Interview by Kieran Webber
Mark Nichols is a very talented young musician from Sheffield, who is currently studying the surf science foundation degree in Newquay, Cornwall in his first year. Mark has been pursuing a career in music for 18 months on a national scale, building up a popular following following in his hometown Sheffield and now in cornwall. He has had interest from the BBC in Sheffeild, Devon and cornwall. Mark’s music is heavily influenced by surfing, he himself has been surfing now for four years and is well travelled he spent four months in south Africa surfing some world class waves.
What and who infuenced you into music and why?
Some older friends of mine from Cape Town when I was in my mid-teens were in a band together and it really inspired me. I was always quite creative as a young boy but never really found a platform to express it until I began learning music!
How are you finding touring, writing new material and doing a degree?
It’s definitely a lot to juggle.. Very tiring! But I think I’m doing okay so far! Music will always come first for me, though..
Has it changed your music in any way?
I wouldn’t say so, no.. For me they are two separate things and I aim to keep them that way.
Has moving from Sheffeild to Cornwall helped your music?
In numerous ways I think! I am meeting new people and being exposed to new audiences, and living by the Ocean is having an impact on my writing and lyrics for sure!
What do you focus your surfing on (apart from surfing)?
I surf because I love it. I’ve had the opportunity to travel a little bit, having visited Cape Town, the east coast of South Africa as far north as J-Bay and a few spots in Morocco too – I draw a big influence from surfing. So I guess it’s fair to say I focus my surfing on the search for inspiration in music and in life.
What would you like to have acheived in 5 years time?
Who can predict the future? I don’t like to think too far ahead.. I hope to still be touring and performing music to new audiences and finding my excitement in the ocean! Apart from that, I guess we’ll see..
At What point (and why) did you decide to pursue a career in music?
I used to perform in little coffee shops and at open mic nights just for the fun of it, I didn’t like to take it too seriously. I wrote music for the love, and of course I still do.. But I began to receive gig offers in bigger venues, and the audiences I would play to encouraged me to really go for it.. So I did! It’s been about 18 months since I began to really work hard at making this my career and it’s been very very exciting!
Do you feel as an independant artist you can obtain success and still stay true to your roots and influences?
This is a conflict area within the music industry I think, with stories of artists being ‘moulded’ by labels for profit. I don’t like to buy in to that debate.. I certainly intend to follow my heart and let it guide my musical direction, and I’m lucky to have close friends and support who help to keep my feet on the ground!
Marks ep is now available www.facebook.com/marknicholsmusic for FREE!!!! just follow that link! Also his new single will be available January 9th 2012.
