Mark Yeend is a musician but he also writes music for video games. He has really made his art a part of his everyday life.
When did you start creating music?
I started banging spoons on boxes and bowls when I was in fourth grade. Then I joined the summer marching band, playing snare drum. My parents got me my first drum set at the end of sixth grade.
Why do you make music?
For the great friends I make music with, and the sense of achievement I feel inside when a piece is finished. Both of these things make me more confident in other areas of my life. I never get tired of making another person smile or think or even cry by simply making music.
What role does music play in your job?
I have written music for video games, and I have given direction to some of the most talented composers in the video game business. My music education gives me the vocabulary and knowledge to do excel at both of those things. Many sound effects also have musical sources, and they have to fit together in the games I make.
Were you nervous to play your music for others? How did you overcome that?
Yes, I had terrible stage fright in school. In seventh grade I had the lead in the school musical, and I totally froze up and forgot the words to the song I was singing, in front of more than a hundred people. I still get nervous to this day. But each time it gets a little easier, and I live for the occasional comment from an audience member saying I was fun to watch onstage.
Where do you get your ideas and inspiration?
When I start a new project and I'm looking for inspiration, I try to look beyond my peers or my direct competitors. I look instead to who is the best in the whole world, and let them be my guide. That usually makes my work better than I would do on my own.
Who is your favorite artist?
I really like Elvis Costello because he writes a lot of music very quickly, and he writes in every style imaginable. I like Wynton Marsalis for his blend of tradition, sophistication and soul. I like rock bands like The Shins and The Strokes. I like old jazz artists like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Count Basie. For my job, I have had to learn to appreciate and understand film composers like John Williams and Danny Elfman.
Why do you think music is important?
Music tells an audience how to feel on a subconscious level, which an amazing power. Most people don't know how much they are affected by music until it is done badly or missing altogether.
Is there some advice you have for young, aspiring musicians?
Do not be afraid to fail; failing is part of life. The more mistakes you make, the faster you will learn and improve. It's better to play a wrong note loudly than to not have played at all.