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LADIES AND GENTLEMAN GUESS WHO IS BACK? COURSE OF NATURE HAS
RE-EMERGED AFTER A 4 YEAR ABSENCE TO PICK UP WHERE THEY ONCE LEFT
OFF. THERE FIRST ALBUM HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS WITH SONGS FEATURED ON
HIT TELEVISION SHOWS SUCH AS SMALLVILLE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL CREDITS
ON YOUR FAVORITE VIDEO GAMES. YOU CAN BLAME A POOR RECORD LABEL FOR
THIS GROUP LAYING DORMANT FOR YEARS, BUT FORTUNATELY FOR THERE
FANS AND THE MUSIC WORLD ALIKE THEY FOUND THEMSELVES A NEW LABEL
THAT IS WILLING TO SUPPORT THEM AS THEY DO WHAT THEY DO BEST; MAKE HIT
SONGS AND TEAR IT UP ON TOUR. WE HAD THE CHANCE TO INTERVIEW FRONT
MAN MARK WILKERSON WHOM YOU MAY KNOW AS THE HUSBAND TO MELISA
JOAN HART. HOWEVER YOU WILL READ NOTHING ABOUT HER IN THIS INTERVIEW
AS WE STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT. WE TOUCH BASE ON RECORD
LABELS, MAKING MUSIC AND WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THE FANS OF COURSE OF
NATURE! BE SURE TO PICK UP THERE NEW ALBUM WHICH WILL HIT STORES
SOON!
RE-EMERGED AFTER A 4 YEAR ABSENCE TO PICK UP WHERE THEY ONCE LEFT
OFF. THERE FIRST ALBUM HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS WITH SONGS FEATURED ON
HIT TELEVISION SHOWS SUCH AS SMALLVILLE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL CREDITS
ON YOUR FAVORITE VIDEO GAMES. YOU CAN BLAME A POOR RECORD LABEL FOR
THIS GROUP LAYING DORMANT FOR YEARS, BUT FORTUNATELY FOR THERE
FANS AND THE MUSIC WORLD ALIKE THEY FOUND THEMSELVES A NEW LABEL
THAT IS WILLING TO SUPPORT THEM AS THEY DO WHAT THEY DO BEST; MAKE HIT
SONGS AND TEAR IT UP ON TOUR. WE HAD THE CHANCE TO INTERVIEW FRONT
MAN MARK WILKERSON WHOM YOU MAY KNOW AS THE HUSBAND TO MELISA
JOAN HART. HOWEVER YOU WILL READ NOTHING ABOUT HER IN THIS INTERVIEW
AS WE STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT. WE TOUCH BASE ON RECORD
LABELS, MAKING MUSIC AND WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THE FANS OF COURSE OF
NATURE! BE SURE TO PICK UP THERE NEW ALBUM WHICH WILL HIT STORES
SOON!
M4M: LET'S START FROM THE BEGINNING. YOU WERE ORIGINALLY A COVER BAND RIGHT?
MARK: We started out as a cover band in the southeast and we would play to the drunken masses at the same venue
for usually 5 nights straight.
M4M: CAN YOU TAKE US BACK TO HOW YOU BECAME KNOWN NATIONALLY?
MARK: During our cover band days, we began demoing original songs at Ardent Studios in Memphis TN. We would play
for a few weeks and then record. We recorded what would become our first single off our first record; Superkala, Caught
in the Sun. We sent it out to hundreds of radio stations nationwide and began getting in a good rotation at a few.
That's how we popped up on the radar and began getting major label interest.
M4M: SO WHEN YOU WENT INTO THE STUDIO THE FIRST TIME YOU CONSIDERED THE NAME "PULL". WHAT
INFLUENCED YOU TO HEAD TOWARDS YOUR CURRENT NAME "COURSE OF NATURE"?
MARK: A lack of options. We had one day to come up with a new name, take pictures and name the record. The name
is from a song title of a song that did not make the record. Pull was more or less a joke. Free advertisement at every
door.
