He’s been described by Pete Tong as an “inspired moment in dance music”, and yet Marco DeMark remains virtually unknown to the general dance populace. But of late, Queensland’s Gold Coast continues to surface unexpectedly in the national dance consciousness. And its reputation for tawdry glitter, indulgence and hedonism is proving to be a bastion for it’s rising nightlife status. With such figures as The Stafford Brothers and DJ Audun pushing the Gold Coast name, other characters are slowly but surely emerging to propel it into the light. Marco DeMark is one of these characters, with his latest reproduction of Elton John’s classic _Tiny Dancer” featuring the sublime vocals of fellow coaster Casey Barnes, grabbing him a lot international attention.
With the Italian-born boy arriving in Australia in 1994, he was armed with a few records that no one in Australia had yet heard. “Coming here was really different,” Marco notes with a smile. From the age of twelve, Marco recalls parties being held at his uncle’s house and remarks, “I remember seeing all these people dancing to the DJ – it was a shock.” Having already developed skills on drums and keys from the age of seven, the decks called to Marco, where he immediately started working on 1210s and a mixer. “I only had about five or six records to practise on,” Marco reminisces. “And they were all Italo house. I’ve still got them actually,” he grins. And the dent had been stamped for the imminent future. It was at a kids club held each Sunday that the first impressions for his music career were made. At fourteen, Marco stepped up to the decks and started playing. Performing before two hundred kids, Marco recollects “I loved the crowd reaction – and all my friends were there too.” Marco continued to spin at the Sunday kids’ club and developing his DJ skills.
It was at eighteen that his life changed when his parents made the decision to move to Australia. Coming to the Gold Coast, Marco recalls “when I first arrived, I looked at working in an underage club in Surfers Paradise.” Marco also notes that when he first came to Australia “was also when I started producing. I started producing on Logic (the old version) with a computer and an old keyboard. I love hearing live bass in house music,” Marco points out. “As a DJ or a producer, I try to produce a song that has a live element. I want a musical sound,” Marco states. “The computer is an instrument in itself too,” he asserts. “I don’t mind electro, but it still needs to keep to house to have some funky side to it. I love to listen to other producer’s productions, like Dirty South or TV Rock. I love listening to them so I can break it down and get the tricks, so I can produce better.” The first results of his foray into production led to the incredible success of You Got To Know . Produced with Mark Munro, it appeared alongside DJ Craig Obey’s Feel The Vibe on a limited edition 12” vinyl.
And thus the die had been cast. Continuing to tread the path of production, Marco’s collaborations with Italian DJ Blade from Jestofunk, produced three tracks: Palace City, Spanish Lab and So Good were all released through Blade`s label Cavernjatt. Two years later, a compilation album working alongside Blade and Mark Munro was dropped. With the album’s title inspired by his homebase on the Gold Coast, Ghetto Paradise would sell more than ten thousand units across the world. Particularly, the track Seven Mile would reach unprecedented success, getting signed to Ministry of Sound Australia and appearing on Chill Out Sessions 8 among other compilations around the world, hitting the top ten in Italy’s dominating radio station while also getting picked up by Australia’s Channel 9 for their test cricket coverage and promotion for 2006 and 2007.
It was however, while browsing MySpace and coming across Carl Kennedy’s bio that Marco’s life changed yet again “I was inspired to contact him. We have the same energy,” Marco comments. This association would lead to an intense alliance, with Carl obviously liking Marco’s music and extending the hand to collaborate more. Carl’s label Wasted Youth had originally picked up Elton John’s 1971 hit Tiny Dancer and Marco immediately made moves in using it. “The idea of Tiny Dancer came from the movie Almost Famous, Marco notes. “There is a scene where they sing the song on the bus. I thought it would be a cool chorus to try make a dance track from.” Using a number of live musicians on the track, it was via Gold Coast bass player Damian Barnard that Marco was introduced to Casey Barnes.
