Following on from our review of Mark Ciani’s single and lyric video, ‘Some Kind Of Purgatory‘, we speak with Mark himself.
How does “Some Kind of Purgatory” reflect your background and artistic journey up to this point?
Well, I’m not much of a poet. However I endeavor to capture life experiences in a way that feels authentic. I won’t shy away from the complexities and nuances that authenticity demands, even when I’m writing a three-minute pop song. There is a doomed relationship at the center of “Some Kind of Purgatory” and I think it’s very “me” to present the narrator in three ways. On the one hand, this person is sympathetic. Their heart is broken and it’s easy to feel sorry for someone experiencing that. On the other hand, the person is not doing themselves any favors in how they choose to cope. Maybe that’s also relatable, although I hope not. And finally, the person makes some progress by the end of the song. They can acknowledge that the person who hurt them wasn’t all bad. I think the song reflects who I am as an artist at this point because I’m cramming all of that dense lyrical content into a raucous rock song that jerks from one sonic theme to the next in a pretty chaotic manner. That’s more or less what I try to do.
In what ways do you resonate with the story told in “Some Kind of Purgatory?” Is the concept rooted in a personal experience or memory?
The song is not biographical in the sense that I was not writing about a specific relationship of my own. But I drew on my own experiences to write the lyrics. Certainly, I’ve experienced relationships turn sour where I vacillated between anger and despair to genuine regret to some more complicated truth in between the two. And I have played video games that I don’t like, fallen asleep with a Keanu movie playing in the background, and been laughed off a dance floor. So there’s that.
Talk to us a little bit about the writing and creation process for this song. Did you have a specific vision in mind?
Not at first. I tend to write by bashing around the piano until a melody drifts into my otherwise empty mind. I had this chaotic melodic hook for the verses and the chorus, but I wasn’t sure what to do with it until I started writing the lyrics. The germ of the lyrical concept came from the soul classic, “Some Kind of Wonderful.” I thought I would be so clever if I could write a song about the darker side of romance called “Some Kind of Purgatory.” Here we are, no more clever but with a new single. I’d call that a win. Once I had the title, I started to think about honest, ugly feelings that I rarely hear in song — like the petty (and pathetic) urge to investigate an ex’s online presence, and the equally deplorable hope that they’re not doing well without you. I knew I hit on something when I finished the end of the last verse. After all of that ugliness, there remains an admiration and yearning for the person.
Did you encounter any challenges or surprises during the production process for this song?
The production process is always, equal parts, an anxiety-inducing nightmare and a euphoric culmination of a months- or years-long creative journey. For this particular song, I was surprised by how few challenges it presented. I recorded the synth parts on my own before heading into the studio, but I had no prior rehearsals with the band. I expected that communicating my vision for the song, particularly because there are so many shifts from section to section, would require a lot of trial and error. But the guys (Kirk Schoenherr, Grant Zubritsky and Jon Smith) understood what I was going for very quickly. Jeni Magana, who sings the background vocals added a lovely harmony in the chorus. My co-producer and recording engineer Fernando Lodeiro captured fantastic sounds and helped direct us through the recording. I attribute the ease of the production to having worked with most of these folks for multiple albums. I trust that they will understand my vision, and I trust that they will add to it; I just have to remain flexible enough in the studio to let them flex and try stuff. I suppose that flexibility results in some (very positive) surprises because they add so much of their creativity to the songs.
How does “Some Kind of Purgatory” balance staying true to your indie roots while evolving musically?
In 2022, I released two albums called King of Death and King of Death Returns. I felt like those albums were something I had been trying to write for years. For me, it was “mission accomplished.” I had written my big, sweeping, melodramatic rock epic. When I finished them, I felt so unburdened. Since then, I think my writing has grown more interesting than ever because I don’t feel tethered to the genre, to expectation, or even to my idea of what my songs should sound like. So, to answer your question, “Some Kind of Purgatory” and the album it will soon appear on titled The Catacombs, are another step into the creative unknown. I think my music is moving away from an easily classified genre into something that is uniquely my sound. Whether that sound is good or not is for the listener to decide, but I am personally and selfishly gratified to observe my evolution as a songwriter, producer, and performer.
What visual elements in the lyric video stand out to you? Why did you choose to accompany the song with these elements?
The lyric video is all about the vibes. My priority with the lyric video was to include a selection of images that conveyed the mood of the lyrical content and sonic elements without trying to be a visual replica of them. The images of static on a television and flying birds against a grey sky are good examples. They reflect a certain kind of introspective discomfort that underscores a lot of the lyrics. Credit goes to the director, Mike Kundrath, for really pulling it together. I think he did a wonderful job of capturing the spirit of the song in a visual medium.
As a song that explores feelings of uncertainty, what emotions are you hoping to stir in listeners of “Some Kind Of Purgatory?”
If someone dives into the lyrics, I hope that they resonate. The people we spend time despising are often the people we admire and love because they are the ones with the capacity to hurt us the most. But honestly, I very deliberately baked those lyrics into a very chaotic, fun, anthemic song that can be enjoyed without thinking about anything too heavy. So, perhaps I’m primarily hoping to elicit joy from the sonic experience, and secondarily, catharsis by way of the lyrics.
Following the album release, what goals do you hope to accomplish as an artist next?
My goal is always to create the next project. I try to write about 50 songs per album, and then pick the best and/or most cohesive set of songs to bundle into an album. I’ve completed writing my next album and now I’m just trying to find time to get the band together to record. Then, I’ll obsess about that record until it’s finished and immediately begin writing the next one. I am Sisyphus, pushing my musical boulder up an eternal hill. The satisfaction comes from the process, but I also hope some listeners continue to join me on the journey.
You can watch the music video for ‘Some Kind Of Purgatory’ below, and follow Mark Ciani online for more about his music on Instagram, and TikTok.
