Texas-based rock singer-songwriter Mark Winters is many things; a witty poet, passionate musician, entrepreneur, optimist, family man, and a bona fide rocket scientist. He first picked up a guitar to play a song for his wife on their anniversary. That’s when he discovered the joy of connecting with people through music. Mark combines music, poetry, a science background, and love for his community to form his signature sound, “rock with a positive vibe.”
His musical roots are in rock, blues rock, and pop, and John Mayer, Tom Petty, and Jason Mraz are significant influences. “My music starts from a place of poetry and creative inspiration, and I use my ‘rocket-scientist brain’ to find structures that help me explore that initial burst of inspiration and feeling – like writing haikus, my favorite! My grandmother taught me to express myself through poetry and I’m thankful to her for setting me on this creative and expressive path.”
Mark has a degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering, and his math and science background guides his musical explorations. He likes taking complex things such as emotions and expressing them in a way that’s easy to understand. Balancing his right-brained creativity with his analytical left-brain is part of a life-long journey; music is one more place where he can explore this balance.
Since his debut album “Slipstream” in 2019 he’s garnered numerous positive reviews, has been placed on hundreds of playlists, and racked up over a million streams worldwide. He’s poised to continue this success with his sophomore album, “Boundary Layer.”Boundary Layer showcases the intersection of Mark’s scientific mind and his passion for positivity and good works. This album is a tribute to those who have helped Mark break out of life’s “normal” boundaries and pursue the person he was meant to be.
His goal with this new record is to inspire others to break through barriers in their lives and to use emotional connections and energy to move in the direction they were meant to go. Scientifically, a boundary layer is the place on an object in a moving fluid where things can either start moving or stand still.
He and his beloved wife have always had compassion for people in the world and believe it’s important to give back to your community. Mark enjoys mentoring entrepreneurs like himself, and donates a lot of his time to philanthropic organizations throughout the Houston area.
Each song on his first album is an emotional story about his life’s journey’s. Slipstream is the stream of air behind any moving object, usually in the context of making the effort of moving behind someone easier for everyone, like birds flying in a v-formation flock. This is the feeling Mark experienced while working with the incredible musicians and producers who helped create the album.
Bridge: Tell us a bit about how you got started into music…
MW: I have always been moved, emotionally by music (I was the baby dancing to the groove). I didn’t start my journey as a music creator until later in life, when I wanted to play a song for my wife for our anniversary.
The feeling of delivering a song in person, directly to some was very emotional and inspiri8ng, and set me on the journey to create my own music to share with the world.
Bridge: How would you describe your sound to a first time listener?
MW: Rock with a positive vibe! I infuse my music with guitar melodies and overtones, poetry and melodic vocals, and typically include drums and bass guitar and some vocal harmonies. I am inspired by the simplicity
of Tom Petty’s song writing, the guitar vibe of John Mayer and the positivity of Jason Mraz.
Bridge: Is there a particular genre that inspires you more than others?
MW: I like the message from the Americana/folk rock/indie rock scene, and have found myself listening and writing more to this genre in the last year.
Bridge: What projects are you currently working on?
MW: I just released my second album, “Boundary Layer” and am excited to have a tour planned (my first!) in June and August to share the “positive vibes” in person!
Bridge: If you could only point a listener to one of your songs, which would it be?
MW: Boundary Layer – its the title track to my new album, and is about breaking through boundaries in your life (ones you create and others that come from society) to become the person your intended to be.
Bridge: Do you have a song that you listen to when you’re going through hard times?
MW: Lean on me, I’m a sucker for Bill Eithers, maybe Highway to the Danger Zone if I’m feeling like I need to get physical to lift myself up. Maybe recently its been Survivor by Nathan Ratcliff or Brother by Needtobreathe
Bridge: What’s next for you?
MW: I am starting to tour, and looking forward to seeing the U.S. on my journey. I am also interested in the next -gen VR style streaming and plan to give technology like WaveXr a try to connect better with my community.
Bridge: Can we see you perform live anywhere?
MW: I have my first Showcase at SXSW (unofficial) @OasisTexasBrewery this Sunday, and an album release show 3/25 in Houston @Scotty’s Saloon. More tour dates can be found on my website www.markwintersmusic.com
