Mark Dunn is a veteran singer/songwriter who recently embarked on a new leg of his musical journey. Originally from North Carolina and now based in Florida, Dunn spent his high school and college years playing in a series of bands. After years of side projects and collaborations, he is making his professional solo recording debut in 2022.
“Walk in the Snow” is the new single from Mark Dunn, released worldwide via all major streaming services on August 8, 2022. On the track, a guitar-led indie-pop ensemble lays down some strong 90’s vibes with healthy doses of old-school hip-hop and alternative rock. Mark steps to the mic with a fun and goofy love song.
Throughout the song, Mark Dunn alternates between sugary pop melodies, a freestyle rap and an uncanny Bob Geldof in the chorus. If Beck were a little less Beck-weird, and instead just plain weird, he might sound a bit like Mark Dunn. It’s a lot of fun.
Check out the fabulous “Walk in the Snow” video below. You can also hear the song on the Deep Indie Dive playlist, or listen on your favorite streaming services. We had the chance to chat with Mark Dunn. Check out his answers to our 10 questions below. Follow the links at the end of this article to connect with Mark Dunn.
Director / DP - Daniel Dimenstein
Audio Producer / Sound Engineer - Alex Korinzer
Written and produced by Mark Dunn
Special Thanks to Doreen Lee and Dovi Feldman
10 Questions with Mark Dunn
Where are you from?
I’m originally from Charlotte, NC.
How long have you been making music?
I have been writing music since I was 16 years old. The first song I wrote a poem for my friend Matt after his dog died to cheer him up called R.I.P Dog. At that time I was playing in a metal band called Queen City Snakes with my best friends Jon Massachi, Sammy, Levi and Zack Defillip, and Ariel Farber.
Tell us more about Queen City Snakes.
Our first gig was at Morries Pool Hall down Monroe Road where we played Metallica covers and some KISS songs. Later we changed our name from Queen City Snakes to Cobra then to Kobra. Jon had a pet snake as our band mascot named Axl and we’d always practice in his garage and hang out by his house mostly. That was high school.
We left for college and Sammy split off into a metal band out of Raleigh called Pretorius. I worked on a solo project… an album that has forever been lost in time called, Normal in a Psychopathic Way. It featured songs like Rip Dog, Rig Dog 2 and 3… all about other people’s dead dogs.
Clearly you kept making music. What happened after the lost album?
I formed a band called Bananas N’ Blow, inspired by a Ween song. We frequently played the Spazzatorium, a local hang out in Greenville, North Carolina run by Jeff Blinder. After college I kept writing music here and there as an independent songwriter. I haven’t really taken on any serious project until now.
Now I am working on a new album as a singer/songwriter titled Young Salamander. “Walk in the Snow” is one of the songs on the album, but the best is yet to come. I am hoping to get all the songs done for a January release.
Who are the musicians involved in your project?
Right now I am working with this producers in LA and Croatia, named Alex and Jasmin
Who are your biggest musical influences?
My biggest Musical Influences are Motley Crue, KISS, Guns N Roses, Ozzy ,Ween, Bush, Prodigy, Moby, Radiohead, etc… I enjoy all types of music. Classically I enjoy 80s metal but I think the best genre out now is Pop Country. The best music to work out is Prodigy, or Everclear.
What inspired you to create this project?
I was inspired to do this album to just put my stuff out there. I love writing music and believe in creative expression and hope that everyone can best express themselves who they are.
What is your greatest non-musical influence?
My biggest non-musical influence is probably Jewish background. I believe that everyone should be balanced spiritually as well as physically. One of my first teachers was a Rabbi who has since passed away. Rabbi Emanual Schochet once said something that really settled with me. He said, “Be True to yourself. It’s the hardest thing to do.”
What are your plans for the future (musically)?
I do not know where this musical road will lead me but I am always open to possibilities. I do have in mind to present my songs to a record company once my EP is finished, but I’m not counting on anything. Right now it’s just a hobby and I have new songs I’d like to share with the world. I’m having fun producing some music videos and putting together this album.
I’d say the album’s sound would be post-apocalyptic, alt-metal/parody and growth oriented, which I think is a good reflection of myself.
Is there anything else you would like to say?
The only other thing I would like to say, In the words of Joe Dirt, “Keep on keepin on”
