Mark Prendergrast opens up about what Man Alive means to him, and its significance in comparison to his work with Kodaline.
S] Hi Mark, how are you today?
I’m doing really good thanks, it’s sunny and I’m drinking coffee in the garden.
S] What does Man Alive mean to you, in comparison to your work with Kodaline?
Man Alive to me is like a wardrobe full of brand new outfits I haven’t worn yet. It’s an excuse to act like a different person and experiment with sound and visuals like I haven’t before. It‘s packed with new challenges and responsibilities. Also, I’ve no idea what I’m doing. Kodaline is my DNA, being part of a band is a different thing altogether. It’s four individuals instead of one. Getting to do both is a dream.
S] Does it push you in new ways as an artist? If so, how?
Yes absolutely, I’ve never really sang in front of people before. That’s been the biggest challenge. I love my role as a guitar player in a band [Kodaline], but singing songs and releasing them is a different beast. It’s quite terrifying singing a song about something significant I’ve been through and then putting it out there for people to hear.
S] What direct experiences, if you can tell me, led to the creation of ‘Be Someone’ – what headspace were you in when you wrote it?
I wrote the song in America with my good friend Gavin James, I was at the tail-end of a relationship where both sides were on completely different wavelengths. Also, long-distance was a factor. ‘Be Someone’ is about how the person you’re with can change who you are. And when that relationship ends you struggle to know who you are.
S] How do you define success now, what does it mean to you?
Success to me is more about generating a particular feeling than stats or numbers. When I finish a song, I need to be able to play it on repeat and not get bored of it. I like the lyrics to be so upfront that the listener knows exactly what I’ve been going through. That or headlining Glastonbury.
S] Is there anything else you’d like to plug, or add before we finish?
Yes please, ‘Be Someone’ is the first of many songs I’ve been working on over the last two years. I’m going to be releasing a tonne of new music over the next while. Then I’m going to play them live wherever I can.
