Photo: Anna Guerrero
Following on from a breadth of bold and enticing releases over the last few years, Texas-based singer and songwriter Mark DiLillo aka Welsh Avenue has now returned with his powerful new single 'Come Back Home'.
Bringing back more of that bold and driven piano-led sound he has cultivated for himself, 'Come Back Home' delivers a wonderfully warm and inviting listen from start to finish. With his passionate voice riding a wave of breezy production, this one looks to sweep you off your feet throughout.
So with the new single available now, we sat down with Welsh Avenue to find out more about his background and influences over the years.
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What was the first band or artist you fell in love with?
When I was a child, it was probably John Denver. My dad would play his records on Saturday mornings while I was growing up while doing family activities. His sound was a household staple. When I got older and started writing, Twin Shadow (George Lewis Jr.) was a huge influence. I listened to his debut album ‘Forget’ over and over and over.
Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like?
I formed a band in college with my roommate called Lunar Caustic. That was a lot of fun and he showed me a lot about recording in Ableton. It was a fun, light-hearted pop project, drenched in reverb, like a mix between Passion Pit and any chillwave artist.
What has been your primary inspiration in writing music?
My inspiration for writing music is to inspire other people. My job as an artist is to stand at the edge of human knowledge and investigate the unknown and translate what I can glean, through poetry and musical patterns, into something digestible and appreciable. The listener can learn from these principles and hopefully gain hope while riding out the storms of life.
What is a song you wish you had written yourself?
That’s a tough one. The first one that comes to mind is “That’s Not Me” by The Beach Boys. It really captures the spirit of going out into the world of the unknown and following the call to adventure as an artist, while trying to be true to oneself. Musically, it is fantastic, with smooth transitions between sections, and the instruments make the listener feel like a free-floating wanderer.
If there was any moment in your career you could relive, what would it be?
I’m not sure if there’s any moment in particular that stands out, but I have definitely played a lot of fun shows with a great that I would do over again. If I could change some things, I would have written more classical piano solos when I was younger, and focused more on regional touring rather than mainly one city.
Which artist would you most love to share a stage with?
I would love to share a stage with Toro y Moi. He has been an influence of mine for years, as a musical pioneer and as a multi-genre composer. I once saw three of their shows during one SXSW and every show was stellar.
And is there an artist you would love to collaborate with as well?
I’ve always wanted to work with Kanye West, as he has worked with many artists from varying genres and created great art with them. I would also love to work with James Blake, a fellow pianist and baritone, I really love the beats he makes. Twin Shadow would also be a cool collaboration, as he made my favourite album.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Hopefully I will have a debut full-length out and possibly a couple more by then. I’ve got lots of material that just needs some studio time. I would like to do more touring while I’m still young, with at least one tour through Europe. Beyond that I would like to write a book of poetry, and have a more advanced home studio, beyond the small one that I have now. If I can get to that, then maybe I can start my own label.
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Welsh Avenue's new single 'Come Back Home' is available to stream now. Watch the new video for it below.
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