Here we follow up on our last conversation and discuss the new Spak album, Aux Nero Theos.
Marc in his friend's appartment in January 2023. Photo by me.
Marc is almost thirty now. The last time we interacted was when he texted me to let me know he'd read my last interview with him. He didn't tell me whether or not he liked it. Now he's texted me again, to let me know him and bandmate Dan Becker are doing the final mix for their new album, Aux Nero Theos. It' been four years since their last album, and there's a lot to talk about with their new one. I agree to another interview. I'm curious.
I'm curious about Marc because I've never really gotten to know him. I met co-founder and guitarist Dan at one of the first Spak shows and became good friends with him, collaborating a lot from 2015 to 2019. But despite Dan's significant artistic influence, I always find myself more drawn to Marc's work, particularly the range of his emotional output. It's sometimes confuses me where his lyrics come from, and that certainly applies to the album I have now listened to multiple times.
I'm curious about Marc because I've never really gotten to know him. I met co-founder and guitarist Dan at one of the first Spak shows and became good friends with him, collaborating a lot from 2015 to 2019. But despite Dan's significant artistic influence, I always find myself more drawn to Marc's work, particularly the range of his emotional output. It's sometimes confuses me where his lyrics come from, and that certainly applies to the album I have now listened to multiple times.
The latest Spak release (click for bandcamp) Marc and Dan recorded Aux Nero Theos in a small property (possibly a shed?) near Rochester, Minnesota, where Dan lives with his wife Joanne. They completed the last of their additional sessions with drummer Saahir Manjani and bassist/singer John Hadel in early December 2022. After that, Marc flew back to Seattle for the holidays, which he spent with friends, and to mix the album on his laptop, as well as record two more songs, "Waiting" and "Your Holes", with friend and fellow Seattleite Mako Wanata (open mic regular and artist in her own right). This gave us a great opportunity to conduct our interview in person, which we did at Marc's friend's apartment, where he's currently staying.
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