Mark Paradise of Communion After Dark, in full

0:37Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat up here. Hi friends, this is uh Tash Cox and you are watching Unwritten Rules of the Road. Um we are um so privileged to get to chat with um our amazing friend Mark Paradise. Um with Communion After Dark. Um thank you so much Mark for for joining us today. How are you? Good. Thank you. Thank you for having me. I appreciate that. I'm I'm happy to be here. Thank you. Yeah, I it's you know, I remember when I first um heard about Commune After Dark. Um it's been around since 2008, I believe. Um Yes. Yes. Um and I remember the first time I I

3:13approached you uh wanting to work together on a show in Tampa, and you were so gracious. Um so so kind. Um I just remember my my first impression. And I was like, "Wow, what a wonderful person." And our first show um with Communion After Dark, I was just so impressed with the community around you. Um which is definitely a testament to you as well. So um yeah, really wonderful community there in Tampa. Yes. Yes. It's is it's a good area for shows and for uh music in general. Yeah. It's been um going strong for a while now. So yeah, it's it's a wonderful area for

3:50that. And thank you. It was wonderful having you uh you know a number of years ago and uh look forward to having you again in the future. Yeah, absolutely. Um I I wanted to ask um have you always um focused uh just in the Florida area or or have you done um music um outside of Florida? No, I mean I've always promoted shows where I live um which is here in Tampa. Uh, as far as the um I mean it depends on what you're like After Dark is is twofold because it's the podcast which obviously goes outside of Florida um and we reach people all over the place. But

4:29uh the promotion part for the concerts I just do here in uh Florida and then um you know I that's basically yeah what I what I've done. But the uh but the podcast itself again I mean I guess that's that's a little different because uh we do have people who listen to us all over the world which is pretty cool. That is amazing. Yeah. When you first started um I guess with the music promotion aspect um did you have an idea of kind of how to how to go about it like how to put shows together or was this something that you kind of learned

5:04as you as you went along? Uh that's, you know, good question. Uh I started promoting shows back in it was either early 2000 or or maybe been like late 1990s. I don't remember exactly, but um I did it for a long time. Um and no, we really didn't have any specific I don't think I really had any idea necessarily at that point. Um it was just kind of if I remember properly tossed into our laps like I had a few other people who were working with me and um at that point and uh we just started doing some stuff and uh you know if there was some

5:44bands that wanted to come through and I to be honest with you I don't remember how that all started but uh you know and then I I I kind of sporadically did um throughout you know the years uh since then. Uh then maybe like 2015 I think I started doing it more heavily because I was only doing like a handful of shows each year uh before like 2015 2016 and then I started doing it more regularly after that. What inspired you to want to I guess get more into like putting together live shows like that? Oh just just in general. Well, I mean, I've been doing

6:26music for a long time, so I mean, I think that was just a natural um, you know, evolution as far as what I've been doing. I mean, I started DJing in the 90s at the Castle with with Tom Gold and then, um, I DJed there for quite a while. Uh, and then, you know, we started the podcast in 2008 while still doing the castle and DJing and promoting. It was just part of an evolution. And also I think um part of it was just just the love of the music and then going to see the bands um because we started going to Germany for for festivals like in 2002

7:06and so I think that was also a little bit of inspiration if I remember properly. There's been a lot of sparks but um just thought thoughts that hey why not you know there it's being done elsewhere why can't we do it here? So that was mainly the there really was no other epiphies behind that but it was just um you know just an evolution of what we were doing. I really love that because you know what what you've created is is known um you know throughout the US honestly like I've I've spoken to people um throughout the art you know the music community and they know of Communion After Dark. they

7:42know of you. Um, and I think that's amazing that um, what what you've created from having gone to other places has I think perpetuated that inspiration in different regions as well. Sure. No, I agree. Um, it definitely played a part in it for sure. Um, all that has, you know, DJing, uh, led to me being interested in starting the podcast because of, uh, many different reasons that at that point when we were DJing, you know, you can only play so much music in a club and I knew there was much more music out there that, um, could be, uh, you know, showcased. So, we we decided to go ahead and do the

8:20podcast. And then um you know as um my DJing years start uh winding down because I have uh I had kids and other things that came up um you know I just figured well to to stay more relevant um with the music and stay you know stay um up on it. I wanted to keep you know being a part of it. And I I basically did the uh I ramped up the promotion stuff uh from there. And now I do a large amount of promotions a lot more than I did 10 years ago by far. I mean, you know, I'm still focusing mainly on this scene that I guess well I when I

8:58say scene, but like the dark alternative scene, I guess when I when I promote shows, but I do um I'm happy to promote whatever comes our way. But um you know, that's you know, that's what I I usually focus on. Yeah. Would you say that the the festivals that you went to like in Germany um inspired uh you to eventually create your own with the Absolution Um yeah, Absolution Fest was was created. I mean, all this stuff is kind of just like on a whim, but uh Absolution Fest, I was at my my uh previous place where I lived um one night and uh at that point, I think it

9:40was like when post punk was starting to really explode again. And um I I had a friend who was really into it and um she was like, you know, talking about some of the bands. I was like, well, I was like, why why not just uh you know, start up an event here? It was really it to be honest with you. I was like, you know, can how how hard can it be? I I mean I obviously it is a challenge and it's a lot more work than I thought it was going to be when I first came up with the idea, but uh but

10:12in the same respect that was that was the only it was just like that was a little spark and it was like yeah let's do it. I mean and then the festivals that I've been to sure I mean I've seen those and how they're organized and how amazing they are. Um and they're more extensive than what I do. I mean by far. I mean, some of those big festivals that you go to over in in Europe and stuff, but uh but yeah, that was, you know, definitely something I was I was used to because I had been to those events enough that I kind of had an idea of,

10:44you know, how things should run and how they should be um processed, you know, to make it, you know, professional enough anyways for the bands. Yeah, I'm I'm sure. I mean, it's such a huge undertaking to organize and coordinate um at that level. It's it's definitely a lot more than just like a single show. For sure. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. Yeah. I learned that pretty quickly. Yes. It's definitely more uh more work when you're working with 18 to 20 bands uh and trying to um coordinate, you know, times and and and other things that you are involved with the event, you know, with the owners of the venues

