Meet Bobby Marks | Artist, Songwriter & Music Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bobby Marks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bobby, why did you pursue a creative career?
To be frank, I think music is the only thing I really know how to do. Sitting down at my desk every day making tracks is where I find structure in my life. I’d like to think that people who excel in typical 9-5 office jobs apply the same logic to their own work. My feelings of productivity, of happiness, and of fulfillment come from laboring to create songs. I chose to pursue a career in the arts because my musicality is my definitive most important skill.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I write and produce synthpop and dance-pop for myself and others. I feel that my music is unique because of how much I am able to do under this seemingly limited label of genre. Two songs can both have catchy hooks with polished beats and synths, but have a completely different sonic palette. Every new song is an opportunity to showcase my vision in a new but accessible way.

Things have changed for me even from the last time I had the opportunity to speak with you. Releasing music as an artist, writer, or producer is an incredibly daunting task. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first song or your fifty-first. The self-doubt that comes with this is a huge obstacle, but I’ve found it getting easier with each successive release. Putting out new music has helped me overcome a lot of fears of career stagnancy. New opportunities have fallen into place unexpectedly with each new release. When you have more content available, you have an array of songs that can appeal to people differently. Someone who thought your dance track was subpar might think your ballad is incredible. On the other hand, someone who liked your latest song might be inspired to check out your older stuff and admire the versatility and growth. You can really throw things at the wall and see what sticks, it’s as easy (and complicated) as that!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The most quintessential tourist things to do in LA can really be knocked out in a day or two. If I want to treat my best friend to something more thrilling than say Venice Beach or Hollywood Boulevard, I’m going to use social media for good and see where the creatives who inspire me are performing and partying. This has taken me all over the place in the past. I particularly love Silverlake and DTLA. I find the queer scene particularly more unique and exciting over there as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe an innumerable amount of gratitude to the people who helped me hone my skills and encourage my development. I’m thankful for the relationship I have with my immediate family, for the music they brought into the home and for their limitless support in my dreams. As I write this, I am working professionally with some incredible people I need to shout out. Kieran, your photography has helped me communicate the message of my music beyond just the songs. Maisie, I hear your voice in my head every day, whether I intended to or not. Finding the right instruments to layer under your melodies is always a fun and rewarding challenge. Jake, thank you for tying our vision for Maisie’s tracks together. I’m so happy to have worked professionally with all of you for many years now.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobby__marks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_bobbilicious_

Image Credits
Kieran Barber