Interview with Mark O’Quinn

Interview with Mark O’Quinn

By S.S. ANDES

Since many people like to know these sorts of things, I'm going to say it's good to know that Mark O'Quinn would rather lose feeling in his face than lose his pinkies. He explains, "if I didn't have my pinkies how else would I be able to drink a cup of tea?" He does have a point.

After the interview when I called him to ask what picture he'd like to accompany the article he said, "just use that one of Michael Jackson with ET behind him."

-- How would you describe yourself?

I don't know. I don't describe myself to people; I just meet them and let them decide.

-- How would you describe your music?

[He makes random noises, then is silent for several moments.] Pfffffffvvvttt. I don't know.

 -- Tell me the worst name you could have as a musician.

Foreskin? I don't know. Actually, that would be an awesome name.

-- What is your favorite thing about life?

Friends, my family, and adventures.

-- Do you have an all-time favorite lyric?

Oh God. [Burps.] I dunno. Um. "Fruit salad, yummy yummy." I mean, if I were to say one that really meant something in my heart it would sound ridiculous. But if I say something ridiculous then it's just ridiculous.

-- What do you do aside from music to express yourself creatively?

Ummm, watching someone else do some kind of creative or artistic performance or piece helps me more than I can ever help myself [by expressing myself creatively]. I would've never been able to play my most recent show if I hadn't seen this spoken word thing at Players by the Sea. This guy I saw was amazing, his name is Al Letson.

-- Name a band or musician whom you think is unjustifiably never talked about.

Matt Pryor. He's the singer and songwriter of The Get Up Kids, The New Amsterdams, and The Terrible Twos.

-- Do you have a favorite song right now?

Hmm. I love The Avett Brothers. All of their songs. I found them about a year ago and it was most definitely instant love.

 -- How should we finish this off?

Lemme ask you a question. If you wanted to ask me any question in the world, what would you wanna know?

-- Hmm, ahhhgh. Describe to me a moment when you were on stage when you were completely sure that was where you meant to be and you had no doubt or fear.

I'm always scared onstage, I always doubt myself onstage, but I like the feeling of being out of control, in trouble, or weirded out, so I find myself a part of that