11:22and other people who are around this area that uh reach out to you and want to work with you. So, yes, it's uh it's more of a um ex it's it's definitely more extensive. Yes. But um but you know the more I've done it uh the the easier it becomes. So um you know the first year was just on a whim and then we only did it for two days and then uh it's ex gone beyond that. Now we're at three days which I we're not going to go we're not going past three days. Three days is enough. And Florida Florida has its own challenges anyways with with the uh

11:57weather here especially the time of year that I decided to do the event. So, um, you know, it it 3 days is more than Yeah, that's that's huge. I mean, would would you say that um like what what you learned the first year versus now? Um, uh, well, I guess the question is like if you feel like every year it's changed and evolved. Um, or if it's just kind of found a flow after after a certain point. Yeah, it's changed a little bit I guess from the first year that I started doing it and the idea that I had you know behind it. I mean at that point uh

12:33I was just mainly doing like I think the first year was mostly like a post punk almost festival but I mean I've kind of expanded a little bit. I've added in different genres of music more you know some electronic and then um you know still sticking with the post punk and the dark wave stuff but uh yeah it's expanded and beyond what I originally did because now that we got three days I I have more of an option to make it more diverse and um you know our our idea though behind it still has stayed the same and we try to keep it like a a

13:07reasonably priced festival or event I should say I don't want to call it festival but but an event for people to attend and uh I think that's also very important because um you know I think if people want to come here and have a good time that you know it shouldn't be costing them um you know too much money in order to do that. So that that was another uh goal in mind and we've always kind of stuck with that. I know that's very appreciated, especially, you know, right now where so much music is so kind of out of reach, I think, for a lot of people to be able to

13:42go. So, I know it's very appreciated that people are able to afford the the the tickets and um enjoy like such a wide variety of music. Yeah. Yeah. That's it's important for sure. I mean, especially we know how it is now with, you know, everything that costs so much and so I think that, you know, it the more you charge for stuff, the more difficult it becomes for people. So, yes, uh you know, trying to keep it reasonably priced while still being able to uh make a budget and um cover the costs um you know, I think we we we pretty much have done that, you know, at

14:19this point. Yeah, that's that's huge. That's a huge success like in and of itself. Um to be able to do that, for sure. Well, thank you. I I appreciate Yeah. Um, do you have like um kind of like a vision of of like how you put it together um each year? Like do you have an idea of like okay I kind of want to have these these styles of bands or certain bands in particular or is there kind of a way that you go about putting it all together? you know, TSH, it's I I'm not really good with a large amount of like uh stuff where like extensive thinking when

15:01it comes to that because I mean, I've been I I know the music. So, it maybe it's a little easier for me in that respect and I I I I've been because I've been doing the podcast for so long, I've had to listen to the music for to get more, you know, into the music. I I got into the music anyways back in the early 80s and and uh or late 80s I should say. That's why I got into industrial music and then um throughout the 90s and then the DJ and then you had to do your research on that. So I mean I pretty

15:31much it's easy for me to know what the bands as far as the styles. Um that has changed a little bit like I mentioned because I did uh you know I I went beyond just adding post punk bands whereas the first year the event was all like mostly post punk artists and then maybe a few dark wave artists. Um I have extended you know I've gone beyond that now with the uh with adding a few electronic artists and and um things like that. So, I I've I've kind of varied the event a little bit more hopefully to make it attractive to just not one group of people, but a large

16:08group of people. Yeah. Yeah. So, no, that's awesome. Yeah. But that Yeah, that's basically that's basically where um you know where I'm at. But yeah, as far as like the the uh the part like figuring out who to contact or um yeah, that's just something that I I don't know really it's not it's not really I wouldn't say difficult for me necessarily, but um it has become more of a challenge because nowadays I mean the uh uh when you have to band dealing with um artists in general is a little different than it was maybe um seven to you know eight years ago or whatever it may be because

16:53I mean there wasn't as many artists at that time who had uh agents and other things. So now there's a large amount of that involved and so you got to deal with different group people and yeah it's it's a little it's a little more difficult to to get fans but um but it's still the it's still the same um concept Yeah. Well, I I one thing I I personally noticed about working with you is how like really really great you are with communicating and um you know really timely communication. It's it seems like so organized. Um that's not always the case and I'm sure all the artists across

17:32the board um really appreciate that because that's probably something that really eliminates a lot of stress that doesn't need to be there. Oh, well good. I'm glad I'm glad to hear that. I mean, I try my best. Yes, I definitely try my best. I think I maybe was a little more on top of things uh a few years ago before I I had a couple uh kids and then they start taking away a little bit of my focus. But um I guess that's that's normal. But I mean in the same respect, no, I definitely do uh always try to take into consideration other people's feelings and uh how it comes across, you

18:07know, um if I don't respond or if it takes too long to respond because I I I don't really like when people do that to me either. So, I try and be as uh quick as I can with responses and and keeping in touch with people about what's going on. Yeah. H how do you um discover new music? Um is it just something that naturally comes your way or are there particular like platforms that you like to um listen to new music? You know, I don't that's hard to say. I don't use Spotify, believe it or not. And I know it sounds bad because I should be

18:44scolded probably nowadays. Everybody uses Spotify, but I don't really use Spotify. Uh we are on Spotify, but I don't really use it. And um no, I don't know how to to it's just the amount of years that I've been listening to uh industrial, goth, synth pop, whatever you want to call it, music. Um I started off listening to new wave music like in the early 80s. Um just the evolution of all that. And um you know, just going through to um you know, I mean, I do use Band Camp a lot. I keep up on that and I see get those emails and stuff when when

19:24artists are releasing new stuff. So, I mean, I do that and then I still, you know, I just like know like like I know what labels to check out and see what new releases might be on that label. So, I'll go to Band Camp and put in like maybe a label or something and it'll show me what they have coming out on that label. Um, I know. I mean, it's just that stuff. Or I keep up on social media and I'll get like little blurbs I see on the internet, you know, where I see what they're telling me. So, I mean, that's that's basically it. I mean, but

