We recently had the chance to connect with Mark Cross and have shared our conversation below.
Mark, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I recently got into homebrewing beer. I had this itch to look into it and to my surprise I’ve been getting pretty good at it! One of my philosophies is: you’ll get exponentially better if you allow yourself to fail. You’ll never become a pro if you don’t give yourself the room to make mistakes. It’s human to make mistakes. I have failed a few times at it, and that’s totally ok. It’s best to just get started. There is so much to learn and so much creativity that goes into it. The rules are rigid, kind of like music!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Mark Cross, singer/songwriter! I have been writing and performing music for about 20 years now. I’ve been on all sorts of awesome adventures because of music. I’ve played famous local LA venues, met some of my music idols, toured with my own groups, toured with other groups, but recently my focus has been on my original project “Those Animals”. I’ve been writing and recording songs for this project for about 5 years now. I have taken a slow approach to this group, allowing myself to serve the music instead of serving marketing and other superficial business-related duties. Of course, business is always a part of it. But, I feel like these are some of the best songs I’ve ever written. With the help of my incredible band members, we’ve recorded some phenomenal sounding tunes. We’re about to open for Oingo-Boingo in November. This will, by far, be the most popular group I’ve ever shared the stage with. It’s so rewarding to do it with a band and songs that I created. I’m incredibly grateful!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I started writing original music when I was a junior in High School. At the time, I was just writing solo acoustic tunes. They were admittedly pretty cheesy, but it was such a new and inspiring feeling. I wasn’t very good at guitar yet, either. I had a mutual friend, Hunter, who approached me one day and told me that he thought I had a good voice. I was really surprised to be honest because Hunter was in the top Jazz Band at our school. One thing lead to another and he invited me over to jam with a drummer (Kevin) and electric guitar player (John) he knew. We ended up starting a band and that was my introduction to gigging, recording and eventually touring. If it wasn’t for their belief in me, who knows where I’d be now. Thanks, guys!
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
That life goes on regardless of whether or not I want to go on with it. I can isolate and feel sorry for myself as much as I want. But, I realized that doesn’t get me anywhere. I am in control of my life and emotions, not the other way around. Bad things happen to everyone. I am not unique in that regard. In a weird way, I’ve learned that my adversary and suffering has lead to some of the most profound thoughts or changes in my life. I have to pick myself up and keep course. I can’t expect anyone else to do that for me. And, with that, I have the power to decide who and what I want to be.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Becoming successful on my own terms so I can inspire to others who are struggling with following their dreams. If I can prove that staying determined, committed, optimistic and unbothered can lead success; hopefully more people will follow suit. It’s sad to see people take advantage of each other just to get ahead. It should be the dedicated, kind and passionate ones who succeed. At the end of the day, nobody listens to only one artist there entire lives. Sure, we may have a favorite artist. In my opinion there’s room for all of us.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
That everything was always easy and carefree. I put a lot of effort into what I do. I struggle daily with staying motivated. It’s something I have to work at everyday. I have to remind myself of where I was 5 years ago and where I am now. It’s easy to lose sight of the goal when the daily grind feels so mundane.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thoseanimals.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markcrosss
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-cross-55032b1a3/
- Twitter: https://x.com/thoseanimals805
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoseanimalsmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thoseanimals1362
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thoseanimalsmusic
Image Credits
Matt Villa, Ashley Rose Lilly, Mary Anselmo, Jack Lue and Mark Cross
