Inspired by David Bowie’s use of the “cut-up” technique for writing lyrics, McGettrick thought it would be fun to test the method on Shakespeare’s words and characters. His “cut-up” process was as follows: Select the character, Isolate their lines, Randomize their lines, Curate into new lyrics, and Compose an original melody. The songs were originally conceived as an acoustic project for the February 2016 RPM Challenge, but he quickly realized they needed the weighty production of a full band.

Completely self-composed and produced, Mark proudly performs guitar, bass VI, bass, percussion, and vocals throughout the How Goes The Night? EP. It also features musical collaborations with New York, Boston, and LA artists Carrie Ingber, Rob Sistare, Matt Diekmann, and Jason Dunn.

In this interview spotlight, we chat with Mark of The William Shakes about influences, navigating the digital music world, the newest project and more.

Full Q&A along with links and streams can be found below.

Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)

The William Shakes is based out of eastern Massachusetts, although some of my musical collaborators are located in New York and LA. I would describe our music as Indie-pop meets Shakespearean magnetic poetry! Each song is an original composition, but the lyrical content is based entirely on the words spoken by a Shakespearean character. I use these words and phrases like a “word bank”, and construct a new lyric based on this. The music is most heavily influenced by post-punk and 80s college radio “alternative” (and bands influenced by the same).

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?

For the past few years I had been considering writing a musical based on a Shakespeare play, but it always felt like too big a task. In parallel, I was mulling over the idea of recording an album for the RPM Challenge. During that time I watched a documentary on David Bowie that mentioned how he sometimes would use the “cut-up” technique for writing lyrics. I immediately thought it would be fun to use Shakespeare’s words and characters as the lyrical content for a new music project. I chose the text of five Shakespearean characters: Banquo (MacBeth), Helena (All’s Well That Ends Well), Horatio (Hamlet), Cordelia (King Lear), and Cassius (Julius Caesar), and created songs from each. After demoing the songs and feeling excited about the results, I brought in some of my favorite musical collaborators to create the final version of the EP.

In terms of motivation, I think that comes in two parts. First, I write music that I want to listen to… and I’m always looking for new music – so that is probably the prime motivating factor. Second, I’m motivated by positive feedback. When others enjoy my music that energizes me to keep putting in the effort to create new songs.

How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?

This is the first release for The William Shakes. I am very excited about the initial response and just began working on a second batch of songs. I think the main goal I was trying to accomplish was just making the concept work. I’ve seen plenty of people’s faces turn pale when I describe a band whose lyrics are all generated from the words of Shakespeare’s characters… but then I put on a track and the color comes back and they smile.

Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?

I’ve been in the music scene for a while now… these days I think its important to set aside the dream of being a platinum-selling millionaire rock star, that archetype from days past. Almost no one ever achieved that… we’re talking about probably less people that have played professional sports. If you can square yourself with that reality and you are still driven to create, then you’re doing it for the right reasons and its actually a fantastic time to be making music!

These days it’s so much easier to make an independent release of the highest quality without breaking the bank. On the subject of recording technology, when you are recording something yourself you can take the time to get the sounds right from the start. Move the microphones around, try different preamps, spend that extra hour tuning the snare drum. You’re not watching the clock and saying “good enough” on a take because you’ve only got a few hours left in your session. In terms of technology for getting your music manufactured, distributed, and heard – I think there might not have been a better time to be doing indie music than now. If you need physical media and merch, throw your designs into a website they’ll ship it to your door. Digital Distribution? A couple clicks and your music is everywhere! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think getting your music heard is any easier, but the barriers to getting your music ‘ready to be heard’… those barriers have been lowered considerably, thanks in large part to technology.

Where can we follow you online and hear more music?

thewilliamshakes.com is a good jumping off point…

We of course have facebook and twitter pages. We’re also on bandcamp and soundcloud.

The ‘How Goes The Night?’ EP will be available for digital streaming and purchase on all major outlets on Feb 10th. (Amazon, Apple Music, Google Play, Spotify, Pandora, etc)

Anything else before we sign off?

I’m currently editing the music video for the second single off the How Goes The Night? EP, ‘Leaden Messengers’. That should be ready in just a few weeks!

Thanks for featuring our music! Don’t worry about the Shakespeare part at first! Just click play! Every once and a while you’ll hear something like “now cracks a noble heart” and go “Oh riiiight, Shakespeare… I get it!”.