19:57um, keeping up on new music. Yeah. And now it's more of a uh, you know, um, I know a large amount of people who seem to always reach out, which is nice now because that also makes it a little easier. Um, so I will get emails a large amount of times like my new music's coming out or this is coming out or somebody will tell me, hey, have you checked out this artist? And you know, I mean, so that all helps obviously because I don't have time to, you know, follow everything. So I mean, uh, it definitely makes a difference when people are helping me as well. Yeah,

20:29absolutely. Um, for for people that aren't as familiar with our our community and are scene, um, like what would be some labels um, to check out? um that that you like to to follow for the different artists? Well, it depends on what like genre you're looking for. I mean, I grew up listening to a large amount of electronic like industrial EBM music, but now I mean I think good labels like uh there's Artifact Records of course which is in uh Bay. There's a large amount of good post punk artists on there plus artists some of the older artists like Frontline Assembly are on their label. uh some other artists that

21:07are slipping my mind right now. Um but then you know Germany's got uh Infactor Recordings which is a great uh label for synth pop. Um then there's Scanner which is a good label for like more like Dark Electro. Uh there's also Alpha Matrix which is a Belgian label that's um I guess like it's got some old school electronic bands on it and and some new bands. Um there's outofline music which has expanded beyond just this theme. They have a large amount of metal artists on their label as well. But bands like Blitingle who some people might know and stuff like that. They're on that label still and there's other

21:46artists on that label. Um you know and then there's um uh smaller labels too. I mean there's also obviously Metropolis still in the US that puts out releases. So I mean those are good ones. Cop Internationals I know out of California and they still put out releases. So, um you know there's a bunch of those are some of the ones I guess that stand out more so but um there's plenty of other ones out there but I mean though those are the ones that are like I guess more prominent um that come to mind right Yeah, that's awesome. I think that's something that's helpful like um because

22:23I think you know when people ask me like oh how how can I find like more music that's like you know in in these particular genres um it it's so helpful to be able to be like okay here's some labels because um you know if they're known for putting out really great artists that's really helpful to know. Sure. I mean, I know not all artists are on label. So, obviously you have to I mean that I guess that's why if you're on Band Camp and you click the follow thing and you know the button and then you follow the artist. If you find artists you like then that helps too

22:54because at least then you're getting the emails and it'll tell you when the artist releases something new because obviously there are plenty of artists out there who are independent and I mean you know that's great. I mean not everybody needs to be on a a label. Uh so I and I think more so even like here in the US you see more independent artists than maybe in Europe uh and I don't know the exact reasoning behind that. I think some of that reasoning is based on uh they have all those big festivals over there and I and I know that I've talked to other artists who

23:25are in based in Europe and they seem to feel like being on a label helps them a little bit more with getting on some of those events. Um, but there's also other great labels out there like Cold Transmission Music, which does fantastic with post punk music and Darkwave and uh, you know, so there's there's a large amount of really good uh, labels, but there's, like I said, it's important to follow the independent people who don't have labels because there's so much great music that comes out where people are just doing it themselves and congratulations to everybody who can do that. In my opinion, I think it's great.

24:00It's appreciated. We we are said indie artists ourselves. So yeah, Alice is so There you go. Yes, exactly. Yeah. Not that we're anti- label. I I really really respect um so so much of what what the labels uh can do for artists and we just have we have friends that are on some really great labels. um just like you know um how you've how you've talked about um how I think things have naturally progressed for Commune After Dark and and you know your own your own career. I think it's kind of the sim similar with us that's just been kind of our natural progression is that we've

24:36always just been indie. So Oh, that's good. I I like that. I mean I think that's you know that's a good thing. I mean, so, but again, like you said, whatever works for the specific person and the specific um artist, and I guess that, you know, it it's all good either way. Yeah. Um, so I wanted to take a moment um and and say hello to our our wonderful audience for for joining us. Thank you all so much for taking the time to um join in. Um, we have this uh really lovely question from Parish Knight um who is asking uh do you ever find it hard to practice your art. I

25:12sometimes find life too dark to listen to dark music and I wonder whether the pros ever feel the same. Um good question. I do have moments where yes I because I go through large amount of emotions uh each day but sure there's plenty of times where I don't feel up to it. Uh however I listen that's why I listen to a large range of music. So if um I mean some days I don't want to listen to music but if if I am listening to music that specific day and maybe I'm in a certain it depends on my mood. Um I love synth pop music because

25:46a large amount of times that brings me um some happiness and it brings me a little levity um where I'm like not like stressed out. Uh, but um, you know, and I also will go back to if I if I'm really in a rut, I'll go I go back to my artists that I grew up listening to like New Order and stuff like that because that always makes me happy listening to uh bands that I grew up with. So, you know, that's that's how I do it. I mean, I know it's different for everybody, but yes, there's plenty of moments where I'm like, I don't really want to listen to

26:19any music right now. Yeah, definitely. It definitely helps, I think, to to go to your roots and and to know those happy places. For sure. Yes. Yeah. Um, like when you uh first started DJing, um, is I'm sure that that's probably like a big part of how you highlight music that you really love and it's your way of sharing it with other people. Um, you know, putting together those playlists, I imagine, like things that you genuinely like really love. So, yes, that that's the only reason I've ever done any of this is because of the um my love for music. I uh it it's it's

27:01not like something that I would say is going to get you like extremely rich. So, that's not reason to ever that I've ever done it for um money or anything like that. I just did it because yeah, I love it and it makes me happy. Music's one of those few things that I can go to when I'm depressed or when I'm sad and it usually will make me um feel a little bit different. Uh so, um you know, I've always done it for the love of the of the music and for getting and it was always fun as a DJ to see people enjoying that music. Uh and then dancing

27:36to it. That was like a high that I would get off of uh DJing. That's always one I I don't know about all DJs, but for myself, that was something I really enjoyed um more so than just standing there playing music for people, but I just enjoyed seeing people being happy and having a good time. Uh you know, and that and that was kind of the same thing with the podcast, like the comments, like when we get comments and people fe give us feedback, that is one of the reasons we keep doing it. I don't think if we didn't receive any feedback or any any any um you know positive uh vibes

