For the last 20 years, Baltimore-based musician Mark Davison has dedicated his career to standing out as one of the most prolific artists in the rock scene. Davison initially began his journey as one-half of the founding duo of Cubic Feet, and the group’s success allowed them to tour nationally.
Eventually, he moved on from Cubic Feet to spearhead his latest project, Nuke The Soup. The group has released two albums since its founding: Make Waves Not War in 2009, and Deeper in 2018. Davison has shared that the band is working on a new album to be released in 2025.
“Bugs” was originally released as a track on the band’s 2018 album Deeper. On its surface, “Bugs” is a fun, energetic dance song that makes listeners want to sway their heads in response. But like most of the other tracks on Deeper, the lyrics of “Bugs” reveal much darker and personal themes.
The lyric video for “Bugs” coincidentally coincides with the 2024 emergence of cicadas throughout the southern and midwestern United States. The video shares the same stark contrast of tones revealed in the song; the lyrics are displayed in bright colors and enter with wacky transitions, all superimposed against close-up shots of the noisy insects.
Tattoo.com caught up with Mark Davison to talk about the inspiration behind “Bugs,” and the gear he uses.
How would you describe your own music?
I like to think that we’re melodic alternative rock. We seem to fit in best with AAA radio – commercial and non-commercial Adult Alternative Airplay.
Can you share the inspiration behind “Bugs,” and the creative process involved in bringing it to life?
I was originally motivated by seeing the movie adaptation of the William Burroughs novel, ‘The Naked Lunch.’ That’s where I picked up the term “bug powder.” I didn’t finish the song for many years – until after the passing of a friend of mine from addiction. He’s memorialized in the 2nd verse.
“Bugs” is from your album, Deeper. Right now, you’re working on a new album. How has your sound evolved since Deeper?
I think it’s similar, but life has provided some changes, so the new writing is probably a little weightier.
How did you get started in music?
Seemed like the thing to do after college. Played many gigs around the U of Maryland and DC to start off.
Which musicians/singers influenced your sound?
Always loved the Bobs – Marley and Dylan.
Who is in Nuke the Soup and which instruments do they play?
Current line-up is Brian Simms on keys and backup vox, Rennie Grant and Gerry Leonard on guitar, Mike Mennell on bass, John Thomakos on drums, and me on lead vox and some guitar.
What kind of guitar, pedals, and amps are you using?
My main axe is a ’68 Tele with a Dimarzio PreB1 bridge pickup. My favorite amps are a Fender blackface Deluxe and a Fender Tweed Tremolux. I also use a black Takamine acoustic which I sometimes play through a Roland JC 77 with chorus. Have an OCD and some other pedals but use sparingly. Have a Fulltone Tube Tape Echo which sounds amazing. Also, we record on a combination of 24-track analog on an Otari and 24-track Radar Hard Disk.
Now, I do want to ask as well, what’s been the highlight of your career so far? Maybe touring or who you’ve played with, something that’s really stood out.
We’ve always been a little more studio-oriented than touring-focused. That’s given us a chance to play with some great musicians and work with amazing producers. For the last 2 Nuke albums, we worked with drummer Chester Thompson. Chester has played with Genesis, Weather Report, and Zappa, so it was really a thrill to work with him. Gerry Leonard is currently on our roster playing guitar. He was David Bowie’s guitarist and music director for some time, so having him on the team is another highlight. We are also currently working with Kevin Killen as producer. Kevin has a wall of Grammys, so he’s no slouch.
Which do you enjoy the most: writing, recording, practicing, or playing live?
I like the writing, but my favorite part of the process is when we get all the guys in the room and flesh out the parts.
How do you define success?
I would love to say our music was heard by multitudes, but really for me, just completing a project and getting a nod from my peers is enough of a measure of success.
What’s next for you?
We have 6 songs completed towards the next full-length Nuke the Soup album. I have 3 more ready to record and will write 2 more this summer for a total of 11 tracks for the album. They are already some of our best, so I am excited to share them with the world in early 2025.
