November 26, 2003
Interview with Mark Weitz
When describing many albums it often comes down to the music or the vocals, but in some rare instances there seems to be no line where the one starts and the other stops, as is the case with the recent release from Josh Ramos "Living In The Light". It is as if the music were written around the stunning voice of Mark Weitz who in fact came to the project in the ninth hour. Mark had been a well known name in the L.A. music scene but had been on hiatus for some time before letting us all know he is alive and well with his outstanding performance. We look forward to hearing more from Mark in the future and could continue on about his vocal ability to portray just the right emotion to the song and make them his own ... but we'll step aside and let the music speak for itself!Kathy: With the success of "Living In The Light" there are a world of us wondering who is Mark Weitz and where can we listen to more of this fantastic voice. Would you take a moment to tell us about yourself and what projects you have worked on?
Mark: Well gosh, it's kind of like in our previous conversation. I told you that I was out of the music industry, still continuing to do demos and stuff with friends of mine and other musicians. Josh haphazardly stumbled across an engineer that had been working on Hardline and actually heard something I had done. So that's how I hooked up with Josh, so I was actually out of music. Previous projects - I mean gosh; I sang with Malice which is a pretty big L.A band, Odin which is a pretty big L.A. band, Eyes which I think you have heard about, and that's pretty much the bands that I have worked with that have names I guess you could say. I do some music that I have been writing.
Kathy: The first listen "Living In The Light" is spectacular, as if the record was written around your voice, but we know that this is not exactly the case, in fact you came into the production on short notice (and did a great job!), could you tell us how you being the lead vocalist for this album came about?
Mark: Andy Haller is a real good friend of mine, he is an engineer he's worked with a lot of R and B artists out there, but he engineered for the last Hardline album, I'm pretty sure he's worked with Ozzy, some other big name artists and stuff like that, a lot of the R and B that he's worked with I don't really know, he was pretty much instrumental in doing this - it's his fault. (laughs)
Kathy: Along the same lines; how long did you have to learn and master the songs before entering the studio? What assistance or training was there from both Josh Ramos and Kelly Hansen in preparing for and completing the album? I read reviews where Kelly told you how to sing the songs ...
Mark: I guess initially they had a singer that I don't even know who it was, and this kinda reflects back to Andy again where Josh was in the studio and mentioned that he had just split with what ever singer was doing this album with him for what ever reason and that's how once again I came to fruition. But as far as that went, Kelly was the first one I met actually and the first song they gave me was, "The Dream is Alive", I think that was kind of my test, "How are you going to do on this album? Is Mark going to be the guy?" From then on they gave me a disc that Kelly - everything was recorded in Kelly's studio - Kelly just had done some scratch sound because Josh would kind of dictate to him how he wanted the songs. Well, he just dictated how he wanted the vocals, you know. A lot of the gooyness that pretty much was adlibbed as we were going along. As far as assistance - I think Kelly was very instrumental because if there was something I was doing that wasn't really clicking it was really cool to work with another singer who would throw on the headphones and pop up in front of the mike and say "hey check this out, try it like this." That was cool! Josh would come down to the studio - he likes to hear his songs come to fruition, he likes to hear them coming together, coming to life. Kelly was very helpful, very cool too, it can be a little stressful for a singer to work with another singer, but there was no ego. Kelly was just very killer, he's a very mellow guy he knows what he wants, he knows what he wants to do and he's the producer, so it's pretty cool.
Kathy: So how long did you actually have to prepare?
Mark: To actually learn the songs.... It was kinda rough too because what they did is they handed me eight or nine complete songs and there was another four or five - there was an instrumental floating around in there also - but four or five that needed to get written. I was trying to digest the songs and trying to get in and write some of the other songs so I could also get in on the album, and get some writing credits. So I could only get one in, I didn't really get anything together, that one was co-written by Josh and another one of his writer buddies David. It wasn't very long, I think we did the album, all of it in about forty five days, that was schedule permitting. Once I did the first song, the executive producer called me back and pretty much told me that I got the gig, and then they went over and gave me the full disc of everything and it was almost even the following day. The songs themselves are songs and music that I love to sing. It wasn't very hard for me to pick up on the vibe and pick up what's going; it was more so just trying to digest the songs and to feel comfortable.
Kathy: Your performance on this album is great with high quality as if you've been doing this for ever and ever; do you train your voice to deliver such a grand presentation?
Mark: The best thing to do - Wel I actually do most of my vocals I guess you could say practice or training in my car. I am always driving around singing in the car and that's when I've been driving around for ten hours a day or doing what ever means your singing for ten hours a day.
Kathy: Each song on "Living In The Light" has a special quality, something that captures us and draws us into the world being presented; on each track your voice adapts to the feel and the emotion of the song - what is your secret?
