Conversations with Bobby Marks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Marks.

Hi Bobby, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been creating pop music in some capacity for most of my life, starting with songwriting at age nine and production at age 14. I was always fascinated by the feeling of escapism I got from listening to pop music, and that inspiring me to start making it myself. I attended Berklee College of Music and graduated in 2018, from there I made the move to LA to pursue a career as a songwriter-producer. In that time, I’ve released three singles as an artist and released nine songs as a writer and producer.

I’m currently serving as an executive producer for a 13 track project for Nashville based singer-songwriter Maisie Bull. I credit a lot of my success to establishing and maintaining connections with like-minded musicians through social media.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely been challenging to get where I am today. I moved to LA after having only visited once months prior, with very limited understanding of day-to-day life in the city. I’ve changed apartments and day jobs at a dizzying pace in my efforts to keep myself afloat while I pursue my dreams. Feeling like a drop in a huge ocean of talent and competition was a staggering blow to my self-esteem. It took countless tries to be satisfied with my art, and I owe my development as a songwriter and producer to my practice and patience. It’s much easier to feel like you stand a chance against your competition when you have a portfolio to show for yourself, and each new release eased my worries just a bit more.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve always been more interested in what goes on behind the scenes of a pop star’s albums and singles, and that’s where somebody like me comes in. I make music with the intention of creating something that’s as catchy and accessible as possible. An artist has an image that their music upholds, and when I write a song for somebody, I want to frame their personality and brand with an unforgettable hook that sticks in the listeners’ heads. When I produce tracks, I take it a step further. Music production, for me, is an opportunity to translate someone else’s art in a way that makes anyone connect emotionally to it. I’m incredibly proud of my January 2020 single “Perfect For You”. I set this lyrical message about insecurities and imperfections to a beat that is quantized and packaged into pop perfection. I feel that my style is unique to other musicians because I use my production choices to continue the story that the lyrics start. You can use songwriting to tell a story, but certain choices in instrumentation add that emotional impact that words on a page can’t fully give the listener.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The music industry has seen a huge shift in the last decade. Music is becoming shorter, and garnering streams has become the most important indicator of success. An everyday music purist will tell you that this is the death of real music, but as a pop superfan, I disagree. Songs are becoming popular these days because of TikTok dances; I see that as a perfect opportunity to throw zany ideas at the wall to see if they’ll catch on. These songs are spread virally for a reason, they’re catchy, silly, and memorable. That’s what I’ve always loved about pop music and will continue to admire. While the medium has changed from radio and physical sales to social media shares and streams, the formula for a successful song hasn’t. We’re going to continue to have big songs from big personalities no matter how they become popular.

Pricing:

• I offer productions via commission. I have an asking rate of $300 to produce a full song with vocals. I do not offer mixing and mastering, but I can direct any client to my network of talented and reputable mix engineers to finalize a professional quality pop song.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobby__marks/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/_bobbilicious_

Image Credits
All photos photographed by Kieran Barber