Mark Peters: The Monday Is OK Mix

Music

Best known as a member of the excellent Engineers, Mark Peters combines post-rock, shoegaze and ambient music to beautiful effect.

His latest EP, The Magic Hour features reimagined versions of songs from last year’s Red Sunset Dreams and two new tracks, veering from ambient Americana to psychedelic electronics. Check Richard Norris’s amazing rework of Sundowning featuring Dot Allison’s vocals.

We asked Mark to set our Monday straight with an hour of the good stuff. “I set out to mirror the different stylistic elements on my latest e.p, ‘The Magic Hour’ It didn’t quite work out that way but I like it!”

Limited edition yellow vinyl 10″ of The Magic Hour out now and on all of those streaming channels. Check here

Ransom Note · Mark Peters: The ‘Monday Is Ok’ Ranso Note Mix

Ransom Note Records · Mark Peters: The Monday Is Ok Mix (Ransom Note)

Please introduce yourself…

Hello, my name is Mark Peters

Who are you:

I’m a guitarist from the northwest of England. I used to be in a group called Engineers.

Where are you:

I’m at home in Winstanley, Wigan.

What are you:

A producer, writer of music and general music obsessive

Tell us about the Monday mixtape you’ve put together for us.

I set out to mirror the different stylistic elements on my latest e.p, ‘The Magic Hour’ It didn’t quite work out that way but I like it!

If it were to be drawn what would it look like?

It would be a cross-section of my head with three timelines running through it. The first would have ‘The e.p’ written above it and linear arrows facing from left to right. The second and third would have ‘My mind’ and ‘My life’ written above them and lots of arrows pointing every which way from one line to the next, forwards and backwards etc

If it were a food what would it be?

Tapas.

 What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

In a nice yard, with a decent coffee looking at some nice blossom.

What should we be wearing

‘It’ well.

Where was it recorded?

At home, in my studio / office room.

Are you on the same wavelength as the boomtown rats or do you actually like Mondays?

I don’t mind them, I don’t go to a place of work and have to deal with maniacal late people in overpowered cars.

Who got you hooked on electronic music?

Late 70’s / Early 80’s TV producers.

Who would you say are your biggest influences and what are you hoping to achieve with your music?

The days of being obsessed with a few artists and taking direct inspiration from them are gone I’m glad to say. I hope that people derive hope from what I do and it motivates them to undertake positive actions and feel understood.

What were your original aspirations as musicians and how do you think you’re shaping up?

I aspired to be a working musician, so fine…

Some self help questions for a Monday:

Am I excited to dive into the challenges that i have lined up for the week?

Yes, I’ll be working on backing tracks for a show at the weekend.

Am I looking forward to engaging with the people I am meeting or working with?

Yes, I work at home so I’m always keen to chat to nice people.

Am I going to my dream job?

No, I don’t have a job

Am I being compensated fairly for the value i bring to my job?

Sorry – not having a job, I can’t answer that.

Do I feel energised, rested, and confident?

I always feel motivated regarding anything to do with my music, I’m pretty tired after a busy weekend but I feel confident…spring is finally here.

If you were trapped on a desert island with one other person, who would you choose? How long would it be before you eat them?

My partner. I would never eat her.

Your doctor says you need more exercise….what do you take up for exercise?

Swimming.

If you could travel in time…where in time would you go? Why?

Ancient Egypt. I’d like to watch a few Pyramids being built to see exactly how that was done.

What was the first electronic record you heard and how did it make you feel?

Jean Michel Jarre probably…I was compelled by the sharp, bright sounds and
lack of analogue warmth that I associated with my parents records.

How does your brain work when making music? How does it work when you aren’t?

Complete immersion and lack of attention given to almost anything else. When I’m not making music I’m invariably thinking about music and striving to pay attention to non musical things.

What were the first and last records you bought?

The first record I ever got (sorry, can’t remember which was the first I bought) was ‘Prince Charming’ by Adam Ant and the last was the Spiritualized Electric Mainline e.p.

What are you obsessed with at the moment?

Cannonball Adderley live albums.

What’s your answer to everything?

Chocolate

Anything else we need to discuss.

Anything that needs discussing as long as no one will get hurt as a result.

Monday Is Ok mix track listing:

Durutti Column – Brother

Thomas Fehlman – Wunschwechsler

Cluster – Heiße Lippen

Michael Brook – Breakdown

Fuxa – Tonality