My name's Mark Lester, and I live in the depths of Essex, currently in a little village called Southminster.
I was born in Maldon hospital, a rather heavy baby who was keen to join this world. My earliest memeory is when I ran away from my parents at the age of about two. We were on holiday in a caravan somewhere, I vividly remember wanting to see the sea. So off I went when they weren't looking...I decided not to walk down the stairs of the cliff face as it was rather far. The look on my parents face when they found me!!!
My mum has always been heavily into music and as I grew up, I had the joys of listening to some terrible music (kenny G anyone?), but also some good music - her choice is so very varied, it gave me a good understanding of song and different styles.
My dad taught himself to play the guitar when he was a child. My grandad used to play the organ, and they used to play down the local pubs doing gigs for the locals. My grandad's brother, Charlie, played fiddle and was well known in his area...I now have the violin, but it's a little hard to play I must admit but it has a prided spot in my collection, as does grandad's accordion...
Dad used to play my sister and I songs when we were little on the guitar, and when I was about 6, I showed an interest in the guitar and grandad bought my my first guitar one christmas. It was a 3/4 size unbranded guitar from Kay's. Being left handed, it was strung up as a leftie and we tried to learn something together. It just wasn't working, I didn't gel with it, not good. I ended up putting the instrument down again until I turned 7. I picked up dad's 12 string Eko guitar, and strung right handed, it was much easier....so a quick re-string on the acoustic and I was ready for learning.....
I played music with dad for years learning beatles, and other old 60's type music, it was all good fun.
When I got to about 12/13, I started to play music on my own a little more and taking much more interest in more modern music. I was learning new cover's which I played on my own. I did this for a while, but noticed it's a little annoying playing a bunch of chords if you can't follow the song because no singing!!! So, this is when I started to fill the void with me singing away (badly I will admit). I continued like this for a few years, and soon I could sing and play together and I was trying many a varied tune.
At 16, I started experiementing with writing music and my inspiration hit me. My personal life influenced me and inspired me....lost love songs as usual but still...I wrote tons of songs, many terrible but we all start somewhere.
I continued like this until I was about 22. I'd play in bands with differnet people - not playing my songs, just covers. Was fun but still something missing for me.
I decided with all the songs I had written, I was in a muddle, so confused with my music and where to go. I decided to put together an album of my music from when I was 16/17 to when I was 23. This marked many occasions in my life and things which have happened. I started learning home recording, which took quite some time. Wasn't so great to start with but as with time, things get easier don't they.
In 2004, my first album 'Come Read This Diary' was ready. Unfortunatly with no real backing from a major record label, I was left to do the leg work and promotion myself. A hard task. I hit all the labels but with limiting success. I sold a bunch of CD's at gigs, and to people I knew, but soon I had exhausted the right. Later I signed a digital distribution deal, and have spent a year or so waiting whilst the fanbase has grown and the popularity of my music increased. I still have a long way to go, but my album is only proving to be more popular daily......but still I am a small fish in a big sea!
I have started to finalize my new album, songs from the past 3 years, and think I have the playlist sorted, just time to re-record and get mastered etc. You can have a listen to some on myspace or on my music page. The album is called 'Distantly Changing' and hopefully is the adult version of myself, a more developed writer, and know what I want.
I don't want to change the way music is heard, I don't want to change anything in history...I have to write music to output the useless thoughts which swirl around my head, and in song, I can find a sense of peace. Battling with bipolar, a failed marriage, courts, and loosing friends, I have suffered from my own doing for the past few years - and 'Distantly Changing' is all the thoughts from then. I hope you enjoy and can relate.
That brings us up to present I'm afraid, it's 2007. I'll try and update my biog as and when new developments happen. Hope you enjoyed the read....(one day I'll write a book I'm sure!)
mark lester