M4M: THE DEBUT ALBUM "SUPERKALA" HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD SUCCESS? WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO SEE SONGS
FEATURED ON "SMALLVILLE" AND A FEW VIDEO GAMES?
MARK: It's great. Having your music on TV and video games is a huge marketing tool. People here songs and
associate them with their favorite shows and games and it helps there decision to buy.
M4M: YOU ALSO HAD GREAT SUCCESS ON THE ROAD IN SUPPORT OF THAT ALBUM! WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE
ON A MAJOR TOUR FOR THE FIRST TIME?
MARK: Overwhelming at times. We went from playing 300 person clubs to 15-20,000 person arenas with no transition
stage. We got use to it pretty quick. It's awesome!
M4M: NOW YOU WERE SIGNED TO ATLANTIC RECORDS. OVER THE YEARS
WE SEEM TO SEE A TREND WITH ATLANTIC RECORDS AND A LOT OF
BANDS LEAVING. DO SEEM TO GET THAT SENSE AS WELL?
MARK: Yeah. Pretty much everyone dislikes them. They are just not on top of
their game. Especially when we were there, no one was guiding the ship. It was
a free for all with no vision.
M4M: SO NOW 4 YEARS LATER YOUR BACK! THAT HAS TO FEEL PRETTY
GOOD? WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING DORMANT FOR SO LONG?
MARK: You begin to wonder if your career as a musician is over. There were times when nothing was going right and
every road was a dead end. But perseverance and determination go a long way.
M4M: YOU RECENTLY SIGNED ONTO SILENT MAJORITY GROUP. HOW HAS THAT TRANSITION BEEN?
MARK: Labels are labels are labels. But this one has a different feel. I hope it is a long lasting relationship.
M4M: YOUR NEW ALBUM "DAMAGED" RELEASING ON JANUARY 29TH. SEEMS TO HAVE A DIFFERENT FEEL THEN
THE FIRST ALBUM. MAYBE A BIT HARDER. ARE YOU TRYING TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WITH YOUR
MUSIC?
MARK: Not really. I just think times are different and 5 years is a long time. I think our music has evolved.
M4M: THE NEW SINGLE "ANGER CAGE" IS OUT ON THE RADIO NOW RIGHT?
HOW HAS THAT BEEN GOING?
MARK: Still moving up so that is good. But now the record is coming out and that
is when the real tests begin.
M4M: RUMOUR HAS IT THAT A TOUR WITH BREAKING BENJAMIN MAY BE
HAPPENING, ANY TRUTH TO THAT?
MARK: No. It was going to happen but my wife and I are expecting our second
child at the beginning of March and the tour doesn't start until the end of February. Bad timing.
M4M: WHAT IS THE IDEAL GOAL FOR "COURSE OF NATURE" IN THE FUTURE?
MARK: Sell a couple million records and tour for 2 years. Then do it all over again.
M4M: DO YOU FIND THAT YOUR TRUE FANS HAVE STUCK AROUND AND WAITED FOR THE NEW RELEASE?
MARK: That is yet to be seen. When the record comes out you will find out.
M4M: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO THE FANS THAT WAITED SO LONG FOR A GREAT GROUP TO
RE-ENTER INTO THE MUSIC SCENE?
MARK: Thanks for waiting and if you liked Superkala, your gonna love Damaged!
M4M: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME AND CONGRATULATIONS ON A NEW BIRTH SOON, A NEW LABEL, NEW
ALBUM, AND NEW BEGINNINGS. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT ELSE DEVELOPS AND WISH YOU GREAT SUCCESS
ON EVERYTHING WHETHER MUSICAL OR PERSONAL!
COURSE OF NATURE ON MYSPACE
ALL CONTENT PROPERTY OF MOUTH4MUSIC. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COURSE OF NATURE. NOT FOR REPRODUCTION
Interview by: Joshua Koloski
Edited by: Joshua Koloski