By: Staff
Mark Mallman Releases Hauntingly Beautiful New Single: “Clown".
Mark Mallman wow with an incredible performance as the opening of this song is sung very beautifully. The pianos are soft and gentle. If you are quick to judge, you might not understand the meaning of this song and wonder why it matters if this person doesn’t like clowns—after all, a lot of people don’t like clowns. But moments later, when you recognize the importance of that statement, the whole song reveals a much deeper and more significant meaning with a tremendous impact on the listener.
The song tells us that the narrator doesn’t like clowns and then reveals that he has become one. We absolutely did not expect this twist, and when you take a moment to think about it, becoming the thing you dislike is probably one of the scariest experiences in the world. As we grow older and change, leaving adolescence, we adopt personalities and behaviors that we never thought we would. This song immediately prompts deep reflection on how our identities evolve in ways we might not anticipate.
To divert from the song's lyrical message, it must be pointed out how perfect and Broadway-like Mark Mallman's vocal delivery is. It is emotional, dramatic, and very raw and real, which immediately makes you feel deeply connected to this song and this artist.
"How the hell did I end up here?”
He contemplates emphatically. I can’t tell you how many times in life that thought has crossed my mind. A man looks in the mirror and all that he sees is a clown. What a tremendous simile and usage of lyrics and imagery—terrific!
A beautiful violin solo follows, and we can just imagine our saddened vocalist attempting to absorb the gravity of what he has just accepted about his life. As the song continues, you can almost hear tears in his vocals—where the emotion profoundly affects his performance, and it’s incredibly honest and beautiful.
This is not just a song; it’s an epiphany that we, the listeners, experience simultaneously with the performance. The journey through these emotions is something that lingers long after the music ends.
Bravo!
End scene.
You can find this on any major platform and see below for links to take you straight to some of the profiles. Make sure to playlist, stream, and share Mark Mallman’s ‘Clown’ today.
Powerful Quote about this Artist:
“I always tell myself I’ll be serious on stage,” Mallman admits, “but I never make it through without cracking a joke. It’s a way to cope with the darkness of my lyrics I guess.” It’s a line he’s walked for years—balancing the heaviness of his music with the levity of humor. For an artist whose songs often carry a weight of existential dread, humor has become an essential part of his performance.
Wait, there's more!
We caught up with this exciting and emerging artist, for:
“The Cage” Music Blog, to talk about music and learn more about them.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview
Do you know the origin of your now famous and ironic nickname, Mr. Serious?
Mark Mallman: Jokes. Many jokes. Too many. Life is absurd. The most intense experiences can only be processed with sheer shock. Without jokes, I'd never make it through my set without crying. I'll get on stage ready to sing songs about despair and existential crisis, but in between, I can't help myself. It's a curse. I've worked against it since my first performance. It can't be fixed. Managers have told me to stop joking around. “Believe me, I'm trying!” I say. It never works. Meh.
We heard you are afraid of clowns because one threw dog food at you… that’s all we know. Can you tell us the whole story and how it became the title of this release?
Mark Mallman: I was five. A clown was throwing bags of candy off a parade float. I pushed my way to the front of the crowd to catch a bag. I was so happy. Then I looked at what it was. Dog food. It scarred me. Clowns can be dicks. I think that's their whole MO, actually. John Wayne Gacy was a clown. Joker is a clown. So is Pennywise. Uhhh what's funny about any of that?
Can you describe to us the theme for your artwork and what was the inspiration and intention for the observer to absorb from it?
Mark Mallman: I can, but if it's not obvious, I'm doing something wrong.
What instruments do you play? Which is your favorite?
Mark Mallman: I play a few instruments—piano, guitar, a bit of bass, and some drums. But the piano is definitely my favorite. It’s where I started, and it’s where I feel the most expressive. There’s just something about the way a piano feels under your fingers, the way it resonates. It’s always been my main instrument and probably always will be.
What was the most challenging part of bringing this project to life, from the initial idea to the final recording?
Mark Mallman: The most challenging part was definitely finding the right balance between staying true to my artistic vision and making something that would connect with people. There were times when I second-guessed myself or wondered if I was going in the right direction. But in the end, it’s about trusting the process and believing in what you’re creating.
What part of the music-making process is the most stressful, i.e., the creation, the actual release date, etc.?
Mark Mallman: For me, the most stressful part is probably the release date. There’s always that anxiety about how the music will be received—whether people will connect with it, whether it will resonate in the way I hope it does. But once it’s out there, it’s out of my hands. That’s both the beauty and the terror of releasing music.
Which of your already released songs is the most important to you, or closest to your heart for personal reasons?
Mark Mallman: On the “Mr. Serious” album is a track called “Proof Is What You Get.” When I was in art school, I had a close friend wrapped up in the existence or non existence of god. Not long after, he got mixed up in drugs and fell off a ladder and died. It broke my heart. The only solace I could find in it was “Now you have your answer, friend.” This is the meaning behind that track.
