A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a press conference with 1824 featuring Marcus King and ask him a few questions. We discussed his latest album, "Mood Swings," and the themes and inspirations behind it. After listening to the album several times, I am continually impressed by its raw and cathartic approach to addressing mental health challenges. Throughout the press conference, Marcus shared insights into his creative process, influenced by personal struggles and the guidance of renowned producer Rick Rubin. He emphasized the importance of channeling difficult experiences into creativity, valuing authenticity over audience expectations.

One fascinating aspect was his experience working with Rick Rubin. To me, Rick Rubin feels almost like a mystical figure, often spoken about but still largely enigmatic. Marcus explained that Rick takes a detached, philosophical approach to producing a record. He didn't feel "pushed" but rather inspired to delve deeper into himself. He began blending the transcendental aspects of meditation with his writing, embracing vulnerability and allowing others to see that side of him. This explanation unlocked a deeper understanding of the beautiful lyrics on this project. When asked about what drives his creative spirit, Marcus admitted that it's hard to pin down to one genre. He noted that he is influenced by many styles and people, and his description of his music changes with his mood—sometimes rock and roll, sometimes soul, sometimes country. Ultimately, he doesn't feel pressured to categorize his music because listeners do that themselves.

I had two personal questions for Marcus. First, I asked about the lyrics on the album and their resonance with people dealing with mental health issues. Specifically, I found the song "This Far Gone" very moving, especially the line “Guess I have a heart worth breaking.” I wanted to know if this line came from a place of anger, self-sabotage, or something else. Marcus shared a story about experiencing writer's block and feeling creatively stifled. His engineer, Jason, suggested bringing in Tobias, a talented but eccentric songwriter. Tobias's high energy contrasted with Marcus's more reserved nature, pushing Marcus to match his intensity. The song they wrote was from the perspective of someone heartbroken, even though Marcus was still in a relationship at the time, making him feel almost guilty. He said that a lack of self-security ultimately inspired the song.

My second question was whether he found it difficult to translate his mental health issues onto paper. Marcus said that Rick's unexpected reaction made the process easier. When he presented "Mood Swings" and "Bipolar Love," he expected Rick to question their content. Instead, Rick encouraged him to pursue this direction, writing more open, honest, and vulnerable songs. This approach was very healing for Marcus, as he usually wrote more metaphorically and indirectly. Stripping away the metaphors and speaking plainly was incredibly therapeutic for him and resonated with listeners, including myself.

Now for my personal opinion of the album. I, like a lot of other fans, was definitely surprised by this album. I know I am not alone in saying that I expected an endless slew of insane guitar riffs and vocals reminiscent of a Southern Jam band. This album strays from that, in no doubt because of his opportunity to work with Rick Rubin. The title track of "Mood Swings" exemplifies this shift with its soft rhythm and understated guitars, showcasing King’s intimate vocals. The guitar solo is a gentle, late-night touch rather than a bold statement. I think that while this album may disappoint some fans who don’t appreciate an artist’s choice to change and experiment with their sound, I personally really appreciated the lyrics taking center stage for this album. He does an incredible job and putting pain into words and his voice is so soothing and soulful that I felt surprisingly at peace while listening to such devastation. I would rate this album a solid 8.5/10.