{"id":82074,"date":"2023-06-08T12:40:51","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T10:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=82074"},"modified":"2023-06-08T12:40:53","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T10:40:53","slug":"new-irish-music-mark-prendergast-of-kodaline-releases-new-single-and-video-for-be-someone-from-his-new-project-man-alive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2023\/06\/new-irish-music-mark-prendergast-of-kodaline-releases-new-single-and-video-for-be-someone-from-his-new-project-man-alive\/","title":{"rendered":"New Irish Music: Mark Prendergast Of Kodaline Releases New Single And Video For ‘Be Someone’, From His New Project, Man Alive"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As co-founder, guitarist and co-songwriter for\u00a0Kodaline,\u00a0Mark Prendergast\u00a0has achieved over a\u00a0billion\u00a0streams, three\u00a0#1\u00a0albums in\u00a0Ireland, two\u00a0Top 5\u00a0records in the\u00a0UK\u00a0and played shows all over the world. Now he introduces a new side to his creativity as he shares\u00a0\u2018Be Someone\u2019, the debut single from his new solo project\u00a0Man Alive.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Be Someone\u2019\u00a0is a tender, star-reaching dose of alt-folk which is closer to the realms of\u00a0Bon Iver\u00a0and\u00a0Phoebe Bridgers\u00a0than it is to\u00a0Kodaline.\u00a0Mark\u2019s\u00a0voice is delicate and precise, whispering around the production like a call from an imaginary friend before gaining strength for its hypnotic hook. Yet within the beauty and spaciousness of the song, his words convey a palpable sense of the inner turmoil that follows the conflict that comes with an unexpected break-up:\u00a0\u201cWas it a joke when you said you\u2019d be mine?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark\u00a0says,\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201c\u2018Be Someone\u2019 is about a long-distance relationship falling apart, and how when you’re with somebody, they make you feel like a certain type of person, but then when you end the relationship and you’re by yourself, you always become a completely different person.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A break-up, followed by lockdown inspired\u00a0Mark\u00a0to write, record and produce a catalogue of songs from his home studio.\u00a0\u00a0\u2018Be Someone\u2019\u00a0is just the first taste of more music to follow that will see\u00a0Mark\u00a0touch upon elements that hint at\u00a0Tame Impala,\u00a0Harry Styles,\u00a0Coldplay\u00a0and a whole lot more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark\u2019s\u00a0friend\u00a0Aisling Bea\u00a0proved to be a pivotal influence for him to take\u00a0Man Alive\u00a0to the wider world. He played her an early version of\u00a0\u2018Be Someone\u2019\u00a0when they were in\u00a0Los Angeles\u00a0in 2021, and her belief in the project really pushed him to make it happen. But all friendships sometimes need a little tough love, and that moment came when\u00a0Aisling\u00a0convinced\u00a0Mark\u00a0that the name of his original artist alter ego –\u00a0Blood Type\u00a0– was\u00a0\u201cshit and doesn\u2019t match your music.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aisling\u00a0was also present when\u00a0Mark\u00a0held a wildly over capacity party at home to launch\u00a0Man Alive. His six-piece band played (including\u00a0Josh McClorey, guitarist for\u00a0The Strypes,\u00a0Miles Kane\u00a0and\u00a0Declan McKenna), while his friends\u00a0James Vincent McMorrow\u00a0and\u00a0Gavin James\u00a0also performed, with\u00a0Aisling\u00a0acting as MC for the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s plenty more to come from\u00a0Mark\u00a0and\u00a0Kodaline\u00a0in the future, but\u00a0Man Alive\u2019s\u00a0journey is just beginning. While it offers endless opportunities, a few beers, exploring some ideas and writing some good songs is as far as his ambition stretches\u2026for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the video for ‘Be Someone’ below, and find out more about Mark and Man Alive and their music, online on Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Facebook<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n

\"Man