promotion of the album will mean that more opportunities will come my way. I’m a storyteller that writes music and I’m open to anything.

9.) Was it a difficult transition from going to the fields of being a noted author and playwrite to suddenly recording an album?

I’ve been writing poetry and songs for some time. So, it really wasn’t difficult. The development of the album just seemed a natural progression. I believe that it was always meant to be.

10.) Who inspires you musically?

My influences are the iconic and sophisticated artistic sounds of:

David Bowie, Roxy Music, Kate Bush, Japan and Peter Gabriel.

I admire how they have developed their own unique sounds. They are all storytellers that give the listener a full-on experience. It’s not simply just about the music. Their creativity is almost an art form that in my own way, I’ve tried to mirror.

11.) We’re big admirers of the tune Let The Dice Roll off of the Sitting On The Edge Of My Bed album. What’s the story behind this gem of a tune?

The tune for “Let The Dice Roll” is the most uplifting and positive of the tracks on the album. It’s a “pep talk” to myself. It reflects the start of a new outlook on life. “Be who you are and kick away those blues”. “Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose”, but at the end of day it’s your choice how you deal with it. 

12.) Any final thoughts that you would like to share with our readers regarding Sitting On The Edge Of My Bed?

I’d really encourage the readers to listen to the album starting at track one and working through each track in order. Only then will they really experience the journey. Whilst the album is based on my experiences, they are shared experiences that many would identify with. I truly hope that it inspires your readers to openly talk about their own feelings and thoughts. in a more positive way.

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