ABOUT

Mark Rae is a world renowned, platinum selling songwriter, record label founder and celebrated author. Having started his journey as a DJ in Newcastle, Mark went on to become an integral part of Manchester’s music scene in the 90’s and 00’s, scoring chart hits along the way. Mark has accumulated over 50 million streams on Spotify and has worked with some of the biggest names in music, from Bobby Womack, Texas, Jay Z, Foster The People, The Pharcyde and many more in a career spanning 30 years.

His literary adventure began in 2015, with the autobiography, Northern Sulphuric Soulboy. The book charted Mark’s journey in the music industry, culminating in one of the UK’s most loved independent labels, Grand Central Records. This was followed by the novel The Caterpillar Club, which was chosen as pick of the week on BBC Radio 4 after an insightful interview, with Chris Hawkins on Radio 6, went viral. 

Mark is back with his new project, New Town Ghosts, which sees the continuation of the novel with a soundtrack concept. This time the book is accompanied with 10 songs, featuring lyrics that represent the narrative journey of the book. Over 40 musicians contributed to the project which was recorded live over a period of three years. Live horns, strings, a choir and a four-part harmony structure sees the summer of 1976 jump back to life through the eyes of young boys who desperately want to get a skateboard but end up falling deep into the bowels of the earth. The songs are designed to feel like the music that played on portable radios in garages and gardens during a summer that was once regarded as the hottest on record. Reservoirs run dry and swarms of ladybirds gather round the cracks in the ground. Will they get out alive? Think Kes meets Stand By Me. Get ready for and exciting ride!