Interview with Brian sparks from Mark 13

How was Mark 13 formed, and how did you come to play in the electro/industrial field?

Mark 13 got started around 1991. I had worked on a few synth pop type projects before then but I wasn't satisfied at all with them. So, my sequences started to get harder and harder till I eventually came out with something suitable that I liked. At that point Jeff Little, who helps me with the engineering, and I started the recordings. I was in contact with a fellow named Paul Green who started Cyber-Tec Records (back then it was called Cyberwerks), who helped me get on my feet. He had me come over to England and do a few performances to help promote the CD that WAS supposed to come out in 1994. Unfortunately, things went sour between Paul and I, and then my studio caught on fire, I then had a double knee surgery, and finally, three years later, the CD is out

Who is mark 13?

Mark 13 is Brian Sparks. Jeff Little assists in the recordings.

What's the meaning behind the name "Mark 13"?

Ever see the movie "Hardware"? That's where I got it. I had been trying to think of a name for a long time, and then I was just watching TV one day and there it was sticking its head out. I couldn't resist the temptation. The whole theme of population control in the movie really reflected well with my lyrics. If you haven't seen the movie, the M.A.R.K. 13 is a killing machine designed by the goverment.

How did you get a song on the "Future Music" magazines cd cover?

That was the work of Paul Green of Cyber-Tec Records. He had it all setup for promotional purposes, since I was touring over in the UK at the time, and the CD was being portrayed as being out the next month.

The album name is "Survival", why?

Well, the whole album has that theme to it. We are all trying to just survive in this world, and we have all these obstacles that we are always facing. Whether it's global or local. It's also has just special meaning to myself. With all that happened to me, I was still able to fight through it and get this CD out.

Why are you releasing it on Linear/metropolis?

Well, the main reason was the falling out between Paul and I. I was so disgusted with what happened, I just made a vow, "I will not do this to other people!" So Jeff and I started Linear Records. We are, as a label, trying to promote bands and get their music out into the market. Our hope is that Mark 13 carries enough, financially, to support the other bands. We were able to obtain Metropolis Records as our distributor, and are now in the process of obtaining distribution in the foreign market.

How has it been received in the industrial scene?

So far, all of the reviews have been great. No one seems to know where to class it. They have tried comparing me to Haujobb and Mentallo but they know it's not like that. They just can't come up with a term to best describe it. I don't get very much club play because the beat isn't designed for it. Maybe only two songs are. It's a bit of a disadvantage for marketing purposes, but what can you do?

Will you play any lives?

Yes, I have been playing live again over the last few months, and will continue to do so for a few more. I'm hitting the western US this time around, rather then going to Europe again. I hope to do that in another year, but we will have to see.

Its 73 minuites long, why the very long time?

I feel it's important to give the consumer, who has gone out and paid ten to fifteen dollars on your CD, their money's worth. I don't know how many times I've gone out to buy a CD, only to find it's thirty-five minutes long. I feel the same way about singles. Why not fill it up as much as you can?

From where do you get your influences?

Synth pop was a big one. That's what I grew up listening to, as I think everyone sort of did who listens to industrial music these days. It's just we wanted something harder but with the same electronic feeling. Later on, it was Skinny Puppy, FLA, Ministry, and the usual assortment.

Where will you go from here with mark 13?

The new album "Kinetic" is slated for the beginning of '98. I'm finishing the last songs now. I'm also working on my side project PCL, which is a little more ambient and dancy. That should be released in the summer. It also seems that I'm going to do a remix exchange with Jonathan Sharp of New Mind, so I guess look for that coming in our next albums.