28:10from people and they you know they all nobody talked to us or they hated us we would probably have stopped a while back but um but yeah that all is makes me feel good and I and I you know that's one of the reasons I keep doing it. I think that's like awesome. I feel like you know you really do have to have a love um for music. I mean, there's there's a very small percentage of of people in the music community that have managed to make a great deal of money, but for for most of us mortals, I feel like it it comes from a real

28:44place of love. For sure. Yes. Yes. For sure. 100%. Yes. Yeah. Definitely. Um, I wanted to ask, um, so like, you know, in in like your experience, uh, I mean, I'm sure you've seen some truly incredible live shows. Um, are there any that stick out to you in particular? And, um, and if so, um, as well, like what makes a live show, um, like really amazing or memorable? Oh, wow. That's a good question. um shows that I Yeah, I've seen so many live shows. Um ones that have stuck out. I don't you know, it's hard. It that's a hard question. I I don't um the ones that stick out to me are the

29:30bands that I truly love, I guess, maybe. and that I grew up with like seeing like Oingo Boingo back in the 80s, seeing uh wow, you know, New Order uh multiple times over the years because I I absolutely love that band and um seeing like bands like Front 242 for the first time back in Skinny Puppy back in the early 90s and like late 80s. um you know, Front Line Assembly when there was just the two of them and and they were banging on pipes and and barrels and stuff instead of you know, all the stuff that's going on now. So, with them, I mean, it's a little different obviously.

30:09Uh but yeah, it's yeah, those those shows stick out. I mean, and then, you know, some of the newer shows, I mean, seeing some of the new bands, uh, there's been some really amazing bands. I've I've gotten to um, experience your band in in particular. Many people uh, who saw you just like, you know, love your stage show and love how interactive it is and how many musicians you have and uh, yeah, it's uh, it's very cool. I mean, seeing some of the new artists and you know, and then yeah, we've seen I've seen many very cool shows over in um you know, in Europe as well. So, um

30:46countless shows, but they're all amazing. I mean, I mean, I you know, and then but I grew, like I said, I always go back to some of the original artists I grew up with and recent ones like I saw Tears for Fears a couple years ago. I thought that was amazing. That was the first time I ever got to see them, which I thought they were absolutely amazing live. and I got to see Stevie Nicks for the first time and I thought Stevie Nicks was amazing. Uh that was one of my favorite shows I've seen in the last many years. Uh but um yeah, I mean so it

31:14just you know it just varies I guess and depends on on you know when but yeah I've seen a large amount of fun shows over the years. So I I've never um been able to see any uh shows in Europe. I was just wondering um is is like what the difference is between um like live music community in Europe versus here if you notice any differences. Huh. That's good. Yeah. Well, I mean well obviously with the US everything's so spread out. Um, and then when you just go to an event over there, like a festival, um, that's concentrated on the one area, people travel from, you

31:53know, all over because it's a little obviously it's easier to get to that point. And, um, yeah, I it's it's hard to say because it's I'm not there when they're just having regular shows because I've heard from friends that are like, "Oh, yeah, it's the same in Germany. you know, you go to a regular, you know, go to a show, there's not that many people maybe, but um those events like that, they really energize you because you're like you see thousands of people and they're all really into the music and they're there for the one purpose of of that scene and that that that you know that music and just to be

32:32there to to love it and to be immersed in the whole atmosphere that's surrounding it. Um yeah, it's it's really cool. Um it's not something you get to experience maybe as much over here. Uh because like over here you have like this the separate concerts which are wonderful but you don't have um you know thousands of people usually for those artists over here. I mean like I've seen B&B Nation over and in and here many times. I I promoted them a number of times. Um, and I've seen him over here a number of times. And then you see him like I saw him in Europe in

33:09front like 10,000 people and that's that's a completely the amount of energy you get off of that like that many people being in a place seeing a band is just absolutely crazy. Yeah. I can only imagine. Yeah, that's incredible. Yeah, I I've seen VNV Nation as well um over here though, so I it's I have yet to experience them in Europe, but I imagine that's amazing. Yeah, it's a little different. Um definitely the energy, like I said, that you receive off of that many people and you just it just makes you it energizes you um to want to do more, you know? Uh, and so

33:50yeah, I'm sure like you had asked me previously. Yeah, I'm sure those events going over there as when I was younger, um, those events definitely energized me even more than, you know, to, uh, do things and to get more inspired because when I would come back and I would DJ, it was like that much more of a, uh, I was like that much more pumped up to DJ and the new music that I heard or whatever it may be um, when I came back. So, uh, it definitely Yeah, the more people the better. I mean, because it you feed off of that energy. Yeah, absolutely. Um I, you know, as somebody

34:27that has been really tapped into, um the dark music scene, I I was just wondering because you you mentioned um earlier um about watching the evolution of how music has progressed. And I was just curious like if you have any um thoughts in terms of like where where we're at. Um, do you see us like coming back to like I guess um coming back to the root so to speak and having more retro music um or do you see kind of like a forward progression and evolution that's happening in the dark music scene? I don't Yeah, that's a good question. I mean, uh, I would say, well, I mean,

35:05there was definitely a a a reversion back to the, um, retro style music with the post punk blow up, um, a number of years ago because, I mean, then you're going back to bands like, you know, Joy Division and and, um, artists like that who were were around many years ago, but, um, now, I mean, it seems like, yeah, I don't know. Now you're seeing like some some more advancement as far as like the way artists are making music um in the scene. You have um like like so much stuff with the AI and all the other things that people are using. I mean you definitely seen um you

35:44know that more so. But I always think the it like goes in cycles. So I think the the retro part will never go away. I don't I think that that becomes a a thing again every so many years and then it changes but it's just inev you know you see that I guess you know as as time keeps going uh and I guess like in this scene you know you had like a blow up of like future pop type music at one point back in the early like like 2005 five to 2012 somewhere in the area 2010 where they were like D&B Nation those type artists of pop tigma berserk

