Mark Bray – I Just Need a Drink

By starrymag | August 29, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) The short answer? 90’s country with a modern touch. The longer answer requires a look into what music influence me. Like most people in my generation, I grew up on 90’s country. Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and George Strait set the bar, but artists like Joe Diffie, Mark Chesnutt, along with a pantheon of others engraved in me the sounds that made me fall in love with country music. You take that and add a little James Taylor, Billy Joel, and Jimmy Buffett… That’s how you get Mark Bray

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) Well, I think you just have to look at the answer above…

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “I Just Need a Drink.”

 

A) “A certifiable, undeniable, unequivocal hit!” is what I said to everyone in the room when I heard the original iPhone recording of songwriter Erica Sunshine Lee performing this song with just her voice and an acoustic guitar. I fell in love with the song. The melody, the words – they spoke to me. Yes, it’s a drinking song, but to me, it captured a feeling. It captured what every single one of us have felt at one point or another. Because of that, I knew I had to record it. I’m glad I did because the response has been overwhelming!

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

 

A) To be honest, there is no right or wrong way to write a song. Everyone has a process. Some, like me, have multiple. I don’t really have a set formula. Sometimes I come up with a melody with words first, yet other times, I come up with a cool musical progression and write to that!

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) To answer that you have to understand the relationship between me and my producer Randy Barber. There is a lot of respect between the two of us. I know that he always has the best interest of the project (and me) in mind on every track. He also believes in me. If I don’t like something or have an idea of where I want a particular song to go, he always leaves that decision up to me. We work well together, and it shows in the final product.

 

Q) You are out on your Tour. What can fans expect from a live Mark Bray performance?

 

A) We play all over the Mid Atlantic. What do you get at a Mark Bray show? Energy. plain and simple. My guys bring it every single time.

 

Q) Will there be an EP or full album coming in the near future?

 

A) We are about to go back into the studio to work on a new record. It’s in the very early stages, but I’m already very excited about it!

 

Q) Name something you are aiming for such as an award, performance experience or recognition. 

 

A) I mean, we all have goals as artist… the Opry, etc. But for me, I just want to be successful enough that I can take care of my family. My wife and I just had our first child this year. My aim? To make her proud of her daddy and his career.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) My dream collaboration would be Garth Brooks. He’s the reason I got into this in the first place.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

 

A) I’m pretty high on The Brothers Osborne right now. Anything those guys touch, right now, is gold. They are doing THEIR thing. They aren’t trying to replicate what the industry says “works.” They are making the music they love. period.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) Social media is the greatest tool to come to the artist in years! It allows me to connect with folks on a one-to-one basis. When someone feels like they matter individually (and they do), in a sea of thousands, it makes them feel good!

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) THANK YOU! You are the reason I’m even here. Without YOU, I’m just a guy who likes to play music. You have given me the unique opportunity to do what I love for a living. I will always remember that YOU are the reason I’m here.

 

 

Follow Mark Bray:

Website: www.markbraycountry.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/markbraycountry

Twitter: @markbraycountry

Instagram: @markbraycountry