Our friends from In Time podcast, Ameer Khan & Joe Marlow, discuss the creative process, techniques, and culture in music production. They have graced Soundbrenner's blog with written versions of their insightful interview sessions with respected musicians such as Mark Holcomb, Adam Neely, and DOMi & JD Beck.
Meet Mark Lettieri
In this episode, Mark Lettieri, known for his work with jazz group Snarky Puppy, joined the In Time hosts. He is a guitarist, composer, producer, and instructor based in Fort Worth, Texas. Mark is also recognized for his collaborations with The Fearless Flyers, Cory Wong, Joe Dart, and Erykah Badu. He has even worked with comedians like Dave Chappelle.
His recent recordings include tracks by David Crosby, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Adam Levine, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Tori Kelly, Ledisi, Tamela Mann, Eric Roberson, Lecrae, Lupe Fiasco, Keyshia Cole, and Xzibit, as well as numerous radio and television jingles.
We started our conversation lightly, discussing the current music we were listening to, Mark Lettieri's work with Snarky Puppy, how the lockdown was going (the podcast was recorded in April 2020), and the philosophy behind songwriting. As the conversation progressed, we delved deeper into musical discussions.
Finding your sound
On the topic of finding your sound as a musician, Mark shared this insight:
“Well, I’m still trying to totally figure that out. I definitely hear a lot of my influences in my own playing and songwriting. I think it’s a matter of maintaining a level of honesty with yourself.”
“You have to ask yourself the question: ‘What I’m doing right now. The playing, the writing...is there enough of me in this and not somebody else?”
Songwriting philosophy
Songwriting philosophy varies from musician to musician. Mark Lettieri provided insight into his approach, aspirations for originality, and what draws him to other people's music.
He emphasized a practice philosophy that reflects your inspiration without completely emulating it. He noted:
“The other thing for me, I noticed...any time I would transcribe parts, solos, or whatever. I might learn something note for note, and then I would forget it. Then just do my own thing.”
“You’ve taken it in, you’ve soaked in what’s important about it, then you let it go.”
This reinforces the idea that Mark Lettieri's influence should be in your subconscious rather than in active focus. Your own playing should be the dominant force, incorporating inflections from the musicians who inspire you.
Mark left us pondering with his final thought before he went on to enjoy his morning bacon:
“Here’s a good question, if your favorite guitar player asked you to come sit in with them tomorrow. Could you play and have a musical conversation with them without sounding like them?”
While many musicians dream of playing with their heroes, it is essential to consider whether we can engage musically without sounding like a carbon copy of them.
Thank you for reading this excerpt of the episode. Mark Lettieri is essentially our starting point for this season’s podcast. He helped us achieve great success by responding to a spontaneous Instagram message we sent on a whim.
Follow @InTimeUK for all clips and episode information. Full episodes (and mirror links) are available on In Time Podcast. You can listen to them on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music.
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