Mark Ambor is becoming a name to know. The rising indie-pop singer-songwriter from Brooklyn is currently on a sold out European tour, after releasing his new single. Who Knows. We spoke to Mark while he was on the road to talk mastering nostalgic melodies over uplifting pop production, and this next chapter:

We love the recent single! Tell us a bit about it - what was inspiring you when you wrote it? What was the catalyst?

“The first few months of this year I spent writing a lot of new songs. I wrote ‘Who Knows’ one night and immediately after I wrote it felt like something that really resonated with me. It's about embracing the uncertainty of life. I think there are two ways to look at uncertainty - you can either fear it or look at it as something that's exciting. I always try to look at it as something that's exciting and that's what ‘Who Knows’ means to me.”

Who did you work with on this song to bring it to life?

“Like most of the stuff I make, it started alone in my room with me writing. I have a few producers I like to work with to help fully flesh out my ideas. There is a producer named Noel I work closely with. Alongside him, I was lucky enough to collaborate with Ian Fitchuck and Ammo to help bring ‘Who Knows’ to life. Another thing I really enjoyed was involving my band I tour with in the production process—they played a few of the parts that ended up in the final version of the song.”

Is this the beginning of a new era? What is defining this era of your music and artistry?

“‘Who Knows’ feels like a bridge from Rockwood to whatever's coming next. I’m currently in an experimental phase as I explore the direction of my next project. ‘Who Knows’ is a single from this in-between period, and there will be a few more singles before the next project comes. Rockwood was all about home, where I'm from, and the people who are important to me from home. I do know that whatever's coming next is about leaving that place and what it brings about. That's loosely where my head is moving forward.”

Tell us about the visuals. What was on the mood board?

“When I listen to ‘Who Knows’ and most of my music so far, it feels very comfortable and very lived-in to me. When I think of that visually, I picture vintage photos or scenes with worn-in walls, couches, and clothes. We looked at a lot of old clothing catalogs, like old J.Crew catalogs, and old film photography books to pull inspiration for the ‘Who Knows’ music video.”

We also have to talk fashion. You always look great. How have you found navigating personal style? Who inspires you in this world?

“I think I'm open-minded to always evolving in the fashion space. I tend to gravitate toward, similar to how I view visuals, more lived-in, worn-in, homey, comfortable clothing that feels very vintage. I often look at classic staples like J.Crew and Ralph Lauren, which have really stood the test of time.”

Where do you like to write music?

“When I make songs, it's usually indoors, but I love being in a studio with windows. Whenever I’m not making music, I'm usually outside with friends or doing something active. The worst part about making music is that it's really hard to record things well outside. This summer, we’re doing festivals, so it’s kind of combining the best of both worlds. We get to be outside, and we get to be playing music.”

What’s your process with songwriting like? Is it always inspired by real events? Where and when do your best ideas come to you?

“My best ideas usually come to me in the mornings. I feel like my brain is quickest and freshest right after I wake up. It’s also right as I start drinking coffee, my head feels almost in between the space of the delusion of being asleep and just coming to reality, and sometimes I’m most creative in those moments. All my songs are about me, the people who are important to me in my life, and the way I see the world. They are very personal stories and feelings.”

How do you think your upbringing in New York manifests in your sound?

“Everything I’ve written so far is about home, the place and the people that raised me, the people I’ve fallen in and out of love with, and my growth as a person. It is all very closely tied to my hometown and New York.”

What’s something that’s important to you aside from music? Something you’d like to use your growing platform for?

I mentioned I love being outside, and I get a lot of inspiration from nature, the environment, and the way everything works together. So doing our best to take care of the place that supports us is important to me.

What’s next?

“I’m continuing to try to write the best stuff I can, work towards building the second project, and dig deep to make the most authentic thing that I possibly can.”

Listen to Mark Ambor HERE.

@markambor

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