Mark Donnelly

In a world where many Indie artists sacrifice melody to achieve originality, Mark Donnelly has not forgotten that a great song should still sound like a song. As a twenty-one year old singer/songwriter from the suburbs of Chicago, Mark has spent the past four years playing everywhere from the local cafés to a solo show in a three-hundred seat arena.
The influences of artists such as Ryan Adams, Shawn Mullins, and Ben Harper have taught Mark that the heart of a song lies in its performance. Mark’s raw folk-rock guitar style blends with a smooth alternative voice that always surprises, but never startles. He writes the hooks but avoids the clichés.
With a month to spare during his Winter Break from the University of Illinois, Mark recorded the six song demo, “Disarm Me EP,” in his bedroom. His latest demo speaks to both romantics and those with a heavy heart. While anyone can wear their confidence on their sleeve, ultimately, someone or something can disarm them, leaving them truly vulnerable. Mark’s music is about that confidence, that inevitable vulnerability, but most importantly, passion.