We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aaron Markland a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Aaron, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I have some of the best parents in the world. My dad is a punk rocker under the guise of a blues harmonica player, and my mom is a saint who rocks a mean bass guitar. I got my first music education combing through my father’s record collection and discussing my favorite tracks with him (classics such as Hendrix, Marley, Kinks, Stones, Skynyrd, etc.). Later in High School, my brother (bass guitar) and I started a punk band called Soylent Green and played our first gig at intermission during a school musical. Within the first few distorted power chords, most of the parents left the auditorium holding their fingers in their ears, but my parents remained front and center beaming with pride. Not only did my parents encourage me to be original, but they also taught me to work hard. Because of this I gained invaluable life lessons serving in the US Air Force and the Albuquerque Fire Department. Those experiences have carried over into my work ethic as a musician, and I am convinced that 99% of my success up to this point can be contributed to hard work. To this day you will see my parents at most of my shows carrying equipment, setting up the stage, working the march booth, making new friends, or simply letting loose on the dance floor. I am very proud of my parents and they are the reason I am the musician and the man that I am today.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Aaron Markland and I am a professional musician born and raised in San Diego, CA [Ocean Beach]. I am a USAF Veteran, retired Albuquerque Firefighter, soul surfer, and family man with a wonderful wife and two beautiful boys. I grew up in a musical family with my dad playing harmonica, and my mom and brother both playing bass guitar. I always gravitated toward singing, and later picked up the acoustic and electric guitar. I was in a punk band with my brother in High School, and as an adult, I’ve been in a funky blues rock band with my brother and dad, and a beach rock reggae band with my mom. Growing up I never thought being a professional musician could be a possibility, but now I am humbled to say that music is my profession and I couldn’t be more grateful. To date I have recorded five original full length albums, one EP, and several singles, each touching on different styles of rock, reggae, funk, punk, blues, and soul music. I am currently signed to Pacific Records and today you can see me performing under the name Seawall Prophet, primarily as a one man band at popular music venues and private events all around the San Diego and Albuquerque areas. I also have an exceptional live band featuring members of the jazz fusion band Zzajj (AJ Price, Chris Price, and Steve Cunningham). We perform a set of original jazz-infused, reggae inspired, soulful rock songs. When I perform solo, my acoustic set showcases a wide variety of covers and original songs including timeless classics, 80’s and 90’s hits, SoCal reggae, and beyond. I am proud to have teamed up with the Social Syndicate who have bestowed upon me a residency at Wonderland Ocean Pub in Ocean Beach every other Wednesday starting at sunset. The opposing Wednesdays feature the incredible local guitarist Jimmy Lewis. I also perform monthly at The Rabbit Hole in Normal Heights and will be there Friday, April 21st, joined by award-winning musician and my long time friend Jake Franks. That evening we will be celebrating the release of my latest single “Danny’s Song”, written by Loggins and Messina, produced by Sol Turpin, and recorded by Seawall Prophet for Reggae Hit Masters. Visit SeawallProphet.com to see more and send all booking inquiries to [email protected]

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think it is first important to realize just how much hard work goes into creating art of any kind. For every minute you see an artist perform, there are thousands of hours of work behind the scenes that no one will ever see. If a musician releases a single for example, there were months of writing, planning, and recording behind it, typically paid for out of the artist’s own pocket. On top of this, most people listen to music for free on streaming platforms these days and artists only make fractions of pennies for every dollar spent. It is far more helpful to download music so the artist can make some of the money back and roll it into the next project. If you have a free night out, look up who is playing around town and check out a new artist you’ve never heard of. If they have a tip jar, even one dollar can make a huge difference and I guarantee it means the world to the performer. If you enjoy an artist, subscribe to them on social media platforms, like their posts, buy some merchandise, and share your new discovery with family and friends. Most independent artists don’t have advertising budgets, so word of mouth is very important. Lastly, if you hear a new song or see a new piece of art, be slow to critique and kind with your judgments. Art is very personal, and I assure you the artist is their own worst critic.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One of the most influential books for me has been “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. It is a short philosophical book that explains how we are all living in our own dream and that we have the power to shape our own reality. There are four tenets to help us do this: Be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions, and always do your best.

My Producer Patricio Pickslay (Pacific Records) turned me on to the author Malcolm Gladwell. His book “Blink” explores the art of following your instincts and what it takes to make precise split decisions. His book “The Tipping Point” examines what makes brands and ideas successful and what exactly helps them trend. Gladwell is also the one who coined the 10,000 Hour Rule, which is how long it takes to achieve true expertise in any skill.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://seawallprophet.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seawallprophet/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aaronmarklandmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_TCvuUVW9z_6or12Gj9boA
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4sDQkRg7y4INglqitx2nsf

Image Credits
Photos by Troy White, Mal Hall, and Steve Markland.