Sapien Trace’s Mark Dee has gone solo. Lee Allcock caught up with him to find out more about his new solo project, MARQ Electronica, and his collaboration with AXLS.
You’re known as one-third of electro-rock outfit, Sapien Trace, but why did you feel that now was the right time to start your own solo project?
The time was right because of lockdown. We couldn’t get together as a band and feed off each other’s ideas so we stalled a little bit. However, I like to be busy and keep creating so I saw that I had the time to focus on my own ideas. I shared some of my songs with the guys and other local artists I know and respect and their feedback really boosted my confidence and encouraged me to go for it. Without their support and encouragement, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do this.
How did lockdown affect your songwriting?
Lockdown was awkward in one sense but liberating in another. I went from two jobs and the band to one job and free time. I couldn’t get together with Alex and Dan to create but I was able to focus on things I’d had on the backburner for some time as well as create new ideas and explore my home studio and collaborations.
In terms of the overall sound, how does the new project differ from Sapien Trace? And what similarities are there?
My new project (MARQ Electronica) is 100 percent electronic and less of a harder sound than Sapien Trace. As it’s me doing my own thing, I’m free to explore ideas that may not have been in the same soundscape as before – but there is still the unmistakable electronic edge with a Sapien Trace deep bass. One forthcoming track I am working on is very orchestral and trippy, another is a dance track similar to artists like Example, while another is more house music orientated.
Your new track, ‘In a City (Love)’ feels and sounds a lot darker and funkier than ‘Get Down and Work It Out”…
Yes. I didn’t want to do exactly the same thing on each track and I like to experiment with different sounds, ideas and themes. The subject matter is darker so the sound reflects that: it’s all about the aftermath of a break-up and no matter what you do or where you go, you are constantly reminded of what you lost – the good and the bad.
You’ve been really busy lately. Can you tell me a bit about what you have coming up with Sapien Trace too, as well as your collaboration with Conrad and Victoria from AXLS?
Now we can get together again, Sapien Trace have been rehearsing, jamming and generating new songs based on ideas we had during lockdown. It’s so good we’ve really missed that. So it’s a case of watch this space.
I’m also working with Victoria and Conrad from AXLS on “The Last Of The Fallen Angels”. I normally do vocals and lyrics with some musical suggestions in Sapien Trace but here there are songs where I am heavily involved in writing the music as well as lyrics which is exhilarating. Conrad approached me during lockdown about the project and I jumped at it. The feedback so far is phenomenal and it’s something I am really proud of. I am also collaborating with another musician on some dance-orientated tracks too and love the diversity and ideas so that’s promising.
For my solo work, I am lucky enough to have three forthcoming tracks produced by Simon Ellis. Simon has won an Ivor Novello and Brit Award and worked with some pretty big names, so he knows his stuff, and has moved my music to another level.
You can listen to the new tracks now on Spotify.