If there was one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be?
Mark Mallman: I love seeing the continued increase in diversity and inclusion. On the musician end, I wish more people would collaborate. It's so great that labels are pressing vinyl. People are musical down to our DNA. Physical formats allow us to “Go out and touch the grass” of the music world. If I could change anything, I'd take the greed out. Working class musicians deserve a fair wage. Our government here in the states doesn't do enough to support the arts.
Where do you see your sound and artistry heading in the future? Are there any exciting new directions you're exploring?
Mark Mallman: Songs move and flow like Kool-Aid from a diamond faucet, to quote a phrase. I'd like to be a carpenter but instead of wood, use MOOGs. It would be great to see the complete dissolving of the status quo by means of non verbal affection. How would I interpret this on a musical level? An opera that lasts 38 hours.
What is the live music venue scene like in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
Mark Mallman: Come visit. It's incredible. We're an arts forward city. The snow keeps us edgy. People fall on the ice, but keep on moving. That teaches a person tenacity. The coastal cities fly over us. We used to have a ton of labels here. Then the MP3 destroyed the music industry and only left giant conglomerate monster machines. There’s so much talent here, and the community is really supportive. We have a great time being positive and experimental. Some of my favorites are: SYM1, Nelson Devereaux, Jillian Rae, Gully Boys, and Another Heaven.
Was there ever a time when you emotionally felt, “I can’t do this anymore”? Can you tell us why this happened and how you found the strength to continue?
Mark Mallman: Five times a day, probably more when i'm sleeping. Music is a flow state, but civilization is currently based around capital. The music is its own reward, but we gotta keep gas in the van. Life had verses and choruses too. Catchy hooks keep the lights on. So do haircuts. There are neon ways to express the soul that don't require funding. The people making fun of my painted nails in the comments section are the same ones who will be trying it three years from now. If it's not uphill, I'm not getting stronger.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Mark Mallman: Don't start drinking, you'll waste your time out of touch with true partying. The real party is in the forest. It's on the dance floor. It's anywhere but sitting on a bar. Unless you're playing touch screen. Touch screen is the exception for all that. I want to write a musical app based around touch screen, or a board game that cannot be touched and doesn't have a screen. It would be called “Kissing Your Own Hand.”
What is your favorite song to cover?
Mark Mallman: Fascination Street by The Cure. The Killing Moon by Echo and The Bunnymen. David Bowie and Massive Attack's cover of “Nature Boy” from the soundtrack to Baz Luhrman's Moulin Rouge. “Into The Black” by Ruby Isle. “Go Get Smudged” by Slim Rippins.
Your TikTok is very informative and definitely has a lot of attention. Can you tell us the evolution of this and how it all began?
Mark Mallman: Lockdown. My long distance relationship fell apart. I was stuck with my grief. Alone. Dismayed. Horrified. I moved my attention away from creative expression on an impressionist level and to Final Cut Pro X. Editing puts me in a flow state. I made a video about Joni Mitchell because I love her so much. The song Tin Angel. It's the best. I love my TikTok family.
Tell us about the last time you performed. Where was the show, and what was your experience like?
Mark Mallman: It was a festival. I wore all black, with earrings, a wolf claw necklace, and my Zorro costume hat that I bought for 15 bucks online. It was a windy night. I couldn't tell if the satellites we moving or I was. The band faced each other in awkward opposition. Tension resulted in uncanny rhythms of my classic songs. Then I made up a song about bakery. After the show I signed my book for a man whose mom died. He brought me flowers but it should have been the other way.
When you reach the stage where you have the admiration and respect of other world-known artists, what band or artist would you love to call and say, “Let’s go on tour together”?
Mark Mallman: Tom Waits. Ed Sheeran. PJ Harvey. Dua Lipa. Diamanda Galas. Grimes. DJ Cool Herc. Stephen King. Lana Del Rey. Joy Division. Gorillaz. Charles Mingus. K-Flay.
What is the most inspirational thing a fan, or anyone, has told or shown you about your music?
Mark Mallman: Fans are people. Everyone is a music fan. There's no hierarchy between kindness. Musicians are the biggest music fans there are. Imagine being such a fan you choose to dedicate your life because of it. We give up a lot of the things that most people have. It's a huge struggle financially, but worth it. The idea of musicians being on a different plain of existing is something invented by marketing departments at big labels or publicists. In order to sell something, they need to convince others that it's special beyond what's apparent. That's why you see so many artists in the past who sold songs based on haircuts. Miley Cyrus “Wrecking Ball” is a perfect song, but if it was her haircut that made the press wet. Then the music video gave them click through data. Making money is a numbers game. Being human isn't. The song is excellent, but they knew in order to make gobs of money, it needed a haircut. I'm not saying it's good or bad. I'm just saying that it is.
End Interview
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Mark Mallman on Spotify & YouTube.
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