We’ve spoken to him before, but now we’re getting in deep with Mark Ciani about his music and the ideas behind ‘Some Kind Of Purgatory’.
What is the earliest memory or experience you have of wanting to become a musician?
You’re taking me back! I wrote a short melody on a Casio keyboard when I was seven years old and I knew at that moment that I enjoyed songwriting. But it was probably a few years later–maybe at 13–when the bands I was playing in started to actually sound pretty good that I knew there was something to being a musician. I’m 43 now, and in a way, I think I’ve spent the last 30 years chasing the feeling I had during band practice in my parents’ basement.
Talk to us a little bit about the writing process for “Some Kind of Purgatory”—where did you draw inspiration from for this song?
I started writing an album cycle about how fragile a peaceful existence is, and specifically how uncontrollable circumstances can shatter us at a moment’s notice, and how we can self-sabotage. I was listening to the great 60s soul song, “Some Kind of Wonderful,” and the title for “Some Kind of Purgatory” came to me. The melody for the verses had been percolating in my head for a while, so I started to think about people who often self-sabotage when a relationship ends. We all have these conflicting and powerful feelings, and they’re difficult to manage and understand. I can only speak for myself, but that difficulty can result in some counterproductive behavior. It can feel like a purgatory. So, that’s the germ of the lyrical idea. For the music, I wanted to match that heavy subject matter with a song that was exciting, fun and a little manic.
What motivates you to use your music as a medium for storytelling? What do you like about making songs that follow a narrative?
This is a great question. If I could write beautiful abstract poetry, I would. I’ve written confessional songs about my own life; I still do sometimes, but I felt the need for a creative turn a few years ago. So, I started writing narrative-based songs. I enjoy writing them because there is a challenge in conveying a complicated idea and a nuanced character in the duration of a three-minute song. It requires some thought about what details will really articulate the theme in the most interesting and affecting way. With “Some Kind of Purgatory,” I felt like I solved that puzzle when the narrator is shamed into exiting a dance floor and reflects on how this former partner would stay on the dance floor. In my mind, that lyric reflects an admiration and acknowledgment of the former partner’s courage and self-confidence. There’s still reverence despite all of the negative feelings. That strikes me as sad and beautiful at the same time.
What makes “Some Kind of Purgatory” stand out from other songs you have made in the past or other songs on your new album?
Oh, all of my songs are my children! I can’t pick one as the stand-out. I really, really try to strike a balance between maintaining a cohesive sound within each album but also making each song stand out from the others. It’s a delicate balance. “Some Kind of Purgatory” is one of the more bombastic, anthemic songs on my album coming out next month, The Catacombs. The song is immediate. It’s just a fun listen. With that said, I’m very happy with the new album as a whole. If “Some Kind of Purgatory” is your cup of tea, then the entire album will probably work for you too.
Do you think audiences will resonate with the narrative told in “Some Kind of Purgatory?” Do you think the song can be cathartic for those who have gone through a similar experience?
That’s the hope. If a listener takes the time to listen to my song, I’m already grateful. If they enjoy the song, then I’ve reached my goal. If they enjoy the song enough to take the time to consider the narrative in the song and how it interacts with the music, that’s amazing to me. And if they do that and it also impacts them, then that listener has made my day.
What was it like to film around Coney Island? Do you have any interesting or fun stories from the filming process you can share?
It was such a fun experience. Let me give you some stories. There is a quick shot of a dog in the video. I’m a huge dog lover and asked Tyler Ward, the videographer, to spend a minute filming the dog as it walked down the boardwalk. I was so happy when Tyler cut the video and included the dog. What else can I say? It was very cold and I was underdressed. The gates to the amusement park were unlocked for some reason, and we were so fortunate because we got to film inside the park when no one was there. I’m a big fan of Coney Island and have some great memories of it. I was really thrilled to make a video at a location I hold close to my heart.
The video also incorporates elements of humor and lightheartedness—why did you choose to include these elements in the video?
Those elements mirror the tone of the song. Life’s darkest or most meaningful moments aren’t always deadly serious. There is humor to be mined in those experiences. “Some Kind of Purgatory” incorporates absurdity into an otherwise serious song. In my mind, the song is more honest and relatable because of it. So, the video contains humor too, like the pink suit and the fake palm tree.
What is one lesson you have learned in your musical career thus far that you can pass along to aspiring musicians?
I guess a big lesson is this: there is real magic in the spontaneity of performing, and the collaborative process. I have always prepared obsessively before recording, and that is necessary. But it’s been so beneficial as I’ve grown older to team up with collaborators that I trust enough to scrap preparation in favor of ideas born of the moment in a room together. If the song turns out 70% prepared arrangement and 30% “hey I’ve got an idea” from bandmates, then the record is probably going to be special.
Watch the official music video for ‘Some Kind Of Purgatory’ below, and find out more about Mark Ciani and his music online on his official website, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
