Setting the tone with an intricate, reversed riser, expanding into a luscious and melodic guitar soundscape, Mark Howard opens The Light Behind Us with metaphorical prose as he sings, “Little bird, little bird, I see you in the sky, little bird, I see you flying high…”
The opus expands with philosophical depth, and a sublime sonic design to take us on an eye-opening, conscious journey. Mark confesses that The Light Behind Us is “a rallying cry for those yearning to escape life’s tangled web and chase a simpler, more carefree existence.”
We appreciate the intentional nature of his message, and the charisma that transmutes as Mark shares his soul with us. The composition showcases nothing short of instrumental mastery, and we love the guitar riffs, the dimensional and dramatic nasalise, as well as the power pop and 80s adjacency.
The cerebral instrumental segment is out of this world, inviting to connect deeply with Mark’s notions of escapism and universal nature with the anthemic finale. We learn that The Light Behind Us is taken from Mark Howard‘s forthcoming album, Deep Dark Blue, and was mixed by Dave Prideaux and mastered by Andy Stewart at The Mill.
Mark tell us how the track delves deeply into the desire for radical change and the yearning to escape life’s complexities in pursuit of a more carefree existence. On the creative process behind The Light Behind Us, Mark elaborates, “I sat down with my guitar and a bird came tapping at my window. I wrote down the first lyric and got down to work. Once I had the blueprint I took it to the studio, tried a few different keys and tempos until I found a place where the song came to life”.
Mark Howard, who has performed in 45 countries, shares his soul through music often described as “coastal Rock kissed by the sun with the promise of a storm,” reflecting his experiences of grief, struggle, and joy. He has received awards at the Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe Festivals for his heartfelt performances. His last single, Scarlette, even reached number 8 on the AMRAP charts!
We absolutely love The Light Behind Us, and have added the song to our New Music Spotlight playlist, as well as our brand new TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Mark Howard‘s wider discography, and anticipate future releases from the visionary creator.