We had a chat with Edinburgh DIY artist Marky Wildtype about his journey, new single ‘Tomorrow’, and upcoming new album
As he gears up towards the release of his new album If Destroyed Still True, wholly independent Edinburgh songwriter and producer Marky Wildtype has showcased a continued flair for authenticity and originality in his atmospheric sound, one that is largely informed by the artist’s personal experiences and the often tumultuous nature of life as a DIY artist and all of the pitfalls and challenges that come with it.
Over time, the artist has expanded his sound to feel more fully-formed and all-encompassing, and his latest single ‘Tomorrow’ is a rousing showcase of the continued evolution of his appeal, wrapped in emotion throughout and melding his memorable hooks and layered harmonies with an impassioned sense of emotion and anthemic cutting edge. The new single is just the latest showcase of how Marky Wildtype’s sound feels more refined and exciting with each new release, and with the album coming out next month we figured it was the perfect time to have a chat with the artist and find out some more about his journey and what to expect from it.
Who TF is Marky Wildtype?
Marky Wildtype is a fully DIY songwriter from Edinburgh. Who is seeking within this sentence to smoothly transition into talking about himself in the first person. By fully DIY, I mean I write, perform (except a couple of tracks of drums), produce, arrange, record, mix and master everything myself. I’ve been in bands for a very long time, usually on the rockier end of the spectrum. My long-term band split a few years ago, and as a result, I stopped writing for a while. I eventually decided to start writing again after a friend challenged me, and I found I enjoyed the freedom of not having a genre or sound to conform to. And I kept going from there.
How long have you been making music?
I got a guitar when I was about 13, and started writing songs a couple of years later. The first one was called ‘Die In Pain’. Perhaps a wee bit immature, but I still feel it was an underrated banger.
Why do you make music?
I can’t afford therapy. But in all seriousness, I just love it. I love being able to express through music what I can’t in any other way. I love the feeling of playing music and hearing ideas coalesce into something more than their parts. I love the idea that others might get from my music what I get from others’ – a feeling of connection, mutual understanding, comfort. It’s like magic.
What are your biggest influences?
Musically, they’re nothing if not diverse. A selection off the top of my head: Nirvana, Leonard Cohen, Bright Eyes, Arcane Roots, Taylor Swift, Spiritbox, Aurora, Jamie Lenman/Reuben, Belle & Sebastian, Deftones, The Beatles. Non-musical influences: basically, any good art. You can find references to movies, books, poetry etc. in my lyrics -though hopefully not in a pretentious way. Oh, and anxiety-fuelled doomscrolling. That’s a biggie.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
It’s a scary thing to send your music out into the world for strangers (and non-strangers) to judge. I’ve worked on it so long in isolation with no real idea (or thought of) how anyone might receive it. So the fact that any of the singles I’ve put out recently have been met with positive words has meant the world to me, and is more than I expected.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
This is something I’m actually pretty bad at, which is a problem for a DIY artist, since everyone really wants you to fit in a nice, easy to categorise box! I just aim for strong melodies, lots of harmonies and thoughtful lyrics, while brushing up against a lot of different sounds and genres. Broadly, I guess, alternative rock? Alternative pop? Indie rock? I’m terrible at marketing myself, it’s a wonder I’m here at all. If I ever make any money I’ll have to hire someone to tell me what my genre is.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
Getting a call to go co-write songs with Taylor Swift. Short of that, having someone I don’t know (and therefore can’t dismiss as biased), but respect and admire find genuine value in my songs would do me well enough. I’m also so used to people seeing no value in unsigned original music, someone actually thinking it’s worth paying for is enough to blow my mind! I’d love to play Glasto. Getting a song on Hollyoaks would be nice too
We love your new single ‘Tomorrow’, what more can you tell us about it?
Fun fact, when I came up with the chorus, I actually heard it in Jamie Lenman’s voice, not mine. It also basically came fully formed, as songs only very occasionally do. It’s a very emotionally charged one for me. Without wishing to go into too much detail, it’s about grief and things left unsaid and trying to reconcile that. But I wanted to put it in a kind of epic, anthemic context, that I think the subject might have appreciated.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
The album is coming out on 5th July. It’s called ‘If Destroyed Still True’ and I’m really proud of it. No disrespect to Sum41 but this is the real all killer no filler. Beyond that, I’m thinking of making some videos for some of the tracks. I’m also writing again, so perhaps an EP might be on the cards later in the year. I’m also considering whether/how/when to put together some live shows. In the meantime, I’ll probably keep making my silly social media videos, which have given me the chance to have a bit of fun with the promo, rather than it being a slog.
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
Stiff competition between my girlfriend and my very fluffy and affectionate cat, Scully. Honestly, if I get anywhere with music, Scully deserves a fair amount of the credit. She’s also considerably more photogenic than I am.
