MIKO MARKS UPLIFTS WITH SINGLE "LET THE MUSIC GET DOWN IN YOUR SOUL" OUT TODAY
LISTEN // WATCH: “LET THE MUSIC GET DOWN IN YOUR SOUL”
Today, Miko Marks has released “Let The Music Get Down In Your Soul” via Redtone Records. The song, originally released in 1979 by gospel great Rance Allen of The Rance Allen Group, is one of Marks’ favorites. “When I was around 16 years old in Detroit, Michigan, I was lucky enough to perform with him in a gospel play called 'Mama Don’t,'” she recalls. “This was one of my rare stage performances at that time, and to be able to sing with one of the greats in gospel music is a priceless memory. It reminds me of how music has, and always will be, a healer. As we navigate uncertainty and these tumultuous times in our country, I hope this song can be a sweet respite for the listener to retreat and find a little joy."
“Let The Music Get Down In Your Soul” follows Marks’ January 20th release of “Peace of Mind (Live at Feldman’s),” another hope-filled, uplifting track. “‘Peace of Mind’ reminds me to pause for my peace as I navigate my life from day to day,” she explained. “Feelings of worry, fear, anxiety, and stress can really take me to dark places where I feel overwhelmed, and sometimes I'm unable to see my way out. This song reminds me to take time to step away, to get a larger perspective. As the world hurries and worries itself along, we're part of something bigger and more constant than our struggles, our careers, our politics,” she continued. “Right now, we feel so divided and angry as a nation. Regardless of where we fall politically, we all need to find peace of mind in place of rage, blame, and despair. When I sing this song, I am always able to find the serenity and calm that I need, and I hope the listeners are able to tap into the same. Of all the songs in my live set, this is the one most likely to draw out some of my tears, and you can hear it in this live version,” she added. “They're tears of release and hope and of gratitude for the present and for days to come.”
LISTEN // WATCH: “PEACE OF MIND (LIVE AT FELDMAN’S)”
After living what seems to be multiple lives over, Miko Marks has finally come into the life she was born to live. With a unique sound that deftly blends Americana, blues, southern rock, and even gospel, her powerful voice and warm, soulful spirit literally bring every audience to its feet, though her life as a Black woman in country and roots music is only a small part of the story.
She was born in Flint, Michigan, to a politically active single mother who raised her to fight for equal rights for all. As her mother spent nights working third shift at the automotive factory, Marks’ grandmother played a pivotal role in her upbringing. For Marks, the women in her life were of utmost importance; their hopes and dreams for her were cautiously optimistic, while pragmatic due to the barriers they faced in their own lifetimes.
Even with a show-stopping voice, it seemed singing was mostly just a hobby, not a career to pursue. She attended Grambling State University, studying Political Science with her sights set on law school. Those plans were paused after marriage and young motherhood. With some encouragement from her husband, she began to sing again and released two country albums - 2005’s Freeway Bound and It Feels Good in 2007. Though she received great critical praise and was a regular participant at CMAFest in Nashville, growth was stymied by industry gatekeepers.
After over a decade-long hiatus and no grand vision of success, Marks recorded a few songs with bandmates Justin Phipps and Steve Wyreman; that collection of songs became Our Country, which Phipps released on his small non-profit label, Redtone Records. Soon after, she released a covers EP called Race Records, which highlighted the arbitrary divisions forced upon artists and audiences in the early days of music marketing in the 1940s.
Her latest LP, 2022’s Feel Like Going Home, is an amalgamation of where Marks has been and where she is going, what she has learned, and what she wants to teach - the stories she wanted to tell but hadn’t been able to speak into existence before. Its message of healing and restoration is profound. Be sure to follow her at the links below for all the latest news and updates.
TOUR DATES
5/31 – Redwood Mountain Faire – Felton, CA
6/06 – Britt Music & Arts Festival – Jacksonville, OR
6/15 – Live Oak Music Festival – San Luis Obispo, CA
6/28 – Ten Mile Creek Revival – Laytonville, CA
7/05 – High Sierra Music Festival – Quincy, CA
7/06 – High Sierra Music Festival – Quincy, CA
7/20 – The Redwood Ramble – Navarro, CA
7/27 – Corte Madera Summer Concerts – Corte Madera, CA
7/30 – Chautauqua Institution – Chautauqua, NY
9/13 – Hopmonk Tavern – Novato, CA
CONNECT WITH MIKO MARKS:
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