Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Holland.
Hi Mark, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My brother and I have been playing music for 50 years. We started with piano lessons at age 7 and our interest grew as we got older. After college, we worked as musicians and signed a major label (Elektra) contract. We toured the US but things didn’t really work out. We took a long break from playing together, but teamed-up again about 10 years ago and we’ve been playing as an acoustic duo ever since. We also write and produce music for film and TV. We worked with Charleston-based Rough House Productions on their hit TV show The Righteous Gemstones on HBOMAX for the past 4 years. For the show, we produced bluegrass and Civil-war era songs. We were actually on the show in season 1 playing the role of a bluegrass band. It’s been a great experience and we hope to keep working in film and TV.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been ups and downs. It has taken us years to rebuild after losing our Elektra contract in the mid ’90’s. It’s a very tough business to be in and there can be a lot of disappointment. But, something always comes along to lift our spirits and that’s why we’ve stayed in the business and been successful. Persistence and determination are key. It’s also important to adapt to changes in the business climate. We’ve been able to carve out our own niche.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We are, first and foremost, songwriters and producers of music. Although we are known for playing live in the roots genre, we write many styles of music depending on what is asked for. We’ve worked with lots of people, including actor Eric Roberts. Our work for the show the Righteous Gemstones on HBOMAX showcases our ability to write and record for a major TV show. For season 4, we were asked to produce some Civil War era music, and, although it was a challenge, we came through in a big way for the show. We are very proud of the work we have done for the show. I think our resourcefulness and adaptability sets us apart, as well as the country blues genre we play live. There are so many bluegrass acts out there, hearing us play can be a refreshing experience for the listener.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
There has always been, and always will be, the necessity of playing live as well as the need to continually create new music. So, I don’t see that changing. Streaming created an easy way to distribute music, but musicians lose out more and more due to this. I would like to see higher payouts to artists. I would also see the reliance in technology tampered a bit with an emphasis on the human quality of music.
Pricing:
- $500 performance fee
- $5000 per produced song for TV/film
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.thehollandbros.com
- Instagram: @the_holland_bros
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hollandbros
- Soundcloud: http://www.euramericansoul.com
