Charlie Mars, a Mississippi native who has eschewed major labels in favor of going independent, is back with a new album, Blackberry Light. Esquire Magazine said of Mars, “When he’s onstage, songs with deep grooves get some breathing room, and his lush choruses inevitably lead to raucous audience sing-alongs.” Don’t miss his performance at Double Decker, Friday April 27th at 7 pm on the Caterpillar Main Stage.
Are you still primarily based in Oxford? Yes, still primarily based in Oxford town, thankfully so.
Are you currently on tour? I just finished a new album, so I won’t be touring much until August.
Can you tell me a crazy or especially memorable moment from touring in the past year? I got to play “Nebraska” on stage with Steve Earle in NYC. That was a special night for me.
What books are next to your bed right now? 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami is by my bed. It’s taking me a minute.
Your new album is called Blackberry Light. How did you choose that name? I wrote most of the songs in Toluca Lake, California, in the evenings. The light there against the trees in the backyard was always a strange purple…blackberry light.
Do you have a release date set? The release date is August 14th.
How would you describe its overall feel? I think of it as the sister record to my last album.
Have you been listening to any new artists lately that have really impressed you? I like Head and the Heart’s album that came out last year.
Are there any cities/venues that you are really looking forward to returning to? I love playing in Austin. I always like going back there.
This article was published in The Local Voice #154 (April 19-May 3, 2012)…Click here to download the PDF of issue #154.
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