INTERVIEW: Nick Marks shares new single “Paradiso”

New York-based composer and producer Nick Marks is a master of crafting a unique style of cinematic jazz with intricate electronica inflections. His music is an engaging fusion of hook-filled writing, lush jazz harmonies, latin influences and powerful beats. His compositions serve as a soundtrack to everyday life, facilitating deep emotional connections and leaving listeners feeling energised and at ease. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Marks grew up surrounded by a rich tapestry of musical genres, including jazz, neo-soul, R&B, funk, latin and hip hop.

Since relocating to New York in 2016, he’s become an in-demand composer, producer and musical director. He’s written scores for feature films and TV and collaborated with various artists in a diverse array of styles and genres, leaving his mark on iconic venues like Carnegie Hall.

With his latest single, “Paradiso,” Nick Marks takes listeners on an intergalactic jazztronica journey through time and space. The track effortlessly traverses musical planets, seamlessly blending jazz, chilled electronica beats, samba and funk jams. Soulful horns and flutes, rich harmonies and a slick jazz rhythm section create a captivating sonic landscape, while piquant synth tones add an otherworldly touch. The crowning glory of the track is the astonishing performance of a 21-piece string section.

“Paradiso” is a superb showcase of Nick Marks’ artistic prowess, as he not only wrote and arranged the piece but also produced and performed on it. The track opens with a buoyant chord progression, setting the tone for an uplifting and exploratory musical experience. As the chilled electronica beats and enveloping synth sounds take over, the listener is transported to the realms of Brazilian flair, only to be surprised by a hyper synth-driven orchestral jam.

With “Paradiso”, Nick Marks crafts a dazzling funk sound brimming with grooving rhythm and bright instrumental performances that weave among spacey synth tones and smooth melodies from warm brass textures. It’s a sensational display of artistic vision from Marks, capturing an incredible showcase of exquisite musicianship and compositional panache.

Recorded between New York and Budapest with the Budapest Art Orchestra, “Paradiso” exhibits an impressive level of craftsmanship and compositional prowess. It reveals Marks’ ability to create an epic and expansive sonic landscape that leaves a lasting impact on the listener. “Paradiso” is a shining example of his musical talent, and as he continues to explore new territories, we eagerly await the next chapter of his musical journey.

Commenting on the track, he shares, “Paradiso represents an intergalactic jazztronica voyager that explores stylistic sonic planets ranging from chilled jazz beats and Bazilian flavours to super-funk orchestral jams. It’s a happy and soulful track that moves from laid back to feel-good/uplifting vibes. Paradiso aims to push boundaries between analogue and electronic instruments, and provide listeners with a soundtrack that makes them feel like they’re floating (or grooving) in some hyper cool/surreal interplanetary space jam while living their everyday life.”

We caught up with Nick Marks to find out more about his inspirations, his new single “Paradiso” and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Nick Marks below.

Which artist first made a lasting impression on you?

I’ve always been obsessed with film scores since I was a young kid. I’d have to say John Williams’ music has probably had the first, longest and in many ways most lasting impression (as it continues today).

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

From the time I was around 4, playing on the old upright piano we had, picking basic tunes I could pick out by ear.

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from today?

I still get tons of inspiration from pre-eminent figures of the jazz lineage and the many sub-categories that exist within the classical tradition. In terms of artists today, perhaps what inspires me most are artists who are informed of tradition, and purposefully and thoughtfully push the boundaries to create new sounds or sonic aesthetics that previously did not exist.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

By being part of my scene and community of artists here in New York City. There’s such a rich and diverse range of cultures and creativity here that one cannot help but feel inspired on a daily basis. Living in this melting pot has certianly had a profound influence on how I think about and compose.

What do you love about the New York music scene?

The cross-pollination and co-existence of so many diverse musical cultures and artforms. It is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced. Everyone is exploring their own voices, searching for something new, pushing boundaries to take their artform forward.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

A nice set of headphones! This music is written to be a soundtrack to your day. Whether you’re commuting to work, traveling, exploring, working out, headed to an important meeting or appointment, if you’re in nature, on a hike, camping, at home chilling, cooking, spending time with friends, driving on a long road trip… the main thing, I hope, about this music is: whether you’re listening passively, or actively, I hope it provides a vehicle for reflection, processing emotion, or enabling you to be present in the moment, and help shape your experiences and memories.

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

I studied jazz and classical repertoire simultaneously for a while. I’d say this is a foundation for everything I do. I’ve always been interested in so many styles, vibes, instruments, sonic concepts. As I began writing more while at school, I just organically began incorporating more electronica elements, lo-fi beats, orchestration techniques, synthesisers and more. I also composer for film and television projects, as well as podcasts. Writing on these projects can be different in a lot of ways to making your own music, but one thing I’ve loved about them is the opportunity to explore unique and new sounds. I’ve definitely taken this into my own writing process.

How did you find making your new single “Paradiso”?

It started while I was composing a feature film, ‘Dashcam’, in 2020. I was looking for sounds for that score, and came across this hybrid synth-rhodes sound that had an evolving quality to it. I just put my hands down, and a chord progression came out organically. I made a voice memo on my iPhone. I knew there was a tune in there, somewhere, but I got to busy with other projects, and this memo sat on my iPhone for about 14 months. It was only in late 2021 while in a writing incubation period that I pulled it out, and began fleshing this one out. I had deliberately wanted to write something that had a more chill and back beat vibe to it, to differ from other tracks I was recording at that time (“Ride The Dragon” and “Dorongo”).

What message did you want to get across with this release?

Being an instrumental track, I didn’t have a specific message in compared to a song that has identifiable lyrics. The track title is a bit of an hommage to Ennio Morricone, one of my favourite film composers, who wrote one of my favourite scores (Cinema Paradiso). If there is a message, its that you should always follow your vision with your art, and realize it to its fullest potential. Once its out, its it becomes something that every listener will experience in their own way.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

BigYuki, Kiefer, Son Lux and Ennio Morricone.

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

Be yourself, acknowledge and respect the journey, and make as much stuff as possible as you explore what music is inside of you. Make stuff you love first, that’ll make it easier to find your audience.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2023?

My debut EP release, “Congenial Frequencies, Vol. I”, will be dropping later this year. Its the first EP in a series that brings together many sonic narratives, and invites listeners into my musical universe.

Listen to Paradiso below