WE INTERVIEW – THE MARS MCCLANES

One thing we’ve really been impressed with in your writing is your versatility and musicianship. What are your influences – who do you admire? What genres do you take your inspiration from?

Our band found our identity playing honkytonks in Texas after starting off as a brit-pop style band at an open mic. Literally, our next show, we had to play for four hours at a famous dive bar in Dallas and weren’t allowed to play any of our “reggae crap.”

Tell us something about each of you that we wouldn’t believe!

Russ invented the question mark.
Paul is a werewolf.
Brian has laser eyes.
None of these are true, but I can’t imagine you’d believe them, either.

What is your favourite song to perform, and why?

Probably one of our old songs that isn’t out right now called Fast McGill. We were just talking the other day about how it was a perfect song to kick off a show. A real gut punch of an intro, fast-paced and satirical.

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

Keep your mind out of the way when you’re writing. You can always edit/re-write later. Get the words on the page.

What’s the worst advice you’ve been given?

Stay away from that reggae crap.

Why the Christmas cover?What made you decide to record your own version of ¿Dónde Está Santa Claus?

It was Christmas time! Let me tell you, there is nothing better than walking around your neighborhood, checking out lights, and listening to Christmas music. We just wanted to contribute.

Your song, The Liar, had us smiling for days! Tell us more about the inspiration behind it.

You know, back to the writing advice. I just kept putting the words on the page, and that’s what was coming out. A ridiculous lie and a tangential brush with fame. The first verse was the first thing I wrote but quickly wrote eight more once I figured out a formula.
The bridge was the original chorus, but I wasn’t sure I could hit that note five different times within the song, but I could definitely do it once. I still can’t believe the guys were up for recording that ridiculous song. Seriously, I’ve never had more fun writing a song than The Liar.

Thanks guys for chatting with us! We wish you continued success. Readers, to find out more about the Mars McClanes…

https://marsmcclanes.com/
https://m.facebook.com/The-Mars-McClanes-107735781910465/
https://mobile.twitter.com/themarsmcclanes
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7hFOw1ECbQ8KczYQ7Idsca?si=ym9Q5sMWQnSgM9IqI-cq-g
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/66fyjTo5jv2Fbh879
https://youtube.com/channel/UC5mJ7MCDJ4SaUGwlSdHzPBw
https://www.instagram.com/themarsmcclanes/