My hometown is called Gaylord, Michigan, and the main reason anyone other than golf aficionados knows of its existence is that it’s in your way if you’re driving through Northern Michigan on Interstate 75. It’s a small town that gladly embraces the title so obviously, John Melloncamp is our folk hero, and I’d better shut my mouth if I try to say otherwise.
What I’m saying is that, while fortunately situated within one of Michigan’s many beautiful areas, I was not raised in a hotbed of indie-rock shows and music eclecticism. I’ll give my parents some credit though. Every birthday, we kids were awoken by the home stereo blasting “Birthday” by the Beatles.
My first record was actually a first “twelve cassettes for the price of one” from Columbia House Record Club. I have no idea what all of those were.
I think Boyz to Men and Kriss Kross were in there, the latter of which encouraged me to wear my jeans backwards on the day before my mom confiscated the tape. The first one I remember really loving though was Michael Jackson’s Dangerous. It sounded so heavy and cool to me. Everything on the album was a hook and M.J delivered my favorite ones angrily and passionately. Then there was “Heal the World,” which was like listening to rainbows. It should have been cheesier than the new Taco Bell menu, but that melody was too pretty.
Looking back, I think the things I liked about these songs are pretty consistent in everything I came to like. Even though the music I make and most of what I listen to now doesn’t sound like M.J, it is pop music. And while I can confidently say I’ve ultimately been more influenced by Radiohead, Nirvana, and The Beatles, they aren’t the “King of Pop.”
Mark Fain is the songwriter behind inventive indie-folk band Gun Lake, which he formed after college left him despondent and tired. They self-released their warmly dark and melancholy debut, Balfour, last March, and have since played a plethora of shows including three for CMJ Music Marathon, recorded a Daytrotter session, and begun work on a follow-up to Balfour.
