Mark Daly Talks New Single, Musical Memories And More

 

 

What is your earliest musical memory?

From the word go, I was obsessed with music. My earliest memory is wanting to learn the violin. I started lessons when I was around five years old, followed by piano, trumpet, and choir. I caught the music bug early and never shook it. I even have a faint memory of a violin lesson at a neighbour’s house when I was maybe four years old, so I’ll go with that as my earliest musical moment.

 

 

When did you begin songwriting?

I was kind of a late bloomer when it came to songwriting. The first song I ever wrote was called Restless when I was in a band called The Voodoos, and I think I was about 20 when it was released. It’s wild to think that since then, I’ve written hundreds of songs and collaborated with so many amazing writers. Once I managed to finish that first song (as cringeworthy as it sounds now), I knew I could improve. These days, I feel like I understand songwriting on a much deeper level and appreciate every song I create. I always have this quiet fear that one day I’ll wake up and the ideas will be gone.

 

You have released your latest single ‘In The Dark’. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?

I actually wrote In The Dark a few years ago and recorded a rough demo in my home studio. At the time, I thought it sounded a bit too pop for what I usually write, so I shelved it. Fast forward a couple of years, I was finalising songs for the new album at home before we headed to the studio in Texas. One day I heard my wife singing In The Dark in the kitchen. I asked her why she was singing it, and she didn’t even realise it was one of my songs. She just said it randomly gets stuck in her head! That made me pull it back up on my computer. I tweaked it, called my songwriting friend Dave Lichens in LA, and we restructured it together. We both knew it had real potential. So, I’ve got to give my wife full credit for bringing that one back to life.

 

Where did you record the track and who produced it?

We recorded the song at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, Texas, the most incredible studio I’ve ever seen. The label figured we’d get our best work done if they stuck us in a studio in the middle of the El Paso desert, and they were right! The album was produced by Brian Virtue, who has worked with the likes of Jane’s Addiction, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Audioslave. Brian also produced our previous album Devil’s Arms, so it was great to have that familiarity. Recording this album was pure joy from start to finish.

 

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

By the end, we were definitely delirious, pulling 16-hour days and living on beer and burritos (which honestly isn’t the worst combination). The great thing is, we all get on so well that we’re constantly laughing and having fun. We filmed loads of behind-the-scenes content for our socials, which turned out to be hilarious, and unfortunately, it’s still up there for everyone to see.

 

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

At Sonic Ranch, we were spoiled for choice. We got to experiment with an incredible range of instruments and amps. The studio literally has Stevie Ray Vaughan’s and Billy Gibbons’ guitars lying around, so of course we had to give those a spin. Having recorded our last album there, we already knew which microphones, amps, and settings worked best for us. That helped us lock in the tones we wanted, and we couldn’t be happier with how the record sounds.

 

Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

A) Crazy
B) Devils Arms
C) Brighter Days

 

Who were the musicians who were on the song with you?

When we perform live, we go by Mark Daly & The Ravens, and I’m lucky to share the studio and stage with some incredible musicians who are:

-James Brown (Lead Guitar, Vocals)
-Cillian Plummer (Lead Guitar, Vocals)
-Jack Ross (Bass, Vocals)
-Kyle Hughes (Drums, Vocals)

 

-Daniel Laverde (Drums) on ‘In the Dark’ studio recording

 

 

Was it a difficult song to write?

Not at all, it came together naturally. The only thing I questioned was its style since it leaned more pop than what I was used to. I’ve always tended to write with a bit more aggression, but once I embraced how important a good melody and vocal hook are, it changed my whole approach. I’m really happy with how it all worked out in the end.

 

 

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

My hometown is Cork in Ireland. The best way to describe Cork in five words is probably: rainy days, mighty hearts, craic.

 

How do you look after your voice?

I used to do absolutely nothing haha, but now that I’m a little older I’ve got to look after it with a bit more care. On tour, it’s daily vocal warm-up exercises. I’ve got one of those vocal water bottles that you blow into through a special straw, which is great for vocalists. I try to stay hydrated and drink bucket loads of water. A little drop of Jameson before hitting the stage seems to warm up the voice nicely too, haha.

 

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2026?

Yes! We’ve been asked for the longest time to come play closer to home. Most of our recording and touring over the last few years has been in North America, so we’re finally planning some dates later this year for the UK and Ireland. It’s long overdue and something we’re all really excited about.

 

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

Well, we’ve been the opening band on the last few tours in the US, so there have been plenty of shows where most of the audience had no idea who we were. I actually find that to be the most enjoyable challenge. We have 45 minutes to win over a massive crowd and hopefully turn strangers into fans who’ll become part of our online community. So, the two things I always hope to achieve are: first, to walk away knowing we gave absolutely every ounce of energy and enthusiasm we have to the crowd; and second, to enjoy every single second of it. We’re so lucky to do what we love, and I think it’s infectious for an audience to see a band completely lost in the music and having the time of their lives.

 

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

I’m lucky that I only play acoustic guitar on stage, so I don’t have the expense of a pedalboard or the never-ending urge to upgrade gear. I’ve got a beautiful Sawtooth acoustic guitar and a wireless SM48 mic that I love, so I’m happy out. The other guys in the band, though, that’s a totally different story, haha.

 

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

I’d pick The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown because there’s so much cinematic potential in it — the codes, the chases, the ancient secrets. It’s gripping from start to finish, and there’s just so much to get lost in and write songs about.

 

The single is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?

We shot the music video in Nashville the day before our North American tour with The Darkness started, and honestly had so much fun with it. The idea for the video had been stuck in my head for ages. I wanted to take inspiration from bands like Foo Fighters and Sum 41 who use humour and show off their personalities in music videos, and I think that’s exactly what we achieved. Mike from our record label played himself in the video’s intro, and every time I watch it, I still laugh. It was directed by Justin Mayotte in Nashville, and we shot the whole thing in just a few hours. I think the fact that we didn’t overthink it and focused on just having fun was a great change from the serious, deeper stuff.

 

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

Oh damn, I have so many, and it changes week to week. Some older influences would definitely be Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Thin Lizzy — you can probably hear bits of that in our music. More modern influences include Kings Of Leon, Blue October, Foo Fighters, and Highly Suspect, along with grunge favourites like Candlebox, Audioslave, Alice in Chains and Nirvana. Recently I’ve been really enjoying Wunderhorse, Geese, The Lonely Ones, and of course a bit of Fontaines D.C.

 

 

Yes! We have the good problem of sitting on way too much recorded music right now, so we need to speed things up and get it out there. The plan is to release a new single about every six weeks between now and the end of the year, and then do a limited run of CDs and vinyl for the full album. We’ve already got the next album recorded too, so we’ll roll straight into releasing tracks from that one after. Lots of new music on the way for sure.

 

 

What makes Mark Daly happy and what makes you unhappy?

For someone who writes quite deep and emotional lyrics, I’m actually a really happy person. I count myself extremely lucky to be able to write, record, travel, and perform as part of my career, and then come home to my wife and kids — that’s the best thing in the world. I love adventures with the family, being outdoors, exploring, catching live shows, and meeting friends for a few drinks. I feel very fulfilled, and it’s hard to find much that makes me unhappy. That said, I’m a massive Manchester United fan, and the last ten years have definitely tested my happiness, haha.