Darren Marc is a mystic, world traveler, and ambassador of change dedicated to spreading positive vibes to as many people as possible. He has taught yoga for over a decade, performed music world wide, and has recently released a new full length album ‘Let It Shine’.
Heaven Is All I See from Darren Marc on Vimeo.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
I grew up in Melville, NY which is a small town on Long Island. In high school, in chorus class, a classmate would always play the piano before class started. Girls would gather around him to hear him play. I was young and impressionable. I wanted to be like him! So I went home and told my mom I wanted to start taking piano lessons. But instead of practicing other people’s songs like I was supposed to, I began writing my owns songs instead. Writing my own songs just came naturally to me. Later on in high school, I joined my first band in which I played piano and sang. Shortly after that, I started playing guitar as well.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
I think first priority should be to work on your songwriting craft. It’s easy to get gigs but it’s not easy to write great songs. Always keep writing and keep trying to improve your craft as a songwriter. No matter how successful you are, you can always get better. In terms of getting gigs, I think it’s important to focus on venues that are well suited to your vibe and the music you play. I remember in my 20’s living in L.A, I booked an acoustic singer/songwriter show with a violin player at a dive bar in Hollywood. When I arrived, there was a metal band playing and a lot of drunk people stammering around. Booking a show there wasn’t the best idea! Now I do my best to perform where like-minded spiritual people would hang out.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Most artists have the tendency to judge themselves after a performance based on how they performed versus their ideal of being perfect. But nobody is perfect. So in regards to performances, I just do the best I can do and always seek out ways to improve myself.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
I enjoy touring but not in the same way I used to. Many years ago, I remember doing a west coast tour with my rock band The Darren Marc Band. We drove up the coast from L.A to do some shows in San Francisco. I was playing electric guitar then. I remember the 4 of us wheeling big heavy guitar amps up the streets of San Francisco after we had already been drinking. I was dressed like a rock star wearing a navy blue velvet suit. It was a lot of fun but very different from the way I tour now. Now a day on the road for me includes morning meditation, lots of green tea, a yoga class, vegetarian food, and going to bed as early as possible after a gig. 🙂
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
I enjoy doing pre-production on my own and then taking what I’ve got to a producer that I am inspired to work with. Doing that allows me to start to dial in a vibe while focusing on what I love; songwriting. Take a new song I just wrote as an example… I laid a scratch piano and vocal with some loops in Logic to get it started. Now I’ll bring what I’ve got to a producer and we’ll go from there.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Social media is a great way to promote yourself as an artist these days. I also love promoting my music to people who come to my yoga classes since it has a positive, inspirational message that yogis can vibe with.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
I’ve always been a big fan of John Lennon. John Lennon is very active on the spiritual planes. He often visits me in dreams and I’m very grateful of that. His music had a great purpose; to unite the world in love. My music shares that purpose so if there’s anyone I could share the stage with, it would be him if he were still here in physical form.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Yes! I plan to release a new single or EP sometime in early 2018. The vibe will be more commercial pop than the full length I just released. I might also do some recording with my kirtan band.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
There are a lot of other things I love doing and I do my best to make time for them all. I love acting and recently starred in a play in NYC. I also teach yoga, offer reiki sessions, am a soon to be published author. And if that weren’t enough, I am also a NYS licensed real estate agent! I do my best to put as much energy as I can into each of my passions.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
I’ll be offering a lot of solo shows, sometimes accompanies with guest musicians. I’ll also be offering a lot of kirtans (call and response singing of devotional music) at yoga studios and yoga festivals with my kirtan band The Love Tribe.
