A BRAND NEW SINGLE, ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ICONS, AND PEANUT BUTTER M&Ms: A Q&A WITH MARK DALY

INTERVIEW | MARK DALY by Martha Munro

Allow me to introduce you to Mark Daly: a rocker, a risk-taker, and a Pringle-lover with a hot new single In The Dark. He and his killer band just got home from touring with none other than The Darkness on their US and Canada tour, and we got the chance to ask him all about it. Read on to find out all about Daly‘s writing process, inspirations, and iconic desert island albums…

So, you’re fresh off the road touring the US and Canada with The Darkness – tell us all about it! What were the highlights? How do you feel now you’re back on home soil?

It was honestly the best tour I’ve ever done — I loved every second of it. There were so many highlights to choose from, but seeing people we’ve met on previous US tours in the crowd wearing our t-shirts and singing along to our songs was a real pinch‑me moment. The support we’ve received across the pond blows my mind, and it’s something I’d never take for granted. It’s always a bit of an adjustment coming home and settling back into normal life, but I was straight back into songwriting mode since we’re heading to Texas this month to finish our album, which is really exciting.

Now onto the important stuff… must-have tour snacks?

Great question! Since all our touring has been in the US, we pretty much live off truck stop snacks. There’s honestly nothing better than pulling into a gas station at 3AM somewhere in the middle of the desert and loading up on Pringles and peanut butter M&M’s that there is absolutely no need for. It kind of becomes a tradition after a while — those late-night snack stops are where some of our band’s biggest issues are resolved.

And of course, your brand new single In The Dark is hot off the press. How would you pitch this song to someone who hasn’t heard your music before?

Yes, I’ve been absolutely thrilled with the reaction to this new single! If I were to pitch the song to someone who’s never heard it before, I’d say it’s a fun, high‑energy rock ’n’ roll track. Beneath the upbeat music though, there are some heartfelt, meaningful lyrics — disguised as happy but really about a person stuck at a crossroads, wrestling with a life‑changing decision and the anxiety of where it might lead. It also carries a nostalgic early‑2000s vibe and overall, it’s a really catchy rock ’n’ roll tune.

The track is all about vulnerability, being brave enough to take the risk of showing you care. What would be your best piece of advice to someone who’s struggling to take that step?

I remember writing the song years ago — funnily enough, I had recorded a rough demo and then moved on to the next thing. When I revisited it before an upcoming recording session, I realised I only truly understood what I’d been writing about much later on. That happens with a lot of my songs; it’s like my subconscious takes the pen, and I figure out the meaning afterward. The track is about vulnerability, but also about those moments when you risk losing something special because you’re too afraid to make a decision. My advice, as cheesy as it might sound, would be to follow your heart, tune out the overthinking, and just dive in — give it everything you’ve got.

There’s also a brilliant music video to go with In The Dark, which you said was the most fun you’ve ever had as a band on a MV set. Why was that? What was so memorable about this video and shooting experience?

I think a big part of what made it so much fun and so memorable was the fact that we were massively underprepared and had pretty much no idea what was going to happen. It’s rare that we get a few days in one place, but we spent some time in Nashville beforehand, checking out the bars and live music, so the mood in camp was already sky‑high. I had a rough idea for the video and passed it on to the label and team, then basically let them run with it. We walked onto set, cracked a few beers, let our hair down, filmed this funny little intro sketch (which I highly recommend watching — it’s actually pretty hilarious), and then just rocked out!

Your rock-rampant style is distinct and dynamic – which artists inspire you the most in your music? Who do you find yourself listening to the most during the creative process?

I wish I had a really cool rock ’n’ roll answer for this one, but in truth, when I’m in the writing process and looking for inspiration, I usually start with the lyrics. That tends to lead me toward more laid‑back artists like Bright Eyes, Gang of Youths, Counting Crows, and Irish songwriters such as Glen Hansard and Damien Rice. I do most of my writing on acoustic guitar, and then the next step is bringing those songs to the band in the studio — that’s where the rock ’n’ roll energy really kicks in. On that side of things, the inspiration comes from classic bands like Aerosmith, Thin Lizzy, and Pink Floyd, as well as more modern acts like Wunderhorse, Fontaines D.C., Foo Fighters, and Highly Suspect. And of course, you can definitely hear a bit of our grunge influences too — Alice in Chains, Candlebox, and plenty more.

On that note: desert island albums. You can only pick 3 and they’re all you’ve got. Go!            

Oh damn, that’s not an easy one! I’ll just go with the first three albums that jump to mind: 1. Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, 2. August and Everything After by Counting Crows, 3. Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park, because that one got me through my early teenage years of being pissed off for no real reason, so I imagine it’d come in handy again when I get pissed off about being stuck on a desert island.