Mark: I think that it's writing, something that's in the writing I guess you could say. Its Josh's writing style, it worked really, really well. It's his writing reflected on my voice; where predominantly a lot of the vocals that I have done in the past, demos and stuff like that, it seemed the record companies were looking for the guy who could scream the highest in the world; back in the eighties and early nineties that's what everybody did, we tried to scream like the best of them, but my voice has changed and I always, always loved Journey. I can say even since I was; hate to say this ever since I was a tot. The songs that Josh wrote; my voice just fit the pocket or vice versa.
Kathy: So you would say that your voice has changed over the years?
Mark: Notably!
Kathy: In a better way?
Mark: I think so, it's like a barking dog. Like a puppy that's just barking all over the place but after a while you kinda know what you're doing - you got to figure out what your doing. It's just matured.
Kathy: What would you say your range is?
Mark: I couldn't tell you, I remember back in the day, I was like five, I would get up and watch the Donny and Marie show and then the Jackson Five after it and I would go directly in to my room right afterwards and start singing. I could sing like that when I was five, so I really didn't have any training or any thing like that. I did try to go in for training once, but it actually messed my voice up because I was trying to sing the way they sing. But again, Josh has a knack for writing these beautiful songs that are basically what I love to sing, I love to sing in that pocket. Maybe the reason why I had never did it before was because I never had an opportunity and somebody to write and play in a band that was like that.
Kathy: We have thoroughly enjoyed you on "Living In The Light," and now as always want to know what's next, where can we hope to hear more from you?
Mark: I spoke with Josh just the other day and he was talking about getting songs together, but Josh and I don't live on the same block, he lives up at the beach and I live out by the amusement parks, but we are in the same state, and have like states of mind.
Kathy: And maybe this time you will write more together, maybe get something out of your vault?
Mark: Yes there is some music I'm going to pull out of my little black bag, but Josh is also very on top of what he is doing. Even more so than really just writing I would like to collaborate with Josh, make it a real collaborative effort. We'll see what happens, take it day by day.
Kathy: As a musician we can imagine that you are a true fan of music and those who create it, who are your favorite artists (we already know Journey), and are there any that you can credit for motivating you for developing your talent?
Mark: I think anyone in my era are going to have similar bands that they were into; I've got some weird taste in music, but Journey always has been at the top. I've always been a Led Zeppelin freak, believe it or not Tom Jones is way at the top of my list, he's the man. And Kiss, they are the ones that really motivate you to go out, and be like wow look at the crowd these guys are playing in front of - Not to put make up on or any thing like that but the energy and explosions and the excitement of their concerts and stuff like that.
Kathy: What advice would you give to those hoping and aspiring towards a career in the music industry?
Mark: Run! Turn around and run! It is different for the youths nowadays, there has been a lot of mayhem, a lot of crap and a lot of road blocks that can really hurt you. As long as you can keep your head on straight and obviously stay away from stuff like drugs. If people can stay away from that aspect of the world/industry, focus on their own spirituality and stay with their music. I think someone will come and will enjoy their creative efforts. The music will always speak for itself especially if it comes from the heart. Music is pretty much what you are listening to while you're doing life.
Kathy: Are there any artists in the Melodic Rock world or any genre that given the chance you would like to work with?
Mark: Wow, that's a broad scope; there are so many people who are out there. Yeah, with out shooting myself in the foot there are too many guys that are out there. I'd like to write awesome music, I'd like to write music that is going to capture some ones attention, and music again to me is what you're listening to while you're doing life. So if anyone ever approached me and it was something that swiggled my wiggle I would definitely entertain it. There is no one in particular that I just sit here tapping my fingers going, "God I hope, they call me."
Kathy: There are many sides to everyone, our work, our passions and so on, what do you do to "Strike A Balance" in your life, what do you get the most enjoyment from?
Mark: I think I get the most enjoyment out of having my kids, my oldest son is more into computers and stuff like that but my youngest he's almost two and I put him in front of his high chair in front of my drums and he plays the drums. I even threw my electric guitars that are already kind of messed up on the ground and he plays the guitars. I get my most enjoyment out of the kids, and seeing my youngest pick up the guitar and kinda be into music and like to sing. Also through my divorce I've got step daughters and stuff like that and I've just recently gave them the album and they're very into music too so - So I am going to live vicariously through my kids.
Kathy: Is there any thing else you would like to take this opportunity to say to the fans of your work who are reading this interview? You probably have a lot of new fans!
Mark: Thank you for being interested in the music, the vocals came from the heart, the writing of the songs came from Josh's heart; there is no doubt about that. Hopefully some where down the line my fans can come out and see us when we do some gigs, and bring some friends. I definitely appreciate all the support, it's a pleasure to get back into a situation or a project that's appreciated; that people like.
Kathy: Thank you and have a great day and have fun with the kids!
Mark: Thanks and keep in touch.
Posted by Kathy at November 26, 2003 11:36 PM