We recently connected with Mark McKee and have shared our conversation below.
Mark, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I took a risk by moving to Los Angeles in 2013 with no job, barely any friends there, and only a dream and a mission, I was living and working in Raleigh, NC as the owner and engineer at a recording studio I had since age 21. I knew I wanted to work with the best musicians, artists, and creators in the world, whatever it took. When I arrived in LA the first few years were incredibly hard and I was sometimes broke and depressed, but I also knew I had to be there and learning so much so fast. It was a jolt to the body and the mind, but worth it all. I wouldn’t trade that part of the journey for anything.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am a record producer, musician, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, audio engineer, and music director. I work one on one with artists and bands to make their sonic ideas into reality either live or in the studio. Some days I am just a guitar player. other days I am editing vocal tracks, then doing keyboard overdubs, then building the backing tracks for a live show. Sometimes these things all happen in the same day, and not necessarily with the same artist. While the idea of “problem solving” doesn’t sound like the most romantic and creative endeavor, it is to me the definition of getting art from your own bedroom to the listener’s ear. There are constant roadblocks both the following things: talent, technology, time, and budget. You need all these things to work in concert to accomplish anything in the creative arts. What is the x factor that cuts through all of this? I use the word “passion” mainly because I can’t think of a better word, but also because it encapsulates something that is the engine and the motor for continuing to pursue a creative life. Without the passion and desire to create, you could have an infinite amount of the four things I listed and nothing would get done. However, with passion and hard work, literally anything is possible.
I am proud of the list of artists I have worked alongside with and collaborated with over the years, to name a few they include Morgxn, Jeremy Renner, poutyface, Delta Rae, Sara Bareilles, Rooney, Forest Blakk, Orianthi, Lorelei Marcell, Mister Mister, Katy Rose, Ava Maybee, Kat Robichaud, Hardcastle, and many many more. I’ve worked alongside producers and songwriters such as Rob Cavallo (Green Day), Mikal Blue (Colbie Callait), and Steve Perry (Journey).
I do not pin myself to any particular genre, as I work in and have worked in Pop, Country, Christian, Rock, Alt Rock, Indie, Folk, and Metal.
A few notable moments of my career have been playing on national television (GMA, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Call w Carson Daly) and getting play some of the biggest festivals in the U.S including SXSW, Lollapalooza, and Wonderbus. In addition to that, I have toured all over the U.S. several times over as well as Europe + The U.K.
I’ve been fortunate to work in some incredible studios including EastWest (Los Angeles), Revolver, (Los Angeles) and Blackbird (Nashville). However, I have a wonderful home studio here in Highland Park, Los Angeles called K House West where I do most of my work making and creating music.
What sets me apart? I focus entirely on the music and whatever that needs. I have a vast and growing roledex of musicians, engineers, songwriters, and industry professionals that can cover any role that’s needed. I consider myself a “one stop shop” meaning if I can’t do something, I have someone on deck who can. I am in love with the process of taking a very basic song idea someone may have and turning that into a track, which turns. into a release, and then that person truly became an artist and has a career. Sometimes it happens quick, sometimes it takes a very long time. The quality of the final product is always the most important thing, regardless of how long it can take to make. Let’s make something!
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Go to shows and buy merch. Hire the babysitter. Take a road trip to see your favorite band. Streaming your favorite songs by your favorite artists all the time on Spotify cannot even come close to sustaining them financially – and to add to that, we are seeing a post-covid live music boom that is unprecedented. There is a much larger and more complicated conversation about royalties, how to make profits in the era of streaming, etc but the bottom line is artists bare their soul and body to give audiences the best show and experience possible. Key word there is “experience” – You go to a great show and that experience will stay with you your whole life.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
That I was supposed to have gone to music school, that I had to have more technical and formal education to be accepted in the community and compete. No amount of music school will prepare you for throwing yourself in to the arena of being a professional musician. It’s an entire school onto itself. Know your instrument, know your tone, and let your ears lead the way and your hands will follow along. It doesn’t all have to be stressful. I am someone who struggles with anxiety, and I had to unlearn my internal responses and deal with the fears and self doubt that can be crippling. What I learned, and ultimately am still learning, is that fear and self doubt are perfectly natural reactions to wanting to make something amazing. If you know and recognize great art, you can feel the weight of how hard it is to make and how quickly audiences can pass on something that perhaps you spent years on as well as emotional currency. However, if you believe in what you are doing at a core level then all of this will work itself out. As I say a lot to my artists, “confidence over competence”.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.markmckeemusic.com
- Instagram: @markrmckee
- Twitter: @markrmckee
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ9ufrGTDYX6Ey7J0kmjpqieThFuBGrXS&si=-SUcRio3eYzSCDDw
- Other: Follow me on TikTok: @markrmckee
Image Credits
@LilacFilm @BenZuckerphotos