An acoustic duo who released a new single earlier this year, there might also be an EP from them before year's end. Between the two of them they have a number 1 song in Norway, film credits, and songs playing on radio stations all over the world. As a duo they have performed from South Carolina to as far west as California and even down in the Virgin Islands, among other locations. They are both classically trained musicians who each play more than one instrument, and, they live and tour in a converted sprinter van. Plus, they have done a video series documenting their traveling and performing.
(Mark) "It's also, like, the ambience of where you're at. We actually did record... on the road in a cabin in Montana. So, it's really about where you record for us. It's really important."
(Mark) "I had a recording studio in Fort Lauderdale before I met Melissa and I was doing a lot of rock music, so I learned how to play bass there. But I'm also the recording engineer and producer for all of the recordings. So, we kind of work together as a team... But it's really just violin, cello, and bass. Those are my instruments."
(Melissa) "The saxophone is actually my most proficient instrument, if I had to be honest... But... I went to college on an opera scholarship... I really wanted to play guitar 'cause I wanted to be a cool college kid... And someone told me I couldn't do it and I said, 'Watch this'... And I kind of got songwriter's block, so I bought a ukulele and I started playing ukulele. And then while I was in college, of course, I had to take piano classes to pass for my major. So, I play saxophone, piano, ukulele, and guitar. I'm trying to teach myself banjo, but I'm not going to count that yet."
(Melissa) "I was literally about to leave the United States and my plan was to tour Europe until I ran out of money."
(Melissa) "In our van, that Mark completely built, we've toured the complete U.S. ... Where most people have a bunch of clothes and things, like, all of our van is, like, music gear."
(Mark) "I actually was considering just doing solo van life and music in general before I met Melissa. And I spent two years building out a... sprinter van at my parents' place in Michigan... I basically built the whole interior out... cabinetry, bed frames, electrical, plumbing."
(Melissa) "Fifteen thousand miles we drove on this last tour and we were able to play anywhere and a lot of the overhead was gone. So, instead of most musicians having to pay gas, lodging, all this other stuff, I mean, we can make our own food 'cause we have a full kitchen in the van, we don't have to pay for lodging, so all we're paying for is gas."
(Mark) "I built (the van) out to also be sound-deadened. So, we actually do record vocals and instruments and stuff like that in there because it really actually is a good acoustic space."
(Melissa) "I actually use a website called Venue Maps ... a bunch of places where you can see what gigs are where and what musicians play. I also use ReverbNation, Facebook, to look up musicians in that area. I often try to always contact them first because I think having community with fellow singer/songwriters is really important. And I try to establish relationships with them. I try to come out and support their shows. But also, in doing that, I can see where they play. So, then I try to find someone who is similar to the act that I have because then I know they're going to go over well most places."
(Melissa) "I put almost 200 thousand miles on my Jeep when I bought it when I was playing as a solo musician because I just was so hungry and wanted to play everywhere."
(Melissa) "If you want to be a full-time touring musician and your focus is not solely on just being a musician, in 2020's modern digital age you do have to be a brand."
(Melissa) "We had just agreed to go to Poland and Prague for a travel show and I was starting to work on some tours there. I had things in the works to do a tour in Norway. We were really excited. This was going to be the year that paid off for all the hard work that we put in to the two years creating our brand. So, this was probably the first year that we were going to really see the fruits of that labor. But ya' know, life gave us a different path."
(Mark) "I'm a sound engineer and action camera operator - drone, GoPro, stuff like that... I was able to take a lot of those skills and roll it over into our endeavor."
(Melissa) "If you really think about what the (Coronavirus) shutdown meant... We literally had nowhere to go 'cause we gave up our homes to do van life."
(Melissa) "I was very guilty of being so goal-oriented and being so focused on success that I forgot to live."
"This Time"
"Searching"
** Bonus content with Melissa and Mark **