36:20um but then you know it it changes as time goes on you know they fade away and then other some of them last but some of them don't you know so um but yeah I you know I and like the goth you you you see like some of the goth rock coming back more so than it was at one point but um uh you know yeah it's the retro part's always there I think um but I do think with all the advancements now with with uh you know everything that's going on I mean with the amount of uh stuff that pops up every day. It seems like um

36:54you know there you have I think a good blend is like when you can blend in like both the old and the new somehow. I know it's not probably easy but and I'm not a musician so I don't I'm not really good with that but uh but that's that would be my thought. I mean you know maybe that's the best um world if you have one. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I I I I was curious about that just because like um you know like you have such a a deep knowledge of the different eras that have been happening um in electronic music and um you know the dark dark

37:31music scene in general. So, um, yeah, I imagine too for PE for listeners that, um, listen to your podcast, I'm sure going back into the archives also, um, can give them kind of an example of like, you know, different eras of music and and stuff when, you know, going through that. Sure. I mean, we've definitely changed up over the years, I think. I think I mean I mean, um, you know, we we've always tried to play what was new. Um, that was one of the things I've always wanted to do. Uh, more so and and as I already mentioned to you, I love um many artists that have been

38:08around for many years. But as for the if you're just like referring to the podcast, that was always one of our rules was we were just going to play uh stuff that was new. We we don't play um we we just just don't do that. I mean, it's just not really our thing. I there's plenty of I'm sure there's plenty of mixes out there and plenty of um shows that do the uh old school stuff and and that's fantastic. I have like I said I have more respect for those artists probably more than anything. But um but that's just not our thing. I I just always wanted to showcase like what

38:42was new, you know, and and what is new and I still try and do that to this day. I have never changed that. Um I did that when I DJ, too. I just felt that was the way to DJ. I mean, you have to always as a DJ, you have to always throw in some older um music because you want to keep the crowd happy. But if you as a perfect D, if you have a perfect blend as a DJ, you're throwing in new music, you're throwing in some classics, you're mixing them well together, and people keep dancing and they don't complain about it and and they're happy. So, I mean,

39:12that's the that's the best route to go with uh in my opinion as a DJ. Yeah, absolutely. And I think that's awesome. Um, you know, speaking speaking on the artist side, like I know that we always really appreciate like when people are willing to take a chance on us. Um, and willing to take a chance on a new song when you're like, "Here is my new offering into the world." And there people like yourself that's like, "Hey, we want to we want to showcase that." So, yeah. Yeah. No. Yeah. For sure. I mean, you don't you don't want to I mean, it'd be a shame if if if all that

39:48people ever heard was uh I mean, the classics are great, but you you know, you want to expand beyond that. I mean, and definitely I I think as somebody who's like doing music, that's part of responsibility to somehow figure out a way to do that, whatever that way may be. Um but for me, like I said, that's just always something I've wanted to do. I I always listen to new music. Um sometimes maybe to the um extent that I'm not listening to as much of the older stuff that I want to uh because I I'll think about it and I like, oh, you know, I miss listening to this, but I

40:22there's so much new stuff that comes out. Um you know, and then every once in a while I'll go back and listen to the older stuff and I'm like, oh man, I forgot how amazing this song was. Uh you know, and uh you know, it's a good uh good way to handle things, I guess. But I I love, you know, um finding new music. I think that's uh always been a passion of mine. Anyways, so if if I were to ask like right now, um if there's putting you on the spot, but um is there any like um new music or or new artists that you can think of off

40:58the top of your head um that you've been listening to currently? Wow, that's tough. Um I listen to so much stuff that I don't, you know, I Here's the whole thing. I I'll be honest with you. I um said this to somebody else. Like now the music industry has changed a large amount because many things that come out now are singles. There's no more where you wait around for um albums to show up. And I mean, no, not not that artists don't release albums because there are artists out there who release albums, but I sometimes have a hard time with like remembering what I'm listening to

41:34because there's so many singles that show up. Um, like and it depends on the genre. Like I really like for the Dark Electro, there's some good stuff that's come out. I like some US artists like Frontal Boundary and um uh who's I think out of Arizona or Cal, it might be California, I'm not even sure. And then Protocol 19, which is a local Tampa band. They've really started to get a following. Um and then there are many other like artists that have just like Boflesh was an artist I recently discovered maybe a year ago or something. Uh there are dark wave artists out of Chile um who I really

42:13enjoy a large amount. Um there's so many other ones though besides that and and I know I can't I mean they they keep popping up every so often. I found a syn pop artist out of Germany recently called I don't know how you pronounce the name but C I R and that's how the name is spelled and it's like a synth pop artist um who I hadn't heard until recently and I really like their music. Um but yeah, there's if I really just like Blackbook is another great band I enjoy which is a syn pop artist I found maybe two years ago out of Switzerland.

42:51But there's so many of them out there that it's hard because even recently for me like you know like the Ministry album that just came out with with where they redid all their old stuff and um I absolutely love that you know I was like okay this is great and that's one of the things I've been listening to a lot lately believe it or not because I was a huge Ministry fan back in the uh 80s you know late 80s and stuff. Uh I was just gigantic mystery fan. So now that they've redone some of their old stuff, I'm I've been listening to that a large

43:21amount. But um uh yeah, but there's just so many great artists that just keep popping up, you know, and I just saw Buzz Call the other day when they opened for um Cold Cave, who I I love Cold Cave. They're one of my favorites uh in this uh in the postpunk syn pop, dark wave, whatever you want to call dark. I I like the term dark alternative. I'm not really crazy about all the other I just kind like want I like lumping stuff under that name, but um uh but yeah, Buzz Call is great because they're like EBM Electronic RS Australia who popped up a

43:58number of years ago and he was fantastic live. Um so, you know, there's just so many that come up uh you know, and I really want to give a shout out to like Dead Cool, who's another band I absolutely have grown to love out of North Carolina. Um they're amazing. darkwave, synth, pop, whatever you want to say, artists as well. So, there's plenty of them out there. There you just got to keep searching and um I'm sure you know you'll find them. But yeah, there's there's so many. Oh, I love that. It's you're such an inspiration, Mark. The fact that you really are a wealth like a treasure

