Mark McGuinn Album: Mark McGuinn, in stores May 8 Singles: “Mrs. Steven Rudy” Label: VFR Records The Road To Nashville: I moved to Nashville six years ago from Greensboro, N.C. with my friend and banjo player, Bill Davidson. We had just finished college and were playing music and writing songs in Bill’s mom’s store at night. One day we just decided to move to Nashville to make it as songwriters. Looking back, those songs were just horrible, but at that time we thought they were great! My first few years here were spent networking, writing songs, and struggling. Eventually, I was fortunate enough to get a writing deal with Ken Levitan at Crossfire. When the company was purchased by Almo Irving, I decided to leave and I ended up at Electric Mule, which was in turn purchased by Warner Chappell. The Real Deal: I had just started thinking about pursuing a record deal and was cutting a lot of demos with a guitar player named Troy Lancaster. Troy liked what I was doing, so he took my five-song CD to play for Harold Shedd and Paul Lucks at VFR. They scheduled a meeting with me and the minute I walked in, I noticed the name of their entertainment company was “Spark.” I couldn’t believe it! Ever since I moved here my nickname has been Spark. I thought, “Wow…they really want me here. They named their company after me!” It was just a coincidence, but I knew it was the right place for me. I love working with everyone there. On Songwriting: Everyone develops their own style of songwriting as they go. You learn all the rules so you can then learn to break them! There's a natural flow to my writing, but some songs come easier than others. Some take an hour, some take years. I’ve learned not to force a song. If it’s not working, put it aside. It’ll happen when it’s supposed to. I’m fortunate to have a small group of co-writers that I’m very comfortable with, who have come up through the songwriting ranks with me. Recently, though, I have started writing more by myself. I just got my first outside cut on LoneStar’s new record. It’s called “Unusually Unusual” and I’m really proud of it. It’s funny how it all happens at once—my first cut happens while I'm having my first success as an artist. Ultimate Co-Writing Partner: I’d love to write with Willie Nelson. He is an unbelievable songwriter. It doesn't get any better than Willie. Currently In The Walkman: I love Vern Gosdin’s Unplugged album. I love those hillbilly harmonies. I am also listening to Sting, Al Green, and some classical music. Previous Gigs: Before I moved to Nashville I was a semi-pro soccer player with the Greensboro Dynamo. I definitely had aspirations there, but I sustained an injury. For whatever reason, I just never got back into it. I think that’s when music just took over. I also remember one really bad construction job. Bill [Davidson] and I were working together, and my job was to continually fill up a wheelbarrow with dirt and haul it from one place to another. Bill’s job was to dig trenches with a pick-ax. One day I remember getting more and more mad thinking that Bill has the easier job. We started arguing over who had the worst job and then we just started laughing at the thought that we were actually fighting over this. Who Is “Mrs. Steven Rudy”? Most guys will tell you there is a Mrs. Steven Rudy in their neighborhood. I got the idea from a late-night movie where a bunch of young guys are all watching this good-looking lady in her yard when her husband comes home. He's a midget and he treats her really bad! I just thought the whole thing was so funny. Later, I got together with my friend and co-producer Shane Decker, and we wrote the song. I felt like I was 12 or 13 years old writing that song, it’s so light-hearted and fun. Where Were You The First Time You Heard Your Single On The Radio? I was sitting on the couch with my girlfriend Stacy. We were just hanging out and she turned the radio on. There it was, on WSM. It was completely surreal and very weird…but also very appropriate. I'm glad I was there with her.