Songs in the open
CHLOE Marks released her debut EP The Book of Secrets to the world this year, but the emerging musician hasn’t always been so open with her music.
Indeed, the title of the Innisfail-born musician’s release finds its roots in reality.
“(The EP’s) just based all around my songs that I’ve written over the last three years and never really shown anyone,” Marks explains.
People who saw her lyric book when she was writing in it would call it The Book of Secrets, she says.
So how did the 20-year-old know she was ready to share these private songs with the world?
Marks, who will perform in Cairns early on in the new year, recalls taking a song to the members of a band she was part of.
“I was getting their opinion about it and didn’t think they were going to like it and they actually loved it,” she recalls.
“Just slowly, over time (I) started showing them and other people more songs and actually found out that people were really enjoying it. And so (I) just sort of took a big risk and was like, ‘I’m going to release my favourite ones, the ones that mean the most to me and see how it goes’.”
Currently living in Brisbane, Marks recorded the EP at the now closed Gasworks Studios and can be heard playing the guitar, keys, drums and singing on it.
Marks feels others put her into the acoustic, folk, blues box, but sees herself as having the ability to do even more. She says the EP’s music is based more on a song’s meaning, instead of “genre specifics”.
“When I wrote it, I didn’t want to limit myself to one sort of area. So I wrote very broadly,” she says.
“The first song is almost like an old-style soul, blues song ( Cruel) and then the next one is, goes straight into Jack Johnson relaxed, chilled, kind of vibe ( Lovely Lady).”
THE FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND LAUNCH OF THE BOOK OF SECRETS, CHLOE MARKS LIVE IN CAIRNS, IS AT TRINITY BAY HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE ON JANUARY 2 FROM 6PM. ENTRY IS $5 ON THE DOOR. THE BOOK OF SECRETS IS AVAILABLE ON ITUNES.