Offaly native is making waves on music scene with second single

Mark Lyndon from Birr has just released his second single 'First Light', following the success of his first single, 'The Last 35.'

The new single is a personal piece that reflects on the positive impact of the growing and changing light on our collective outlook during the dark weeks post-winter solstice.

Mark said: “I always experience a period of reflection at this time of year. It can be a blue time for many, with the death of the Christmas period and the warmth that it entailed, surrounded by family and friends. We are then forced to emerge from this softness, and it can feel hard, cold, and lonely.

"It’s important to remember that this too is a natural state and to embrace it as part of a cycle of rebirth. As natural light increases, and nature slowly responds we must embrace the importance of the fallow period.”

'First Light' offers a more laid-back vibe with Mark's acoustic folk sound echoed by Richie Delahunty’s bouzouki playing and Adam Taylor on double Bass. This track is part of a selection of tracks recorded and produced by Davie Ryan who also features on percussion mixed by Alex Borwick and mastered by Sam Proctor of Lismore Mastering.

Mark has written nine songs for an album that he is yet to release, based around folk stories that he's been collecting for the past two years. He plays both guitar and piano on the album. Speaking about his writing process, Mark said that he usually works on the guitar first and writes the melody for the song before writing the lyrics.

The Birr native lives in Cork with his wife Danielle and daughter Kirsten but grew up in a musical household next to Birr Theatre & Arts Centre. “My folks would've been involved in choirs and theatrical productions and they would've had us involved in music from an early age so I started studying classical piano with Annie Noonan in Birr at seven years of age.”

Mark went on to teach himself to play guitar and studied music at University College Cork and became a full-time music teacher after that.

“Throughout my entire time studying and teaching, I would've always been composing on the side and playing cover gigs, wedding gigs. I conducted a couple of choirs and stuff like that as well so it's been all music.”

In 2017, Mark moved to Ballyhooly village in north Cork and began writing about the area and the Blackwater Valley which led to him working on folk songs. Walking his dog Harry has led him out around every woodland and every step of the Blackwater Valley.

“That's kind of got me out and about and got me thinking creatively. A lot of this idea of documenting my local area through music has come through lengthy walks with the dog. It's been a big part of my life for the last six or seven years and I've drawn a lot of inspiration from it,” said Mark.

Mark previously worked as a music teacher and then five years ago he took up the role of Homeschool Liaison Coordinator for Cork ETB which involves helping families who need support around education and supporting parents.

Mark said that he is planning to pursue a full-time career in music.

“I have released two tracks so far. I have an album worth of tracks to release, I'm approaching various promoters trying to get support slots with the hope that by this time next year that I would be at this full-time.”

Mark is the son of Mary and Tommy Lyndon from Birr and his grandfather John Lyndon owned Birr Shoes Limited from the 1940s to the 1960s.

He explained that his parents always supported his passion in music and took it seriously.

“We all kind of naturally just put a lot of importance on it (music.) I know for some people it's just a pastime pursuit but in our house it was more than that always,” said Mark.

He describes his music style as folk/singer/songwriter and he's influenced by the likes of Paul Brady and Radiohead.

“I was big into rock music as a young fellow so I suppose there is a grungy kind of an influence to it just in terms of my melodies and maybe my vocal tone.”

Mark recently sold out the Richmond Revival, which is a new arts venue in Fermoy, Cork, where he performed all the songs he plans to release for his debut album.

He said that it was a “beautiful gig” because it was held in an acoustic room.

“It was just very intimate and I really felt that I got the tone of the songs across well.”

He hopes to perform support at more gigs this year to get his name out there and to build up a following.

“It's my goal that by maybe this time next year which might be unrealistic, but certainly 18 months to two years time that I will have enough of a profile to be able to make this my full-time pursuit.”

Mark said that there's been “ a really good reaction” to his new single with it receiving about 20 radio plays in the first week of its release.

“I'm pretty happy with that. It's had around six or 7,000 streams on social media.”

In his youth, the Offaly musician said that he was really conscious of how he portrayed himself but that that has changed in recent years.

“As long as I can stay true to myself in what I'm playing, in the lyrics I'm writing and as long as I like what I'm doing I feel that that's a good enough record for me to leave behind. I have done some work on film scores before, composing instrumental music for Nick Larkin, the Birr filmmaker, and I've thoroughly enjoyed that. Maybe, that's something I'd go back to in the future.”

For the moment, Mark is very invested in focusing on his own music and continuing to write music and lyrics.

He will perform support for Andy Irvine and Dónal Lunny in Birr Theatre and Arts Centre on Saturday, February 10 at 8pm.

Tickets cost €30 each and can be purchased from birrtheatre.ticketsolve.com.

'First Light' is now available on all streaming sites and is accompanied by a stunning video by Irish artist/filmmaker Nicky Larkin. For more information see www.marklyndonmusic.com, contact info@marklyndonmusic.com or follow Mark Lyndon – Music on Facebook.