Mark Diamond is a young, ambitious and determined artist fighting through the music industry. He started making music when he lived in Seattle, Washington and he spent his brief time at college locked away in his dorm focusing on that craft. Then, Mark got kicked out of college. When I prompted him about this he was casual about it and shared that he always knew that making music was what he was going to do, and there was nothing that could stop him. Not even getting kicked out of school. He shared that there have been few moments of doubt for him, from middle school onwards. He laughed while sharing his story with me, almost coming to a realization about himself while in our discussion. He reminisced about performing at a middle school talent show, seeing a crowd in front of him that felt so massive. He shared that in that moment he was absolutely hooked on the feeling performing gave him. He knew that being on stage was what he was meant to do.
So much of Mark Diamond’s philosophy is based on that sort of idea. Destiny, persistence and faith in what he’s doing. Mark shared that both of his parents formed his belief that with hard work and hope, there’s really no way to fail. He told me that his father was a pilot and would spend nights living in his car, just so that he could make his dream of flying a reality. Mark shared that his mom would say there’s just no other option but to succeed. If you’re focused on what you want to do, you just won’t fail. I suggested that this could be considered stubborn passion and Mark laughed and agreed, saying that he’s just never questioned what he wants in life. Mark’s large catalogue of maturing and quickly growing music, especially for such a young artist, is clear proof of this passion.
I asked Mark about how rapidly he has been producing music and again he accepted this with great casualty. He stated that songwriters have an obsession with perfection. Songwriters take a long time to reform and reshape their work, strategically waiting to drop music. Mark said that he releases his music when he’s done with it, not when he’s waited long enough. He pointed out that rappers can release multiple songs in a month, so why not other artists? He is quickly releasing multiple works from “Hummingbird,” which demonstrates that Mark has a clear focus on his own style, and his disinterest with adhering to industry standards is just another example of it. With a laugh he shared that he doesn’t really like to listen to music, outside of creating. He said he never knows how to respond when asked to list his influences, as he consciously avoids being influenced by other songs or artists. Instead he wants to be inspired. He said, “I never want another amazing song to influence me, I want it to inspire me.”
Mark talked about appreciating solitude and being most comfortable when he is alone. He talked about being raised on a small lavender farm and when you simply see him or listen to him in any way, you can sense the light and loose demeanor of someone raised surrounded by nature. He shared that he cherishes his time when he gets to return to Washington, but is grateful of his time in California. That was a common theme for Mark – being incredibly appreciative. You can tell this is someone who has put in the time and effort to get where he is. Though he spoke about loving being alone, Mark was excited when discussing the people with whom he works. Stylists, directors and producers – Mark had kind words to say about them all.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1kCv4QHXmP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
When prompted about the writing process for “Hummingbird,” Mark said with little hesitation, “[It was] super, super natural.” He talked about working with producer Richard Craker who is responsible for hits from artists like DNCE and Liam Gallagher. Mark spoke about how they both worked quickly and how organically they clicked. He shared a story about being matched up to work with Craker for four days on an assignment to create one song together and said that they needed to get an extension because they were “at about day eight or nine together and we had already had like seven songs that were basically approved right away.” Mark spoke about following Richard Craker to London (where Craker is from) and continuing production. Mark mused about how perfectly their music making styles came together, saying, “We got quite close in that moment.”
Mark told me about the shift from his previous works to his time in Seattle, explaining he has grown and changed as an artist. He no longer utilizes such a dark sound, but instead is focused on exploring lighter themes involving love and nature. When asked about why he chose the hummingbird as the central focus of his recent and upcoming works, he saying how “everything is about this relationship between a hummingbird and a flower.” It’s all about making sure everything “comes full circle.” He chuckled at that, sharing that he began to wonder if hummingbirds ever missed certain flowers and through that his “Hummingbird” projects were born.
Though I am not certain Mark knows this, studies have shown that hummingbirds have an innate ability to remember every single flower they have ever visited. Mark Diamond’s works are like these flowers in a sense. A collection of quick and current memories compiled eternally for Mark Diamond and his listeners… completely and totally unforgettable.
You can stream Mark Diamond’s EP out everywhere, now.
Feature image courtesy of Republic Records.
