The pandemic that brought the world to a lockdown approaching three years ago affected us all in completely different and unexpected ways. Mark Hamilton was no different, as the spread of Coronavirus forced him to freeze his music event business and caused a multitude of problems that affected his mental health.
But the British musician turned to his first love of making music to manage his mental health when he discovered that he certainly wasn’t alone in being affected by the pandemic.
As Mark tells us: “Reaching out to old friends and other professional musicians, I found they were having their own struggles and that many people across the globe were also struggling with their mental health due to lockdown. They were losing their jobs or businesses and having to find a way to adjust to a different way of life that may last long after Coronavirus.”
Mark launched his own music project in a bid to call attention to the silent epidemic of mental illness that affects and has taken the lives of countless artists and people around the world.
As he explains: “I wanted to create a music project that focused on raising awareness and breaking the stigma of mental illness. At the same time, I wanted to celebrate the genius of great musicians who had themselves suffered with mental health problems.”
Mark began by putting his own touch on songs by musicians who’d been lost too soon to suicide and drug abuse, including the likes of Kurt Cobain, Chester Bennington, Chris Cornell and Jimi Hendrix. That includes excellent covers of some of my favourite tracks like Numb, Black Hole Sun and Come As You Are, which have received millions of streams on Spotify.
And he adds: “I hope to show people who are suffering with mental illness that they are not alone, that there is a huge community of people reaching out their hands.”
But Mark’s also just released his first original song Wake Up Little Man, which was released on 21 November by Mind Records, the world’s first record label powered by crypto.
Wake Up Little Man kicks off with a little stabbing riff that kicks into a lively burst of guitar chords and driving drums. It drops into a laid-back first verse that feeds into an engaging chorus “Wake up little man, There’s things in life you just don’t understand, Wake up little man, Your life ain’t going to plan” with female backing vocals.
A second chorus gives way to a funky little guitar solo, then a noodling little lick and backing vocals under spoken repeats of “Wake up little man.” Then it kicks into a few final blasts of the chorus and a lively outro. Check it out in the video here:
Mark hopes that his music will generate discussion not just about the music but also about mental health and raise awareness of the risks of mental illness. We’re big fans of the important work Mark’s doing with his music, so go and check out the music he’s released. While the first original single has given Mark a taste for it as he intends to an album of original music next year.
You can follow Mark Hamilton on Facebook and Instagram, and check out his music on Spotify and YouTube. And find out more information about Mind Records.
GigRadar 