Country rock singer Cory Marks has wasted no time in setting himself up for a huge year in 2024 as he has already released a new track - A Different Kind of Year - and is also out on tour with fellow Canadians Matt Lang and Aaron Pritchett. We caught up with the Ontario native while he was out on the road on the Liquored Up tour to find out more about how the tour was going and his new single
Hey Cory, how are you? Hey, I’m good, we’ve just finished soundcheck here.
You are currently out on the Liquored-Up tour and it’s Edmonton tonight. Yeah. It’s cold but sunny.
It must be a nice time of year though to be travelling though Alberta and British Columbia on a tour bus? It’s better doing it in a tour bus than my mum’s mini van I can tell you that! I’ve done it twice across Canada, so a lot of great memories but a lot of sore backs!
Edmonton is the 8th stop on the tour, how have the first few shows been? It’s been amazing. It’s what I live for – being on that stage. We are out here with a great group of guys in Matt Lang and Aaron Pritchett, plus his whole band are making it a lot of fun so far and the crowd is eating it up each night. There’ not a show like this one in Canada right now, especially not in the country market.
We spoke with Matt just before the tour and he was saying how he was looking forward to the fact that all three of you would be bringing your own fan base to the shows and it would be an opportunity for each you in turn to introduce yourselves to new fans. Are you seeing that already even this early in the tour? I really am. I also feel that we are having so much fun on that stage that it’s like a brotherhood and everyone comes together. There's no headliner and it’s one big show and we are having a blast doing it. Every show there have been fans who weren’t aware of who I was or my music and they definitely know by the end of it!
Of the three of you, you are the most leaning towards the rock genre. I’m the rebel!
How have you decided your set-list with it being an opportunity to introduce yourself as well as keeping your fan happy? We’ve just put out A Different Kind of Year so that has been fun to play and is more along the country side of what I do, songs like Drive is not as heavy and we open up with Devils Grin which is a bit of an intro of what you’re going to get with me. You’ve got to play Blame It On The Double and Outlaws and Outsiders which are definitely on the heavier side. It’s fun and the crowds are reacting really well.
The Liquored-Up music video was released last month, have the shows just followed on from where that left off? Pretty much! The tour title speaks for itself, and so does the song!
Are there any specific shows you are looking forward to when you hit so many parts of Canada? Maybe the ones closer to home like Barrie as I know my family and girlfriend are going to be there, but I’m just feeling lucky to get to cross Canada and go coast to coast from BC to Nova Scotia. I’m looking forward to every date with this group.
Will it be nice to catch up with family after the few weeks away? It’s always nice to come back home, as much as I want to leave after being at home for a bit as this is what I want to do. I need to be playing live and have that interaction with people and be with my band. I remember sitting on the couch with my date one day through Covid watching a hockey game. we were talking about wanting to be on the road and missing the road, when he says you know the moment you are on the road you are going to be wishing you’re siting here on the couch with me! It goes both ways.
Talking of your family, your brother actually played ice hockey over here and will be one of the few Canadians who know my hometown of Guildford as he would’ve played there. He did. He played in Sheffield and Coventry. He played between the AHL and East Coast League here, as well as a stint in Germany before the UK.
Is this going to be the year a Canadian team finally regain the Stanley Cup? I know Vancouver is stacking up. I’m a Leafs fan but one can only hope – we will see what happens!
As your new song says, It’s A Different Kind of Year so maybe this could be it! Haha maybe!
With the new song out, how good is it to make that plunge and release so quick into the new year? It’s always great, especially with such a positive message from the song. It’s an upbeat song for country fans and is meant to put out those vibes and I want it to put a smile on peoples faces as they listen and sing along to it. It’s to give hope to a new year and set some goals.
It’s had plenty of radio plays at home for you, but also in Australia. Is it good to see your music travel so far? It’s been a while since with had a song out to ready over there and hopefully I get my first country hit over there.
You had a relatively quiet year last year, with just the release of Snowbirds in July. How much did that track mean to you as that could’ve been your career? Yeah, it’s a dedication to the men and women of the arm forces. The UK has the Red Arrows, and the Snowbirds is our version and represent our country and all the men and women who fight for our freedom. It’s a dedication to them as I’ve been a huge fan since I was a kid and that what I planned on doing – being a fighter pilot and one day a Snowbird. Music kind of took over so I just wrote about them instead!
Do you look back on the days that you did at the Military College? It’s one of those what’s meant to be is meant to be scenarios. I really enjoyed my time there and do reminisce on the what if and imagine what would’ve been and where I would be, but I’m here now so enjoying this ride.
With these releases do you compare back to the release and success of Who I am? This whole new record that will come later this year is everything from Merle, Eric Church, Ozzy Osborne. It’s one extreme to the other and I’m really excited by the project, and I don’t think there is anything like it out there. It’s going to be a fun and unique record.
I heard that the hit track from that record Outlaws and Outsiders has just gone platinum for you. Yeah, platinum here in Canada and gold in the US. That’s a huge milestone for me and proof that the son is obviously relevant, and people are loving it. That’s what it’s all about – connecting with people and hoping they like what you put out.
Does getting those gold and platinum discs spur you on a little bit for this year? Absolutely. Once you get one you want to bring on the others.
You’re going to have to start find a wall! That’s the plan! Get a few more of those and you can buy a bigger house with a bigger wall!
Hopefully we can get you over here at some point to add to the list of Canadians we’ve welcomed. That’s been a goal of mine since 2020 as the UK shows so much support for me and my music. A lot of my comments and tags come from over there and even deliver a lot of merch from the site there. It’s a huge goal of mine having never seen that part of the world. I love the people; I love the culture; and I can’t wait to make my way over.
Matt was over in 2022 so go get some tips! Absolutely!
Thanks so much for your time and enjoy the show tonight. It sounds like it’s one people shouldn’t be missing across Canada. It’s smashing! It’s a lot of fun. From start to finish it’s high energy, high octane fun. We even do a crowd favourite in the middle of the set with an acoustic cover of some of our favourite songs. It’s nonstop for 2 hours! Plus, you get liquored up while you’re doing it – you have to follow what you’re preaching! Thanks so much. Thanks so much, I hope to come over there soon and crush a few pints!