Mark Vennis & Different Place Talks New Mini-Album, Instruments And More

Apr 14, 2024 | Interviews

Words by Glenn Sargeant

Photo Credit: Supplied By Artist

Drawing on strong new wave influences Mark Vennis & Different Place deliver a short sharp shock of a mini album, with seven songs and a running time of just under 24 mins. ‘Small Town Vampire’. Mark Vennis sat down with JLTT to tell us all about it:

Your new mini-album ‘Small Town Vampire’ is out now. How did you want to approach the making of the record?

I definitely wanted a stripped-down approach – no frills, no fat, concise.

Where did you record it and who produced it?

My own home studio, and at Gravel Track Studios. Produced by Duncan Le Feuvre

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

Yeah, trying to get me in time on ‘Familiar Feeling of Falling’ took a while…

In addition, you have the track ‘Wild Suburban Boy’ on the album. What was the inspiration/story behind the song?

It’s partly autobiographical, and it’s really about how you see yourself as a teenager, and how you really are – ie you think you look tough but you’re not! You think you know everything, but you don’t!

Who designed the album artwork?

Sara Mitchell @ Fink

What is your earliest musical memory?

Hearing ‘London Calling’ by The Clash which my brother had.

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones?

Fender Telecaster guitar. The most reliable and flexible sounding of all guitars. Throw it on the ground and leave it out in -5 degree cold and it will still be in tune. Pedals – just a boost and old-fashioned delay pedal.

Do you have any live plans for 2024 in the UK and Europe?

A few local festivals, and we are playing the Cannes Film Festival.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Petersfield, Hampshire. Market town, north of Portsmouth, south of Guildford, like anywhere some truly fantastic people, and some not so much. Great vinyl record shop (Vinyl Matters).That’s more than five words!

What music do you enjoy listening to? Do you have any recommendations?

I listen to a lot of different genres of music but at the moment I’m going to back to my old Libertines albums, as they have a new one coming up soon. Great lyrics, great melodies.

How do you look after your voice?

I don’t.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

Made a connection with the audience, and having had a good time on stage.

Was it a difficult album to write?

Most of it were relatively straightforward – ‘World Stops Turning’ was quite tricky as was ‘Familiar Feeling of Falling’, both the words and music.

What makes Mark Vennis happy and what makes you unhappy?

Happy – playing gigs, writing and recording; Unhappy – this shabby Tory government