Marco Demark: bio

MARCO DEMARK is the dj/producer who created the hit single ‘TINY DANCER’. The track reached 1 on most of the dance charts in the UK, including DMC Mainstream chart, DMC Club chart, Music Week Pop chart and the Music Week Club chart before crossing over to the national Mainstream and Dance charts peaking at 52 and 8 respectively. ‘TINY DANCER’ then went onto reach Top5 on most of the dance charts throughout Europe including 1 in Italy followed by 5 in Demark’s home base, Australia.
This is how influential DJ Pete Tong of UK’s Radio 1 described ‘TINY DANCER’ before crowning it an ‘Essential New Tune’ on September 14th 2007; “Some of our Essential new tunes are underground and eventually blow up and cross over, or sometimes they’re DJ specials. Others are fantastic moments, inspired moments of dance music that you can hear all over the radio within couple of months of us playing it, I believe this is one of those”. Tong not only supported the track on radio till early ’08, but he also featured it constantly for many months in his DJ sets.
Carl Kennedy, who was responsible for signing the track to his new Wasted Youth label, had the intuition to recognise ‘TINY DANCER’ as a hit record right from the demo stage. With the support of some of the biggest DJs in the world like Pete Tong, Eric Morillo, Paul Van Dyke, DJ Tiesto and Carl himself plus remixes from Deadmau5, The Camel Rider, John Dahlback and Moto Blanco it was easy to see why ‘TINY DANCER’ has achieved so much success.
For those who aren’t aware of the original version of ‘TINY DANCER’, the track is one of Elton John’s most popular songs of all time, released in 1971, it’s a classic. The inspired Demark version features brilliant vocals by talented Aussie singer Casey Barnes who has two solo albums to his name. Barnes is currently collaborating on new original material with Demark and also with superstar DJ, Tiesto.
Success often comes from years of work and determination, and that’s been the case for Marco. Music has always been a part his life. His father was a drummer who taught him how to play at an early age, this progressed to Marco getting his first set of Technics 1210s at the age of 12. Born in Italy in 1976, Marco spent most of his teenage years practising and mixing in his garage and throwing parties for hundreds of kids of his own age until he picked up his first official club gig at the age of 15. There are Sunday sessions at clubs there just for kids from 3.00 to 9.00pm. They hit the dancefloor for hours then their parents pick them up at closing time - they start early in Italy! Marco recalls; “I remember I was 15 and so nervous on my first gig, I couldn’t look at the crowd and my hands were shaking while trying to drop the record on the turntable. I just put my head down and concentrated on my first mix, after that the music took over and I started to read the crowd. The feeling of controlling a 1000 people with music was it for me…I was hooked”.
Demark’s first studio outing was a track called “You Got To Know”. Produced with Mark Munro, it appeared alongside DJ Craig Obey’s first production “Feel The Vibe” on limited edition 12” vinyl.
In 2002, Demark produced three tracks with Italian DJ, Blade from Jestofunk. “Palace City”, “Spanish Lab” and “So Good” which were all released through Blade’s own label, Cavernjatt.
In 2004, Demark produced a compilation album entitled ‘Ghetto Paradise’ with Blade and Mark Munro - the compilation’s name inspired by his Australian home base on the Gold Coast. ‘Ghetto Paradise’ sold well in Europe and it featured “Seven Mile”, a track written and produced by Demark, Mark Munro, keyboard player Dan Gulson and virtuoso percussionist Aldo De Bongo, all under the name of Grooveyard.
“Seven Mile” proved to be a great success, being signed to Ministry Of Sound Australia and appearing on their ‘Chill Out Sessions 8’ compilation in 2005. “Seven Mile” was picked up for release on many other compilations throughout Europe and also hit Top10 on one of Italy’s top radio stations, Radio 101. In Australia, TV broadcaster Channel 9, picked up “Seven Mile” for their extensive Test Cricket coverage and promotion. The track became an unofficial theme song during their broadcasts throughout 2006 and 2007.
So what’s next? Demark’s next single is a collaboration with Australian singer Peter Millwood. Entitled “I Can’t Fight This”, it’s due for release very soon. Also currently in production is a new track with Max ’C, the singer behind Axwell’s smash hit “I Found You”. In addition to this, Demark recently remixed a track for Wasted Youth called “Addicted” by The Camel Rider & Mark Elston ft Mark Shine. Through this association, a friendship developed with Mark Shine who has built a reputation of being one of the best singers in New York. The two are now collaborating on a new track for release over the European summer.
With all this production in motion, Demark still has time to DJ and tour, it’s a rewarding experience for him and one that’s close to his roots and heart. Australian clubs have been rocked by his sets and Europe will follow shortly. The best is yet to come from Marco Demark.