Mark Allender
My name is Mark Allender and I am a string player , composer, and percussionist. My primary love is bowed strings and I like to use them in a variety of contexts. On a secondary level, I am very interested in the relationship between art and language and much of my work explores this subject.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
I have been playing double bass since I was nine years old, which is interesting because I was also the shortest kid in school. By age 18, I had developed a passionate, obsessive love for the sound of a bow on a string, prompted primarily by David Cross's work with King Crimson. From that point forward, I primarily played my bass with a bow in every band I played in.
In the summer of 1994, I had the pleasure of playing in an experimental trio called PUNT which opened up a whole new world for me in terms of what was possible. AFter PUNT, I joined a local inter-cultural ensemble called Pointless Orchestra and played with them for eleven years.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
I have generally not played live as a solo artist, but have been a member of many bands over the years.
Your musical influences
Godspeed You Black Emperor, My Invisible, Ethel, Steve Reich
What equipment do you use?
double bass, cello, violin w/ Fishman pickups.
