research and planning: double page spread interview

On a occasional visit to the Summer Contrasts gig, decides Mark Mayors particular moment to become the axe man and song writer for the lead signer Jordan Kirtain.
By Saafi Smith.
It's been a while since Mark Mayors was on the tour with the band. The last time Summer Contrast did the tour was since last year (2014) and now after their album released, 3 months later, they have started a new tour. This year tour involves fanatic music and unique combination of Marks guitar cord. However, Mark has compromised with the lyric writing as well as guitar playing. The album to hit the top ten best selling album of the year.

Were you aware that the gig was going to be something special and did you ever think that you would become the greatest guitarist of your generation?
I had no idea it would be special or any different in anyway that it involves me becoming a member of the band. It was one of those days were I would go to a gig and watch the bands preform. I did think to my self how would it feel to stand up on the stage and feel the experience. what bands experience on stage is breath taking and the enjoyment and the trill can't be compared to whatever you do in the daily basis. Now I am going through this experience of being a rock star and the greatest guitarist of my generation. this status alone makes it slightly hard for me to accept and imagine, I guess it is the passion that drove me here today in this position.

Did Jordan and Chris (bassist) give you any advice about you joining the band? And did they advice you on how to deal with the pressure?
The first time they all were extremely funny and tiring, I got along with them smoothly. The first thing Jordan said to me was ' Are you any good?' my reply was 'the best', he just gave this satisfying nod and we just got on with it. I think he was impressed with my level of confidence. Few days into joining the band, I discover all the members were sarcastic, especially Jordan. Their attitude toward the pressure is not what I expected because they were all laid back and relaxed, that created the calm atmosphere. I seemed to follow in their foot steps and it wasn't as hard as I thought it was. Chris did give me a good advice to deal with the whole rock star thing it was just to stay true to myself and continue to watch cartoons (laughs). Did that help in any way? Yes it did actually... things got a lot easier for me.

As soon as they heard how compatiable your guitar riffs were what were your reaction and their reaction?
I do remember the first time I preformed with the band, it was when they were doing their first tour. The gig was pretty small there were about 2,000 people there. I clearly remember the guitarist stormed out of the stage in front of the crowed, we were disappointed and shocked at that particular moment. Remember that I was in front of the stage and all of a sudden my hand shoots up, 'I could play better than him!' with all ignorance. Chris asked me to come on stage but I was hesitant but he insisted. He gave me the Reed's (guitarist) les paul and asked me if I knew the riff to a song and I replied 'yes' and played it well enough that I impressed them.
Any new or old songs going to be played in the tour?
 Well... I don't know maybe you should come to the tour.  I was joking I actually I do know, imagine if I didn't. There have been four songs removed, that were written by Jordan and  five new songs from the new album the band compromised in. Only because they are the most request by fans and the guitar solos are sky-scraping.

Any particular theme in your new album?
There isn't a particular theme to this album because it would be hard to come up with lyrics that suit that theme. You know writing lyrics is new for me, if I did try to make the lyrics a specific theme then it would be too difficult for me. But the guitar riffing isn't hard because I am specialised in that area of music. What did you do instead of have a theme to your album? we just recorded as soon as we came up with the basis parts of each song like the lyrics and the guitar riff, then the band will do their bit and we would get it mix and produced.

What has made you write lyrics in this album? And was it easy or did you have help from other members of the album?
Lee (drummer) insisted I should write songs because we didn't have enough songs for the album.We all participated. From that we've came up with seventeen songs and removed the ones that did sound fascinating like the rest. I think two of mine were removed only because they came from top of my head but the other four we're brilliant. It would be unrealistic if I was to say song writing is easy as soon as your sat down with a pen and a paper; you would have to be in certain mood to write. Also I can't help admiring Jordan's work it is very poetic and abstract, I couldn't write songs as good as his. I really admire his song writing.
What have you been doing for the past few months besides from preparing for the tour?
Before the tour I was in Paris with Allan Johnsons. He has a huge, beautiful mansion with a lot of art sculptures and painting he brought to decorate his mansion with. He invited me to stay over because he was hosting a grand party for all of his friends. I had to be there, I haven't seen him for months on end. Funny thing is I'm still recovering from the party (he laughs). Being those nights like the 70's night clubs. Playing music on full volume; just cool music playing all night. Few of the music playing that night I was inspired by; I am working on it at the moments for the next album. Also, I had a night out with few of my personal friends, I brought out a mix CD with me and played it in my new black range rover. We went to the studio, I rented out, tried to come up a guitar solo something similar to Jimi Hendrix. A note hit me and I came with the first demo for the current album the band is working on. All credit to Jimi Hendrix. Now I am going that get the royalties for it, it's just something that happens when your given the greatest guitarist title.

The song ' to the next block' made the charts, it came first. Did the band or you think it would be that popular?
Jordan and I came up with the lyrics and melody. The song was inspired by the stones a bit,  melodic wise. We would have been able to produce such good music without the experience and inspiration of music and artists that are there. Our producer agreed it is the best lyrically and melodic sound in the whole album, so we did have an instinct the song would make the charts but not first in the charts.