44:33trove of um musical information like that. Um I'm I'm gonna have to go back and make make a list just from the ones that you listed because I'm like I want to follow all this. Um um and I've heard of Deadpool. I think we were actually trying to play with them when we played in North Carolina ourselves. So Okay. Yeah. Yeah. They're great. Yeah. Yeah. Very nice people. Yes. Yeah. Um so um the best way to listen to your podcast um would be uh well you mentioned multiple multiple channels. So you have it on Spotify. Uh yeah, Apple Music as well. We do. Yes. And um our mo our most popular platform

45:17I guess still to this day is YouTube because YouTube we've incorporated our we do unlike many which I think maybe makes us stand out a tiny bit more than other artists. I mean uh podcast is that we um we do we talk a little bit. Some people probably hate our talk and they're probably like shut up. But uh but we um we talk during the uh the after we do our music, we'll talk about what we played. Uh we we like with our podcast, which I think still to this day we're the most extensive playlist out there. We put everything on our playlist. We put where the artist is

45:54from. We put the link to where you can buy the artist music. Uh we put the name of the release. If it's a digital single, we just put down it's a digital single. We put down the band camp links. whatever it may be. But um yeah, uh I don't even remember what I was I'm off on a rant now. But uh you you confus I'm confused now. What was your question again? I go off on a rant and I lost I love it. I love it. Tangents are always welcome. Um I was asking about um where where we can find your podcast. Um Oh yeah, YouTube's the best one. Yeah, I'm

46:31sorry. YouTube's the best. That that's my favorite one. Um, but if you prefer like Spotify, that's great. We're on Spotify. Like you said, we're on Apple iTunes or podcast or whatever they call now. I don't I apologize. I I'm sure I I don't remember the exact name. I think it's Apple podcast. Um, we're also on still on Mixcloud. I know not a lot of people use Mixcloud anymore, but we're still on Mixcloud. Um, you know, and then we have a website communitydark.com, which you can go to as well. Um, so we're on all those different um, platforms and we're on other ones too, which honestly I don't

47:08know what they are because I really haven't kept up on that recently, but we've um, you know, those are the main ones though. Anyways, the ones I list are the main ones. I I I think YouTube's great because again we you can see us um, if you care to see us. If you don't, hey, don't watch YouTube. But if you want to like enjoy like join in with us which we try to make it more interactive for the people who are listening um then yeah we we we incorporate our actual talking video in the YouTube video so you can actually um see us and uh laugh

47:43at us or or or whatever you want to do. That's awesome. I I personally like love like the fact that you do like talk about the artist and um you know also share like all the information that you do about it. I think that's actually really really cool um and very supportive of the artist. That's really awesome. Yeah. Well, that and that's the whole point behind the show anyways. I mean that's the whole point behind whatever what I do in general um is because I'm not really doing it for myself. Um, I'm doing it for the to to get the music out there and for people

48:16who make the music and to um, you know, basically showcase that to the people uh, who are who maybe don't know um, you know, certain artists or they they find things through our show. That's always those are some of the best comments that we receive when people will tell us, "Hey, I lo I I learned about this artist uh, by listening to your show." Um, and and that's great. I mean, that's what we want to do. That's the whole point behind the show. Uh it's it's not for um I wouldn't say it's really for us anymore. I mean, maybe when we first started it was maybe it was just like,

48:49hey, let's do this for fun, but now it's more like, hey, you know, we we get the get the music out there. We we we help the bands and um as much as we can. I mean, whether it's a little bit or more, you know, depending on who that may be. But uh yeah, I mean, that's just the reason we do it. I mean, I I wouldn't do it for any other reason anymore, to be honest with you. uh you know if it was just about me I would probably have stopped because um it is you know all the stuff obviously takes up time and it's a lot

49:20of work and and as everybody knows there's only so much time in a day now and it seems like time is uh less than it once was. I don't I don't know if that's true or not but that's the way it seems anyways. Oh yeah, time is absolutely fluid. It really really is. So yeah, but it's it's truly an inspiration, Mark, because um like we we need more people like you um cuz you know when you were talking about um I love that your description of the dark dark alternative music um there there aren't a lot of outlets at least on mainstream media um for dark

49:56alternative um a lot of underground bands. Um, so it's it is one of those things that it's so appreciated to have like ways that people can find the music and that really does help amplify it. Oh, good. I appreciate and that means a lot. I'm Thank you. I mean, I appreciate that. Yeah. Like say that's that's what we try and do. I because I love I I remember like, you know, when I was a kid and I found that, you know, I had a friend and you know, my whole life has been like bunch of different random experiences, but I had a friend who like

50:26came from Houston. I want to say it was Houston and he had a mixtape and um and we had tapes back then because I'm an old person, but he he had a mixtape and he had recorded it off of a radio station in Houston and he's like, "Hey, if you like new wave music or you like this style of music here, you're going to love this." And so then he plays me his mixtape and it's got bands like Nitserb on it and uh Dead or Alive and Conan and this stuff and I'm like, you know, hey, this is fantastic and ministry and stuff along those lines. Uh

51:00and yeah, then we went to a record store and started buying that music. So that's how we kind of uh came across it. But it was just a random experience cuz I I had just met this person. He moved from Houston to um um well at that time I lived in a different city in Florida but that's not very important but yeah but that's how I met the person anyways and that's how I kind of really got into more of the industrial um you know sound or there are bands like Sisters of Mercy and and those type of things. So you know um getting some love in the chat. Uh

51:39Clint Carney says, "We appreciate everything you do, Mark." Oh, well, thank you, Clint. I appreciate that. That's very kind. Yeah. No, it's it's it's it's inspiring um to to meet people that really um truly do it out of love. Um cuz I I do think that there are um sometimes I think when you get started out you're like oh like you know people might have like different ideas of what it can lead to but I think in essence what keeps you in music is it really does come down to the love of it. Yes. Yes. I I agree. I mean if you don't love it I think it

