Marko interviews with Staticnoise.net

1)What got you involved in music in the first place? Did you always want to be in a rock band?

Hell yeah! I've always been infatuated with rock n roll. When I was little
I thought Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick; Angus Young from AC/DC; and the guys
in Kiss were like cool superheroes, as I grew up I realized they were also
great players and songwriters; at first you want to be a rockstar; then you
want to be a musician, by being in a band you get to be both; it's fun and
fulfilling at the same time.

1a)Did you go to right into your music career or did you go to college?

I started my first band before we could even play our instruments; early on
it's more of a gang-mentality way of hangin out with your pals from school or
your neighborhood. That's where it starts. You don't really "go into" music
like other careers, you just keep doing it and eventually, if you work hard
and get lucky, it can become your "career". I went to college as well, but I
still had a band and recorded and played shows as always.

2)How did you guys all get together?

It's a long story go to www.sugarcult.com, I met the band when they were a
trio they were opening for my old band and we hit it off. Eventually, I
switched instruments (from bass to guitar) so I could join Sugarcult.

3)What do you like/hate most about touring?

I love meeting new people, travelling, and playing live. I'm not a huge fan
of long drives, bad weather, and I fucking hate all the junk food you end up
eating!

4)I know you guys have been on the road a while...How do you cope with being on the road for so long? What keeps you sane?

The show each night is the carrot you chase all day long, that gets you
through the long hours of driving, getting lost on unfamiliar roads, etc.
Playing live is a high that is worth anything to achieve. We also read a
lot, take pictures of cool things, make friends with other bands we tour
with, and occasionally drink some alcohol!

5)What sets you apart from other up and coming bands?

Our songs, our sound, our history and how we look; other than that we are
just another band out there working as hard as possible to bring our music
out of the garage and into as many people's stereos as possible.

6)What are your influences? (it can be at a music level or personal)

Bands that work hard and defy categorization. Can you simply call the
Beastie Boys a "rap group"? No. Can you simply call Madonna a "pop singer"?
No. Can you simply call Sugarcult a "punk group"? No. Our sound is influenced
a lot by music from the late 70's (Elvis Costello, the Clash, the Ramones,
Cheap Trick, etc) and modern rock (Foo Fighters, Green Day, Superdrag, etc).
We are our own thing.

7)How do you get your ideas to write your songs?

You just pick stuff up through daily life and add it to a stockpile of ideas
you've developed over the years through experiences, exposure to culture,
art, movies, records, books, etc. That becomes the clay with which you
sculpt songs out of.

8)Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Hopefully happy wherever I am, cause life's too short to waste time being
unhappy.

9)What's the craziest thing a fan has done for you?

We've had fans drive across the country to see us for one show; fly across
the country; make us really cool presents; a girl in Northern California had
a "I love Marko 72....Sugarcult" license plate frame made and put on her
car!!!! A girl in St. Louis had me draw a picture on her back and got it
tattooed on! Fans rule!

10)I know its hard to choose but what is your favorite song on the latest album?

The hidden 12th track "Underwear", it shows that we have a whole other side
to us that may or may not come out more in future recordings.

11)Has the success of this album increased the demand for your previous recordings?

Yeah, we just released a limited edition (only 2000 copies) collection of our
old songs called "Wrap Me up in Plastic", they are almost sold out already.

12)How long did it take you to record/write your latest album?

About 2 months to record; the writing was done over a period of 2 years as a
local Santa Barbara, Ca club band before we started touring.

13)How supportive have your family/friends been of your success?

They all miss us, but they are happy that we are doing what we love and
finding some success with it all. I love it when my mom or my sister or one
of my good friends comes to a show, so they can relate to what I get to
experience almost every night.

14)What made you choose the Ultamadum label?

Ultimatum is the perfect label for us; they need us as much as we need them
so it's a balanced relationship. They're big enough to support us as we
grow, yet independent and small enough so that we don't get lost in the
shuffle like a lot of bands at huge major labels, where if you're not as big
as Korn and Mariah Carey you get tossed out in the dumpster.

15)Do you have any advice for other bands who are looking for labels?

Think globally, act locally. Do as much as you can on your own, and remember
that "getting signed" isn't the holy grail, it doesn't mean you've "made it",
a record label is just a good resource to help you in the long winding road
to rocknroll success. No one deserves success, it must be earned by tireless
hard work, dedication, passion, and above all good songs so put down your
Guitar Player magazine, pick up your guitar and go listen to the Ramones and
the Beatles, book some shows, support your local scene and have fun!
cheers,
Marko 72/sugarcult guitar