Meet Marck Angel | Music Artist/Filmmaker

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

Hi Marck, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Doing “this” – working to become a successful music artist there really isn’t any work-life balance. For me, it has to be a continuous drive, a continuous work ethic and conditioning that’s consistently ongoing in order to make it. Even on days that I “have off’, I still have to think about what’s next. What’s the next opportunity, what’s the next level? What’s the next task to do on the list of things to make my career successful. So even when I’m not on the road or doing music video or choreography or rehearsing I’m still constantly constantly thinking about what’s the next step and what’s the best thing to do for, my career and my team. There are times where I have to miss birthdays, holidays, family events because I have to work. It’s just a part of the hustle, with an understanding that if I make it, it’ll help the folks that I care about.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My name is Marck Angel, I’m a singer-dancer & actor from Queens, New York. I write, compose, produce, and play all the instrumentation of my music. I choreograph most of my dance videos, as well. My tone of my voice is probably the most unique thing talentwise about me. It’s really soft & high, which is different from most of my counterparts. I grew up studying great high tenors like Michael Jackson, Tevin Campbell & Smokey Robinson, so their influence and vocal-styles definitely rubbed off on me. I also incorporate social activism in some of my music.

At this point in my career, what I’m most proud of is my new music/film project “SERAPHIM”. So far, it’s done really well, and it’s good to see all the hard work pay off with the album, the tour and forthcoming film. We’ve received a few Wammie nominations, and the forthcoming feature film has already won & been officially selected for quite a few film festival awards including “Cannes Short Film Festival”, and “Bronze Lens” & “Flickers’ Rhodes”, which are Oscar qualifying film festivals. But I think, what I’m most happy about is fans and listeners receiving the positive messaging of the project.

I started out singing & dancing professionally about 10 years ago in New York City at this club called Esculitas. I was given an opportunity by a famous drag queen named Harmonica Sunbeam, who heard about my music, and wanted to give me a slot to perform on her club show. I remember doing a really good job & hearing all the applause, and that was a tough audience that’s geared towards drag performances & vogueing. So, to be received as a Pop/R&B artist in that forum was really special. I knew that was the birth of Marck Angel, and was the first time I was paid for performing. After that, I started recording and released my first album, “AngelDust” that became a kinda big deal on the Queer entertainment scene and that set the pace for who Marck Angel is today. Since then, I’ve been able to tour all across the country, putting out music and making music videos over the last 10 years to get to where I am today.

It hasn’t been easy at all because the mainstream industry is not particularly receptive to Queer artists or even more so, Black Queer artists. Even with the successes of Frank Ocean, Lil Nas X, or Sam Smith, the challenges still tend to be a very misogynistic, homophobic industry that continually ignores openly Queer artists when compared to signing “straight” artists. I’ve personally sat across the table with major labels & A&R who wanted to sign me but didn’t because I was “openly” queer. So, we haven’t gotten as far in progressiveness as we should in mainstream. But it’s part of my mission to push through that glass ceiling to provide better agency for queer artists, and for our talents to be recognized.

Some of the lessons that I learned along the way is to “keep going” and not take “no” for an answer. Every “no” is a “yes” somewhere, and an opportunity to do something better to go to the next level. I want the world to know that Marck Angel’s music is uplifting, inspiring, and meant to help change people into a more positive and enlightened mindset, I like to make music that makes people dance and feel good, while still paying attention to what’s going on in the world around them.

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?
In LA… First step would be West Hollywood to bar hop. We’d have to go to Stache for a pre-cocktail and then maybe Trunk‘s and then Rocco’s to party. I love the food from Bossa Nova’s…. their lasagna… yum, so that would definitely be a stop. And then we have to find the hottest brunch spot or maybe just Roscoe’s in the city for Sunday Funday. During the week I would take them to the beach just to chill and meet guys. And then preferably, we find a cute house party or kickback to go to at some point. I’m a simple guy, especially with family and friends.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Gratitude & light to everyone who’s worked on my new project “SERAPHIM”. From the album, to the tour, to the forthcoming feature film. Shout out to the producers I worked with: Swanny, B-Dubs & Jenkster. All the artists: LiKWUiD, Splash T, Los Lauren 718, Baron Artist, Fly Young Red & SevnDeep. Meech my co-choreographer and RED for her amazing eye shooting all the videos. All my dancers and the set crew. It’s been such a tremendous effort, all the sponsors and party promoters that have helped with the tour, like Impulse DC and Xavier Events. And the biggest shout out to my mom and dad. Without them I wouldn’t have the talent nor the drive to do this.

Website: https://www.marckangel.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarckAngel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marckangel/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/MarckAngel

Image Credits
Billy Hess R.E.D. Marck Angel