New York’s rising star Mark Ambor debuts into the world of pop with a mix of folk with his nostalgic debut album, Rockwood.
We’re slowly heading into autumn, but Mark Ambor won’t let us forget warm summer memories. The Armenian-American singer-songwriter hailing from New York City takes us into a world of never-ending summer, pure joy and lets us feel all the emotions of being alive. Rockwood is the artist’s debut album which dropped last month. The songwriter describes the album as “nostalgic, comfortable and warm.” It includes hits that went viral on TikTok such as “Belong Together” ‚” Our Way”, “Good to Be”. Incredibly, “Belong Together” spent 15 weeks in the UK TOP 20 on the UK Official Singles Chart, and is now certified gold in the UK. This showcases not just his talent for penning a pop hit but just how well his music has been received.
To celebrate the release of his record, Mark Ambor sits down with 1883 to chat about Rockwood, his musical inspirations, what’s next for him and more.
Congratulations on releasing your debut album Rockwood. What do you want your listeners to take away from the album?
Rockwood is a place my friends and I would go to growing up. It’s a park on the Hudson River in New York. It’s where we’d watch the sunset, hang out when there was no other place to go, drink, smoke, or go on a first date. It was a place to escape the weight of the world for a second. If I give Rockwood justice this album will be something that when people listen they will feel those feelings I felt at Rockwood the place.
They will feel good, feel heard, they will feel part of something bigger, and most importantly they will feel some sort of an escape and the weight of the fall off their shoulders for just a second.
Can you tell me more about the making of the album! What was the process like?
The album started with a song called “Good to Be,” which is about my dad. I wrote it alone, sitting in my room, staring out the bedroom window with my guitar. It was the first time I wrote something where I felt like there was more of a world beyond just the song itself.
The process of writing Rockwood was a lot of times me writing the actual songs alone. I picked the ones that felt the best and produced them in my basement. To see something made in isolation, all alone in my basement, something I was just having fun with, resonate all around the world has been pretty amazing.
If you could describe the album in three words, what would they be?
Nostalgic, comfortable, warm.
What’s your favourite lyrics you’ve written for the album and why?
Maybe I’m not some chosen one
But damnit, I’m my father’s son
And that’s something I’m pretty proud to be
I love how honest it feels. I like how in Rockwood, the first lyrics you hear are that. Yeah, it just feels really honest.
You rose to viral fame through TikTok. How did that feel for you?
Every time I put something out into the world, I’m obviously proud of it and hope it resonates with people. Sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes it does, and with “Belong Together,” that’s what happened. It feels amazing to see something I made affect so many people.
It’s been really cool seeing them use it in the context of their own lives, their own thoughts, and their own feelings. And to see the videos they make is something I’m really grateful for.
Who are your top three musical inspirations?
Early Coldplay, Billy Joel, Zach Bryan.
Who are artists you’d love to collaborate with?
Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan, Taylor Swift.
How does a perfect day look like for you when you’re not working?
A perfect day is a warm fall day at home—maybe going on a hike with friends and then heading to the cider mill in my town. We’d make dinner together, eat it outside, and end the day by making a fire.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever gotten?
How you do something is how you do everything.
What advice would you give aspiring musicians?
“What I’ve learned is to just be authentic and not be afraid to put who you are out there because that’s what makes you unique, that’s what makes you interesting, and that’s what makes you relatable. I know it’s cliché, and it’s sometimes the hardest thing to do, but it’s what goes the longest way in making an impact.
What is next for you?
“We’re going all over North America and Europe for the Rockwood Tour. We’ve sold out a bunch of shows, but there are still a few left. I’m so excited to see everyone there.
What is something you want to be remembered for?
“I’ve been lucky enough to travel all around the world this past year and meet people who support my music in person. What sticks out to me the most is the impact that the things I create can have on people. To be able to make anyone feel good, feel heard, or feel less alone—no matter how many people that is—is something I’d love to be remembered for.
Rockwood is out now.
Follow Mark Ambor @markambor
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