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by Scott Zumberg & Michael Foster
September, 2003
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Mark Gardener, the former vocalist of British shoegaze gods, Ride, has
re-invented himself as a singer-songwriter. He recently wrapped up a successful
tour with Britpop act, Goldrush as his backing band. The music may be new, but
the voice is unforgettable. Mark was kind enough to sit down with Auralgasms.
We discussed his career with Ride, the legacy of their songs, and his new solo
work.
Why, after a lengthy absence are you now writing and performing. What got the
creative juices flowing?
I’ve always wanted to keep playing and I’ve missed not coming to America to
play. Throughout the time after Ride, there were a few projects here and there.
It was kind of nice to not be on the road then, since we were such a busy band.
The “Animal House” (Mark and Lars from Ride) thing was my next project, but
that never came out in America, which is a shame. It was a bit of a nightmare
being with BMG.
After that, I went to France for a couple of years. I think the event that
really kicked it in, was just me realizing…that if I wanted to play music, I
had to get out and get my guitar and just start playing and see what happens.
It’s what I do. It’s in my blood and it’s something I love doing. It wasn’t
just one event. I think it just took some time away to reenergize and
revitalize.
Describe the style of your solo music….do you see yourself as more of a
singer-songwriter than your previous Shoegaze/Britpop work?
I see myself as more of a singer-songwriter now. I do things, in a way, as I did
them with Ride and that stuff will come through in what I’m doing now;
especially with a group behind it now. It’s nice to explore that hypnotic
thing.
On your first round of tour dates, you played solo acoustic. Now you have a
backing band, Goldrush. How did you fall in with them and how are your shows
different with them?
It’s lovely to be playing with a band like Goldrush. They’re a great band in
their own right, but they understand I am doing my solo thing. I saw them in
December but I have known OF them for a few years in Oxford. Robin said to me,
‘we know what you’re doing, and if you want a backing band, that’s great’. It’s
great for me to have a band.
Do you miss being part of a band or do you prefer having your own identity?
I really like having…both. I have never been an egomaniac in any of the bands I
have been in. It’s quite nice though, to have that sort of freedom with what
I’m doing. I generally had that with Ride too. There was a great chemistry with
Ride that I’m glad about. Now, it’s nice to have freedom. That isn’t just a
musical thing. It’s more about me deciding how and when I want to do things.
Certainly, in the past, I had less control. You feel like things are just going
and going and you have to keep up with it. You’re not really controlling your
destiny. I do feel a lot more in control of my destiny now. That makes me a lot
happier. The music business gets a little crazy with the demands. It is a bit
of an expense of having some sort of life yourself.
Speaking of the band, how do the former members of Ride feel about you
performing their songs solo? How do you feel about their projects?
I speak with Andy and Lars still. They are happy about it. We got together for
the Greatest Hits. They realize this helps bring more people to Ride’s music.
They also realize that by no means am I trying to be Ride. What I do with
Goldrush and the Ride songs we play is in a completely different way. I wrote a
lot of songs with Ride, and I was the main singer, but I am not Ride on my own.
It’s exactly what it says in the press. It’s Mark Gardener with Goldrush. It is
lovely to play the old songs though, because I think people still want to hear
them.
A lot of people were really negative about Andy doing the Oasis thing. I think
it’s great from Andy’s point of view, since he really likes Oasis. It’s a great
marriage. After Hurricane #1, Andy just wanted to play music, without having to
deal with all of the other stuff. If you just want play rock and roll in a
band, I think Oasis is a great band to do it in. I think Andy should write, If
not with them, then on his own. There is a possibility Andy and I might
write a song together for my solo album.
How do you choose which Ride songs to perform? Are they your favorites or fan
favorites?
They are my favorites, and also the ones I think would sound sweet
acoustically. I will always have a soft spot for ‘Time To Time’. Chrome Waves
as well…it was such a beautiful song and it was written on the road in America.
Sometimes with Ride, you didn’t get to hear the songs as much, because of the
way they were produced. I am comfortable doing the songs in a 2003 style. The
songs themselves really come out when I play them now, with Goldrush. At the
end of the day, I am happy that Ride songs have stood the test of time.
How are you being received on tour? Are people going to your shows to hear this
new singer Mark Gardener or to see the lead singer of Ride?
Firstly, they go to hear the lead singer of Ride. After the show, they say,
$%&!, we didn’t realize he could really sing. It doesn’t bother me though.
Whatever reasons people want to come for, that’s great. I don’t have any
problem with my past. I think people are crazy, when they have done something,
and then go out on a solo mission and won’t go near the old stuff. That’s why
they are there. I mean, I am here, playing without any new product, based
totally on what I have done in the past. It’s a great chance for us to play new
songs, and a great chance for Goldrush to play. It’s kind of unheard of for
English bands to play in America without a new product. More than anything,
this is about testing out new songs in front of people. I spent too long not in
front of people.
It’s been a big year for Ride with the release of the Box Set, The Greatest
Hits and Waves. How much were you involved with those and how do you feel about
them coming out now?
From day one, until now, we’ve always been completely involved in everything that
has come out with Ride. We never had a Record company say that it was what you
are putting out next. We also had control over what we did, and that’s why it
sounded so good. We had always planned the greatest hits, but we thought it
would happen earlier than it did. It feels quite good actually. Especially in
America, I didn’t realize the legacy that Ride had. We just did the tour in
England and the response was amazing. First, I didn’t expect it in America, and
second, I didn’t expect it in England. It’s been a pleasant surprise.
Are you finding it hard to get the word out about what you are doing these
days? What is the response like in the UK as opposed to the US?
Before I did the UK tour I would have said that America was a bit more
positive. Actually now, I think it is quite similar. I didn’t expect it to go
as well as it did in the UK. There has been quite a gap and people want to
hear the songs again. I think our reputation has grown more in America than it
has in the UK.
What music do you have currently available and what is up coming for fans to
purchase?
Obviously, the limited release EP, Falling Into the Night with Goldrush. There
was a previous EP, Magdalen Sky, on Shifty Disco. I’ll probably tack that onto
the album. I love that track and I don’t want it to get lost. I want it to be a
part of the first album we make. There is live album that was going to come out
but the distribution fell through. We were going to put it out on The Knitting
Factory’s label, but they started making crazy demands. Maybe that will just be
available on the Net. The thing I am focusing on now is trying to get new
tracks together for my first solo album, which should be ready at some point
next year.
What music are you currently listening to?
Obviously Goldrush! I really liked Beck’s Sea Changes. I have gradually been
discovering some new groups like Pinback. There is a great songwriter in Boston
named Ben Patton. Nobody knows about him yet, but he is going to be really
good. One older record I have been listening to is Either/Or from Elliot Smith.
Neil Finn and Scott Walker are other Singer-songwriters I have been hooked on
lately. Also, the Led Zeppelin re-releases. Those knock me over every time.