A Conversation with Mark Wayne Glasmire – HuffPost 1.13.12
Mike Ragogna: Mark, you’ve had an international hit for 9 weeks with “I Like You.” Why do you think the song’s message resonated around the world?
Mark Wayne Glasmire: I think the simplicity of the song is what made/makes it popular. With all the negative stuff going on in the world, sometimes it is nice to have something simple and happy to listen to. I am hoping it will be as successful in the US when we release it here later this Spring.
MR: What inspired you to write the song, what’s the story leading up to the
recording?
MWG: I tend to write a lot of serious ballads and I really felt the need to write something a little more fun and light. It took me about 30 minutes to write the song. I have always been a big fan of Jimmy Buffett and no one writes as much fun stuff as Jimmy, so with that in mind, I wrote “I Like You.” I tried on several occasions to get it to Jimmy but never got it to him.
MR: Mark, your new EP includes “I Like You” among others. What was the creative process for the tracks, both in the songwriting and recording, and what motivated your finally getting to work on the project?
MWG: I actually recorded 13 songs for this project. We were originally going to put all 13 on the CD but decided to follow the trend in Nashville right now which is to release a “6 pack.” We added a bonus track, so there are 7 songs on “MWG.” The original 13 tracks represented a broad range of my material. Some of the songs are new and were written for this project and some were a little older. I tried to show a little more diversity in this project. As mentioned earlier, I tend to write a lot of ballads, but this project has a little bit of everything. I am pretty happy with the selections because I show I side of me that people don’t usually get to see–more energy, more opinions and some plain silliness. If I have one regret, it is that I didn’t put all 13 on the disk. But hey, that just means I will get the next project out quicker. (laughs)
MR: Your EP also features the single “Going Home.” What are your personal thoughts on that song’s message and what inspired its creation?
MWG: “Going Home” is a very special song. I wrote it after having a conversation with a very good friend of mine that was 2 weeks away from retiring from the US Marine Corps. He called me as he was driving north on I-95 from Quantico, Virginia, where he was stationed, back to Pennsylvania where his family was waiting. We had a very candid conversation and talked about lots of things, but mostly where he had been and where he was headed. He had an amazing 36 year career, joining the Marines as a 2nd Lieutenant right out of college and gradually advancing to the rank of 3-Star General. The song is almost verbatim. It was early November, he was leaving behind part of his identity, he wasn’t sure what was going to happen next, he would miss some things and not miss others and so forth. He also knew that he would have a chance to reconnect with his family. I asked him, “Hey Rick, of all the places you have lived, all over the world, why Pennsylvania?” He said, “Cause it’s home.”
MR: There’s also a video connected with the song. What’s the “making of” story?
MWG: Harold Jarboe of Bell-Jarboe Films, was the producer/director and wrote the “treatment.” He immediately connected with the subject and the “hero” of the song. We shot the whole thing in one day on location in Nashville and surrounding areas. We started at about 7AM and ended at about 9PM. We had some really good luck while shooting including sunshine in the morning, a brief shower in the afternoon, and some horses running through a meadow in one background shot almost on cue. This was my first “scripted” video, so I was a little nervous, but it was a great experience. We are already planning the video for the next single.
MR: A portion of the sales is going toward what organization?
MWG: I am proud to be donating proceed to Combat Marine Outdoors. CMO is a non-profit organization that reaches out to wounded vets (all branches of the service, not just Marines) and takes these heroes on an outdoor adventure. Sometimes it is a hunting trip or some other type of outdoor activity. The idea is to help get these men and women back outside. It is a small organization and they need all the help they can get. You can get more info at: http://www.combatmarineoutdoors.org/
MR: Your song “Last Of A Dying Breed” also carries a strong message or two. Can you go into them?
MWG: I affectionately refer to this song as my “soap box” song. My parents were pretty strict when I was growing up, we were taught respect for others and ourselves, accountability, responsibility, belief in God and country, to be grateful for the gifts you receive and to be willing to stand-up for what you believe in. I didn’t always understand what my parents were trying to say or accomplish, but I do now and am truly grateful. Over the years, I have noticed a change in the way parents raise their children. It seems that more parents today want to be best friends with their kids rather then teach them some of the things I mentioned. I am not saying that you shouldn’t be friends with your kids, but I believe that you need to be a parent first. Just my opinion of course.
MR: Were you surprised with your win at the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest in 2010?
MWG: Yes, I was very surprised. There is a lot of really good talent in that contest. It is funny because I had entered that particular contest several years in a row and never got selected. I was literally thinking to myself, “This is it. If I don’t get in this year, I am not entering again!” So, not only did I get in, but I won the country division.
MR: Mark, what’s your advice do you have for new artists?
MWG: It is a really tough business. Remember that it is a business and treat it as such. Be professional, passionate, always work to improve your craft, and above all, never, ever give up!
MR: What does the future hold for Mark Wayne Glasmire?
MWG: I have been doing this a long time, but only recently started doing it full-time. It’s been exciting, adventurous, and yes, even a little scary, but I feel like I am finally hitting my stride. I’m currently lining up gigs for 2012 and beyond with as much writing and performing as possible. The best is yet to come.