As the bass brings together the melody and the beats in music, so Damian Barnard married the remarkable rhythms of Marco to the supreme vocals of Casey. “Marco and I are from completely different worlds,” Casey explains. “I grew up in Tasmania. As a youngster I was [also] a drummer and then I moved to guitar. Incidentally, my first CD was Bryan Adams – which is ironic considering that I ended up supporting him.” Commenting that warming up the stage for Bryan Adams was “the most surreal experience I’ve ever had in music,” Casey is likewise amused at his swerve from popular rock to the dance arena side of the industry. “It doesn’t matter what kind of artist you are,” Casey declares. “You all feel the same thing. Some really get it. It’s really not unusual for musicians to cross over [to dance]. It’s been happening, even to a commercial extent, for a long time. But yeh, it’s really weird – I’m loving it. Twelve months ago, I woulda said – no way. But it’s the start of a change and I’m quite happy to shift. I’m really enjoying following my own direction. It’s all about learning something new – new concepts, new ideas, new challenges. So, there’s the possibility of putting more material into the electronic industry – yeh.”
So far, the response to Tiny Dancer has been incredible. Remixed by such luminaries as Camel Rider, Deadmau5, Molto Blanco and John Dahlback, and featuring on the playlists of The Stafford Brothers, Craig Obey and Carl Kennedy (naturally), the track has also being picked up on UK Radio 1, Galaxy FM and Ministry of Sound Radio among many other stations globally and nationally; while also being signed by Central Station Records in Australia. Marco notes that the “response is amazing and we’re really grateful. It was first signed in the UK and has been spinning big time. We didn’t expect it to get so big actually,” he grins. “It would be nice to see Australian radio stations take a gamble,” Marco avows. “We’ve charted number one overseas but have yet to make it regularly onto Australian radio stations.”
“The Australian public will wait and see if our track does well overseas first,” Casey inserts. “And it has already. It’s just a shame it works that way… The flow on from the track has been great – it’s gone into the right hands,” Casey affirms. “We could be just another number on the shelf.” “I wanted it to have that personal touch,” Marco maintains. “The response is exactly what we wanted. We wanted to make a good dance record, and the remixes are spot on – I especially love the Camel Rider remix.”
“See, it’s the song that’s the key,” Casey points out. “It speaks on it’s own merits. It’s got something that draws me in. It doesn’t necessarily need the marketing. The general public are liking it. The extra elements thrown in make all the difference – the live guitar, vocals, bass. It gives it something extra.” And Marko notes that, “It comes from your heart. If you don’t connect with people – it doesn’t work. You gotta throw the magic and have a good record. You play what you like and what’s in your heart. But it doesn’t revolve around the one song though,” Marco affirms. “I’ve written other tunes too. It’s impossible these days to get success out of the one tune. Ten or twenty years ago – maybe. But not now with downloading. Downloading has impacted on the industry – artists are trying to make a living out of it and it’s difficult.”
Casey himself has got more coming in the world of dance music. “I’m still working on some tracks,” he outlines. “I’m writing for a new album. And I’m looking forward to working with Tiesto and I’ve got a new tune on iTunes.” Meanwhile, Marco is keeping things rolling as well. “I’ve signed my next single I Can’t Fight This with Wasted Youth,” he states. ”I’ve been collaborating a remix with DONS too. I’m working on productions for remixes and just writing songs.”
Undoubtedly the star is shining on Marco DeMark and his vocal cohort Casey Barnes. With a run of live performances that commence at Platinum Nightclub on the Gold Coast Friday April 4, and then to Sydney, Newcastle and Geelong, the live performance of Tiny Dancer with the soaring vocals of Casey Barnes well supported by Marco’s firm musicianship on the decks will prove a stellar delight. This is one act determined to highlight the Gold Coast’s disturbance in the national global scene yet again. But such is the way of the impression that never lives down when the mark of Marco DeMark has been made.
Catch Marco DeMark together with Casey Barnes at the following shows, and check out Tiny Dancer in ITM-TV...
4th Apr: Platinum Nightclub, Gold Coast
11th Apr: Yu, Sydney
12th Apr: King Street hotel, Newcastle
19th Apr: Homehouse, Geelong
