Interviews: Mark Trueack

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Progressive Rock artist, Mark Trueack. Check the interview and listen to his music on his Spotify profile.

1. Your past projects were rooted in progressive rock. What inspired you to break away from that sound and embrace jazz, groove, funk, and world influences for Journeys Groove – An Adventure in Life?

First, thanks for taking the time to chat. Well, really, I wanted to capture the styles and moods of each story. I love many styles, as you will hear in the future with upcoming projects. To me, each of us on this planet is on a journey of life. We learn right until the end

2. This album spans your entire life from childhood to the present. Was it difficult emotionally to revisit some of these moments, especially the more painful chapters?

Good Question, the answer is yes! I think the past has made me realise how frail relationships can be; having a big break-up was hard to swallow, but the music helped me grieve my problems.

3. Go Kart (1959) captures a defining childhood memory about bullying, resilience, and your father's support. What did writing this song teach you about your younger self?

I was picked on at school for being so tall. I couldn’t use my so-called friends' Go-Karts because I was too big, but Dad understood this and designed the Irion board Frame for my size. It gave me so much confidence when Dad did that. Being Tall was good, as I found out later in life

4. You've experienced major transitions—migration to Australia, running away from home, first love, heartbreak, illness, and starting anew in Thailand. Which life chapter was the most challenging to express through music?

I think the breakdown of my family hits the hardest. Coming to Australia was a work opportunity for Dad. I left many friends as a little boy growing up, so it wasn’t an easy transition. However, I had many opportunities to go forward, playing sports, AFL, Basketball, Volleyball and my beloved surfing. Getting married and having a family was a challenge, as I don’t think I was fully prepared. I thought everything was fine, but unbeknownst to me, my wife was not happy, and we drifted apart. My life had changed, and I was confronted with divorce, which I initiated, and I decided to travel and see friends to help with the loss of my family. During this time, I was contacted by one of my friends who suggested that I meet his wife’s girlfriend, who was Tha, and so my new life was realised, living in Paradise with Supattra.

5. You collaborated with longtime musical partners such as Sean Timms, Chris Lebled, Steve Unruh, Philippe Storez, and others. How did these collaborations shape the overall identity of the album?

Sean Timms and I share many common qualities in musical tastes, and we both agreed that we should represent the music in a more soulful way using jazz, groove, and arty presentations. Adding compositions from Chris Lebeled was an easy decision that Sean and I agreed on. Inviting Philippe Storez and Steve Unruh was a real pleasure for me, as they both performed perfectly 6. Songs like Reality, It Is What It Is, The Moment, and New Beginning explore vulnerability, healing, and transformation. How did creating this music help you process personal loss and life changes? When I hear an arrangement, I become spontaneous and sometimes I can write ideas and sing them first take. These songs and others allow me to express my feelings, so they help heal my feelings. Writing about one's life journey is very rewarding to me as it holds memories that are sad and at the same time uplifting.

7. Your move to Thailand and learning a new culture inspired songs like Show Me How. How have these experiences reshaped your views on love, family, and connection?

That’s a good question, all I can say is that Family values are so close and different to the Western world, I have learnt so much in the last 4 years. The culture is very laid back, but at the same time very spiritual. I am writing a brand-new album about Asian culture called “Breaking Down the Barriers”, which touches on many aspects of different cultures and how we all suffer from racial discrimination, language barriers and traditions. Living in Thailand has brought me closer to myself. TBA

8. The song Friends reflects decades of meaningful friendships. How have these lifelong relationships supported your artistic journey and personal growth?

 Originally this song was going to be an Epic with regards to length of time, but Sean had an interesting piano arrangement which I loved, so embraced it and approached it differently to what I was originally going to do, it allowed me to really think more about my friendships past and present, many of these friendships and helped my growth and I will never forget them.

9. The album feels like a cinematic autobiography, with each track representing a chapter of your life. If your story were a film, which song would you choose as the emotional centrepiece, and why?

It is what it is, and Reality Breakthrough, these songs represent a human tragedy and understanding, even Love Becomes Mechanical has a science fiction about it and could be used in cinema

10. With the album reflecting so many defining moments—youth, migration, relationships, illness, renewal—what do you hope listeners take away from Journeys Groove – An Adventure in Life about your journey and their own?

I have had many messages from fans of Unitopia, Romantechs, and UPF, and they all have embraced the stories, and they have experienced similar problems and adventures. I will finish by saying that making music is a lot a fun, and recently I discovered something about myself with regards to the 7 Deadly Sins. Writing lyrics and arranging my vocals for a very special project allows me to realise that these sins I have broken at some point in my life. Learning about each sin opened my eyes and mind. 7 Deadly Sins will be released in March next year through OOB Records