52:17would be you know I mean I mean I'm sure there's people who just do it for other reasons but I mean that's not really my experience so I can't really speak on on on that. Uh but um I mean for me it's yeah it's just the love of music and it's something that keeps me going. I mean you always have to find something um in your day-to-day experiences that you know you really enjoy doing and those are that's one of the things I I've always enjoyed doing. So yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. I I feel like um it's kind of a natural progression that when you when you do something out of

52:51the love of it um just it's amazing how you find kindred spirits and other people that are like yeah I love that too and that's how you kind of build communities. Um it's like you find people that are like oh I too love this music you know. Yes, I've noticed that um over here, you know, the more we do things like like with concerts and promote, I mean, is it you build building more and more of a community and it's pretty cool. I mean, it's it's definitely something that's fun and um it's it's uh it makes me happy to see that people are getting into um you

53:26know, the music or that there's more and more people that I I meet that are really into um listening to artists that, you know, and I that I love and that I I'd never met these people before. So, it's asking it's it's actually really a fulfilling experience for sure. Yeah, absolutely. Um well with um everything that's happening um in communion after dark um what what can we expect um this year? What what are what is in the horizon for communion after Well I mean for me uh and for community after dark in general because I mean comed after dark so it's it's it's like twofold. Well, Kami After Dark again is

54:07is myself. I would be remiss to not mention that we have DJ Winters who is a huge part of Kami After Dark and um and DJ Gold who's uh the DJ at the castle now. Uh cuz I I don't DJ there with him anymore. I used to for many years, but like I said, that's something I stopped. Um but he is amazing and she's amazing and they um they're a huge part of the podcast, a huge part of like sharing the music. So, for us, it's just continuing on with the podcast. For us three, um, and we'll see where it goes. I don't know how many more years we're going to

54:41do it, but for now, we're still doing it. So, as long as people are listening and commenting and saying, "Hey, you know, this actually means something," then, uh, we'll probably continue doing it, at least for for now. Um, as far as the other side, which is I guess the side I built up with the promotion. Um, you know, I'm in a I'm at this point I'm still going forward with that. And, you know, I I take it year by year. Um, I have Absolution Fest coming up again this year, even though last year was was not the best because last year got cancelled due to um unforeseen

55:17circumstances, which are hurricanes. And unfortunately, there's nothing that I I I can do about that. I have no control over hurricanes. Um but yeah, so I mean, you know, I'm going to do it again this year. Uh I love Absolution. I hope that people will come. Um that announcement's coming up very, very, very soon. um couple days now that'll be coming up. So, I hope people respond well to it. Um, and then, you know, and then, yeah, we have some other great shows coming up this year as far as concerts locally. Um, you know, and, uh, and then, you know, we'll keep doing the podcast and

55:55and sharing the music, but that's that's basically what we have going right now. I It's a lot. It's a lot that you do like on so many fronts. So, um, that's amazing. It's like I love that you're doing the podcast and you have shows and you're putting together a festival. That's pretty incredible. So, well, thank you. Many Yeah. Um Oh, we're getting a a a question um from Parish Knight again. Um thank you for your question. Um was asking if you have ever worked with Mazy I have not. No, that would be really cool, but no, I've never gotten a chance. Um, I've worked with some really

56:36uh cool artists that I I love, but Mazy Star has never been one of them. And that would be really cool. I I love Mazy Star, but um this year, like, you know, like last year I got to work again with Front 242, and this year I'm getting to work with um uh XTC, which was a which was a band from the 80s, but now they their original singer is no longer in the band. I work with Gene loves Jezebel and Anything Box and so many amazing artists that I never would have thought in a million years I could have ever worked with. Um but um IMX is another

57:09artist I get to work with this year again which I think is fantastic. I love him. Uh but uh no. Yeah. No, unfortunately no Mazy Star. That'd be really cool though. Have have Mazy Star contact me. I would love to do that. We'll we'll put that in the bucket list. Yes. Um, but that's really cool of like all the artists that you listed out. That's that's really amazing that you're getting to to work with those artists and put those shows on. Yeah, for sure. You know, it's been a lot of fun artists. But yeah, I'm sure that's part of like the really gratifying part is actually like

57:45also getting to see those artists live yourself. Um. Oh, for sure. For sure. Yeah, for sure. Definitely. and and get to meet some of your you know growing up like I would go to all these concerts and and and you know and I would get to um you know it's a different experience obviously but I would like really um you know just be like oh it'd be so cool to meet this person or meet that person then you'll get a chance to work with them. Yeah it's it's it's definitely a very gratifying experience for sure. So, um, for an artist first starting out, um, I guess this is this is a a new

58:23artist question, um, would you have any like advice in ter terms of like how an artist can go about getting themselves out there and, um, I guess, um, having their first show? Like, are there particular things that as a promoter that you look for, um, when you're booking an artist? I mean, uh, Oh, wow. That's um I mean for the artists I would say keep you know you want to keep pushing you know beyond just your local scene I guess I mean because I've seen many artists who get stuck like it depends on what you want to do as an artist again if you want to get out

59:04there to more people um I think you have to push yourself beyond just your local uh area that you may live in where you can play shows with with your local promoter. or local club or whoever it may be. Um, you have to really go out there and I guess, you know, and tour and actually go out to other areas and and um, get your music out there. I know it's a lot because some for some people that's probably too much, but um, that's what I would suggest. I mean, I've seen a few artists in this area who I've worked with, you know, like a Starry

59:37Night is a good example. They're amazing people and um they started off locally and I used to book them quite often for local shows and then you know they I I used to say to him even myself I would be like hey you know you should really be trying to get beyond just playing shows in Tampa and Miami and stuff. Go play other places, you know, because you're never going to, you know, that's the only way you're really going to grow your name. Um, but yeah, so I I mean I would say it's just perseverance and keep going, you know, and pushing putting your music out, being

