SOLO: Saali Marks, Featherston-based singer-songwriter, guitarist and music teacher, will stage his debut solo show at King Street Live in Masterton on March 27. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
SOLO: Saali Marks, Featherston-based singer-songwriter, guitarist and music teacher, will stage his debut solo show at King Street Live in Masterton on March 27. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
FEATHERSTON singer-songwriter Saali Marks will stage his solo unplugged debut at King Street Live in Masterton on Friday.
Marks is, by day, head of music at Solway College and a music teacher at UCOL Wairarapa, St Matthew's Collegiate, Makoura and Chanel colleges in Masterton.
By night, he gigs with severalbands, including Wellington-based six-piece Battleska Galactica and Wairarapa psychedelic rock trio Vinyl Bison -- and also relishes solo turns in the spotlight.
The father of two specialises in guitar -- and singing and songwriting -- but also boasts chops on drums and bass and, as a recording artist, has solo recordings and features on the debut reggae, jazz, rock and ska album from Battleska Galactica, Everybody's Got An Opinion.
Vinyl Bison are set to drop their debut EP next month, which features five original tracks from the eclectic trio and includes Marks on guitar, and fellow Featherston musicians Liam Glancey on digital Roland, drums and vocals, and Warren Maxwell on bass, synthesiser and vocals.
The band was born "of a provincial, cathartic need to perform songs forged from the '80s synth/pop idiom and give it a twist of experimental, psychedelic jazz and blues", with one of the tracks on the upcoming EP running to about 16 minutes.
"A couple of the songs are pretty extended -- so there is some self-indulgence." The EP will be released in Wellington on April 24 and in Featherston on May 2.
Marks, who has a Turkish first name and a Russian heritage, is looking forward to his solo Masterton outing and will also have some original recordings on sale at the King Street Live gig on Friday.
"I've evolved a unique solo sound, part dark pop, part light folk, part roots and soul, part rock 'n' roll, with strong melodies and evocative lyric," Marks said.
He carries a deep commitment to the delivery of his music, saying: "I love taking the stage by myself. It's liberating."
He was keen to release a solo recording and felt compelled as a songwriter.
"There is something really cathartic about writing a song. It's almost like a form of meditation for me -- I have trouble thinking about anything else until it feels complete. I want my songs to mean something personal to everyone who listens, but at the same time they are quite personal to me."
Marks studied music at the Nelson School of Music and went on to study jazz guitar at Massey University in Wellington, where he first met Maxwell.
He lives in Featherston with Jennie and their two children.
Marks said he would present as a soloist a "very different side of my musical make-up, with only an acoustic guitar and voice" to convey his song and lone wolf sonic sensibilities.
Entry to the Saali Marks solo show at King Street Live on Friday costs $5 each at the door and the music starts at 8pm.
