Exclusive interview with Marc Marut from "Cool Ass" band

Marc’s new single “Fuck You COVID-19” was released June 19, 2020. “Oh my God, I was all set to record  material I had written a while ago, and then this COVID-19 shit hit us,” he shrugs. “The whole world is affected. I was so frustrated… schools and businesses were closed, and even going grocery shopping became nerve wracking. Every time I turned on the news more and more people were suffering, and we all had to self-isolate to protect each other which was really hard. So as I’m stuck at home, wallowing in my own misery, of course a song pops into my head,” he laughs. “It was such a catchy tune and was so relevant to how so many people were feeling, that I had to put all my other plans on pause and record this song instead,” he explains. “Everybody loves it, it’s a really rockin’ tune! It has high energy, a great beat, fuzzy rock guitars and even features a brass section. People from all over the world rock out to it in the music video. And of course, the lyrics are pretty funny too.”

Today we interviewed Marc about his single and his Top 10 albums that drastically influenced his songwriting style.

S!: Hello, Marc, how are you today?

MM: I'm great! Really excited to be here, thanks for having me.

S!: You’ve just released the new single “Fuck you COVID-19”. Such a brilliant idea to bring people from all over the world to be together despite everything that is happening! Whose idea was it?

MM: It was my idea. I started thinking about what type of video would go well with the song, and then realised how hard it would be to get a crew together, given all the COVID-19 restrictions. That's when it hit me, we could do it remotely and still all come together despite being isolated! It's a perfect fit for the song.

S!: Was it difficult to coordinate with everyone to get the video to happen?

MM: Some people just sent in fully edited footage, no questions asked. I reached out to some others, and a lot were very enthusiastic about taking part. Over all it did take a reasonable amount of coordinating on my end, but that's to be expected given the scope of the project.

S!: Despite creating really productive music, how did the COVID pandemic affect your life?

MM: I haven't left the house in four months! Thank God I can get everything delivered. I sanitize everything as it arrives on my doorstep, and it feels like forever since I've seen my friends in person. Fortunately it's given me lots of quality time with my son, and we have a lot of fun together.

S!: Was it hard for you to stay in self isolation?

MM: Of course it's tough, people need to interact with each other! That's why using technology to keep in touch is so important. Video chatting and talking on the phone are the next best thing, but it's not the same.

S!: What lessons have you learned from this?

MM: That we're tougher than we think. People have made it through worse times than this, and I can only imagine what it was like living through a World War. We're capable of doing incredible things when we put our mind to it.

S!: All the festivals are cancelled or postponed worldwide… What are your thoughts of the impact of COVID-19 to the whole music industry? When do you think the concerts will come back to normal?

MM: It's devastating. Streaming revenue isn't very much for most artists, so they rely heavily on live shows. I'm not even sure many concert halls will survive this pandemic... I don't think it'll get back to normal until the virus goes away.

S!: How has the global situation affected your concerts?

MM: I'm doing everything in the studio right now, so luckily it hasn't affected me too much.

S!: Did you get some home setup for recording while we are stuck inside?

MM: Yeah, I recorded and mixed everything at home. The technology nowadays is amazing! It blows my mind what you can do with a decent microphone, some instruments, and a computer with the right software. All you need is the proper skill.

S!: What are your nearest music plans, although it is so tough to plan now!

MM: Things are very uncertain for sure! I plan on recording and releasing more singles, and I'd also love to have music pressed onto vinyl. I love vinyl records, and I think it's a lot more  special than CDs or streaming.

Grab your copy of  Splash! #15 and read the full interview here.

For more cool stuff follow Marc: coolass.tv

Youtube: Cool Ass TV

Or reach out on social media:  

Facebook: Cool Ass @coolassmarc

Instagram: @coolassmarc @coolassmarc

Fuck You COVID-19 Video: https://youtu.be/3khv2SKFtF4

S.O.B. (Song Of a Bitch) Video: https://youtu.be/27ToutwJrxU