1:00:12consistent. If you're not consist, like that's one thing with our podcast I would say, I guess, is that we were consistent. If you want to say anything about us, that's one thing you can never say is we're not consistent. We missed in 17 years, we missed two shows, which is we do it weekly. So we've missed two weeks in 17 years, and that was for major reasons. Um, and um, there is not, you know, if you're consistent with what you're doing and you're trying to um, and you really care about what you're doing and you have a passion behind it, I think you'll get out there. I mean, I

1:00:47I believe that, you know, um, it's just a matter of of of pushing through some of those um, boundaries that come up in front of you. Um, you know, because I know bands will ask me all the time like, "How do I reach an agent or how do I do this?" And it's like, I would just say, "Hey, you know what? Take your chances. Email agents. If you want to be on an agency, if that's what you want to do or if you want to be on a label, just try. I mean, that's all you can do." And um, you never know what's going to

1:01:20happen. You know what I mean? Yeah, absolutely. It's it's true. Um, you mentioned a Star Night. They're actually going to be playing here in LA uh in a couple days. Yeah. So, I was like, that's that's so cool. Um, you know, I've seen their name around. Um, I'm going to try to actually catch the show. So, um, yeah, I think that's awesome. That'd be cool. Yeah, if you go there, tell them I said hi. But, yeah. No, they Yeah, they were one of those bands that, you know, that I used to work with, like I said, and then, you know, I kind of just, you know, said,

1:01:51and I don't know if I had anything to do with any of their success. Michael might might tell you that when we're there. He's a singer, but um but uh um yeah, you know, and then I I did that recently with another band like I told you earlier, that band Protocol 19, who's from Tampa. I I was able to introduce him uh luckily to um uh Bruno Cra who is the man behind Dish who's uh been around for many many years in Germany and you know he was able he signed them to his label. So I mean those are the type of things I think that um you just have to

1:02:23keep trying. I mean, and you you never know who you're going to meet, you know, and uh you can't give up on your dreams. I mean, there's a lot of obstacles that pop up, but just keep pushing through Yeah, that's really beautiful, solid, inspiring advice. Um 100%. Just to to keep to keep on putting yourself out there, I think. Yeah. Having that courage to do that. Yes. Yes. I agree 100%. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I I do feel like um you know, as as artists sometimes um you know, like for instance, when you're releasing new music, you never know how it's going to be received. Um but you know, I feel

1:03:07like um I I remember reading this Andy Warhol quote that was like um you know, just keep making art. Like while other people are talking about it, just keep making art. So you make your art and then you make it again and again. There you go. Yes. Y that's a great quote. I love that quote. Yeah. Yeah. I I I try to live by that. So, yeah. Um Yeah. I think it's one of those things, too. Um you know, it's like I I feel like also like putting yourself out there in the live music um arena um is is is also something that's really been helpful for

1:03:46us. Um because I feel like we've also been able to kind of see um for ourselves like how people um engage with our music in the live realm. You know, you were talking Oh, sorry. Go ahead. No, go ahead. No, go ahead. Go ahead. Finish that what you're saying. I apologize. Oh, no, no, not at all. Well, you were mentioning as a DJ like um how gratifying it is to see people dancing and I definitely feel that way about um watching people when we're playing live. um like you really get that live feedback where you're like, "Oh, this is this really gets people moving and it's

1:04:20so inspiring to see that and you're like, "Okay, I see." Um sometimes we like to actually try out new music before we even record it, you know. So, yeah. Well, no. And that's great. I And when I'm not just saying this, but when I've I've worked with many different artists and um you were one that makes an impression. You made an impression for sure. I remember meeting you for the first time at um it was I think you did um two you did two shows with me. Uh you did the one I unfortunately I couldn't be there for your second show. I don't remember why, but um but the uh the

1:04:54first one when I did get you get to meet you for at Hoo and Hive, you definitely made a big impression on me and there's many people in this area who to this day I think you made an impression on that had not seen you before and didn't know your music and um you know, you're you're you're amazing um you know, live. I mean, and your music on just in general is fantastic. So, I just think, you know, it's great that you're able to uh keep doing that. And, you know, and I'm not just saying that because I I met many other artists who I'm like, you

1:05:26know, I mean, they, you know, they they're they're wonderful people or maybe not. I don't know. But, but but they didn't make as much of an impression on me as as as you did and maybe a few other people I've met along the way. So, yeah. Well, we we we do not take that lightly. We really really appreciate that. Um, very much so. I feel like it's a it's a forever work in progress and when you get positive feedback like that, it's it's it helps a lot. You're like, "Okay, you know, on the right track." Well, good. That's great. That's good to hear. That's good to hear. Yeah. Yeah. I think

1:06:02um like yourself, we put a we put a lot of love into it. Um so, um yeah, it's it's it's a it's a labor of love. That's a that's great, is it? That's amazing. that that's what's I think most important, you know, that you love what you're doing. Yeah, absolutely. Um, you know, and I've I personally have always had a love for for live music in general. Like I just um I feel like there's just nothing like it. Um to have that experience of just getting to have um that face to face interaction, you know, with people. Um that's why we started Unwritten Rules of the Road was

1:06:37just the true love of live music. So yeah. Oh, very cool. Yeah. No, I thank you so much for having me on the show again. It's It's very nice. Appreciate it. Yeah. Yeah. Um Oh, Calvin says uh Calvin Weaver says, "Positive of vibes equals positive lives always through the power of Alice music." Oh, thank you so much, Calvin. That means that means a lot. That's awesome. Um yeah, that is that is awesome. Um well, Mark, thank you so much for your time and your inspiration and your perspective. I just feel so grateful um for for you and everything that you've done for for the music community as a whole. Um like

1:07:17we're all so grateful for you. Oh well, thank you. I mean I appreciate that. It means a lot to hear that. So thank you very much and thank you again for having me on the show. Yes, thank you. And and thank you all so much for for taking the time um to chat with us and for your live questions. Um, we dropped uh some links in the chat um of how you can follow Communion After Dark um and and the wonderful uh music that Mark continues to share out uh to the world. So, um thank you all so much. Um sending much love to you all and have hope you

1:07:50have a wonderful rest of your week. Bye. Thank you.