Mark Hansen Music - LDS Rock Music - Free Downloads

Mark Hansen Music - LDS Rock Music - Free Downloads
Get the new CD, "The Third Time" HERE




WARNING: Listening to this music doesn't require parental approval. It's a bit of clean rebellion. It keeps your outlook up and your hope alive. It's got strong drums and screaming guitars. It pumps you up and drives your life. It's a hunger for exploration. It chooses the right and returns with honor. It's music you don't have to confess to your bishop.

It's not your parents' "Saturday’s Warrior".

It's "A Joyful Noise"

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

About Mark

"I remember hearing 'Like Unto Us' from the album that the CES put out for the seminary curriculum in High School. I was entranced! I didn’t particularly LIKE it, because what I really liked was rockers like Rush, Yes, Nazareth, and Kansas, but I remember being very excited that someone was doing LDS music--and it wasn’t a hymn!"

He went through various bands in high school and early college days, including a very short stint with a local Christian band called "Asaph", after the psalmist. That gig didn’t last long after the band found out he was Mormon.

"They sat me down and told me that I wouldn’t work out. They loved me and cared for me, though, and were worried about my soul, so they gave me some anti-Mormon books to help me see the light. Obviously, it didn’t work. The nice thing about it, though, was that they also introduced me to the sounds of "Petra" and "Rez Band". I knew that if the mainstream Christian world was making it work, I could do it for the Mormon world."

He then set down the guitar and served a mission in the Honduras, Tegucigalpa mission. All the time, the idea of making LDS rock was taking shape in his mind.

Soon after, Mark moved to Utah, where he met and married his wife, Jodi. In between other jobs, he kept involved in the Salt Lake music and recording industry, making friends and contacts, and slowly acquiring equipment and skills. Finally, in 1993, he released, "A Joyful Noise". The cassette had 10 songs, hand picked.

Then, in early 1999, he launched the "Joyful Noise" website, and began releasing those older recordings at the rate of one song each month. "Some of those were really only demo quality, but it really helped me build a body of work, and start to establish a name. Now, songs don't come as often, but they're much better recorded." They're still available for download for free (click into the MUSIC page for these free LDS music mp3's)!

His first CD release, "One United Generation", was completed in February of 2005. Four years in the making, it contains some of the finest work he'd done to that point. Mark said, "I thought about re-doing some of the old songs, but it just felt better to move forward. The newer tunes were better written, and I was really excited about getting them recorded."

Since then, work continues on new songs. "I finish a new one ever other month or so, and put it out as a single. And you never know from one to the next what it's going to sound like! I like to experiment!

"I like to draw from lots of different styles and blend it all together into an overall classic rock sort of sound. It keeps it all from sounding the same, but still keeps it rockin!"

So, come back often to check out the new tunes.



Come back often to hear about new songs and shows. Mark also has other sites and blogs, including Mark's Black Pot and his MoBoy blog.


"I'd Like to Teach The World to Sing...

...In perfect harmony..."

Today, I managed to get some time aside to cut some harmony vocals. The house was empty and I took advantage! That doesn't happen very often.

So, I cut the backing vocals for "Dancin' Their Lives Away", and "Martyrs". I'm really stoked about those two tunes! We're gonna try and cut the fiddle part on Martyrs this weekend, and Bill's coming over to do some lead guitar next week. I'll bet that at least one of those tunes, if not "Alleluia" will be ready and on the site by the end of October. There could very well be new tunes every month for the rest of the year!

Come back often to hear about new songs and shows. Mark also has other sites and blogs, including Mark's Black Pot and his MoBoy blog.


Monday, September 28, 2009

Recutting Alleluia

So, for a long time, my internet connection was down tonight. After the boys went to sleep, I recut all of the tracks for "Alleluia". The only thing I left was the drums, which will be re-recorded anyway, by someone with more skillz that I gots.

Why did I recut everything? I decided that the track was too low for my voice, so I transposed it. I did it electronically first, so I could be sure that the new key would be in my range. It was, very nicely, and so I set about recutting all of the guitar and bass tracks. I'll have to clean up the timing, but I'm feelin' pretty good that these are keepable tracks. Changing the key also made the big climb in the last verse stronger, because it now starts on a lower note.

This is such a great tune! I could listen to it over and over and over! I know I'm weird that way when it comes to my music. It sometimes feels almost narcisisticccc (or however you spell it). There are two things that keep me from thinking it's so. First of all, I know full well that there will come a time when all I'll be able to hear every time I listen to it are the flaws and I won't want to play it at all. Another is the thought that, ultimately, if I don't like it, why should I expect you to?

Come back often to hear about new songs and shows. Mark also has other sites and blogs, including Mark's Black Pot and his MoBoy blog.


Mark's Other Blog Posts: Dutch Oven Roast Beef, Andy J Rocks the Cookoff!


Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Today and Yesterday

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No matter how hard you try, and how often you repent, it seems, that there are days when you're trapped in the same old dark rut. I hate those days.

Today and Yesterday
By Mark Hansen

It seems today was one of those days again
The sun was out, or maybe skies were gray
I couldn’t tell, my eyes were down ahead of me
The wind blew through me and made me hide my face
These footprints in the snow were made some time ago
When I had lost my way
So here I am stepping through the snow again
Can’t seem to tell today from yesterday
I can’t seem to tell today from yesterday



Yesterday when I came by this way
I swore I’d never take these steps again
The ways is hard, with no direction
The cold and the pain my only friend
But now this path I know is much easier to go
This loop without an end
So here I am walking all alone again
Can’t seem to tell today from yesterday
I can’t seem to tell today from yesterday



I can’t see the sun
I can’t see the one
I can’t find the path away from here
So step by step
And lap by lap
I can’t see the way to breaking clear
So here I am stepping through the snow again
Can’t seem to tell today from yesterday

I can’t seem to tell today from yesterday

Written and performed by Mark Hansen
Produced by Mark Hansen
Drums by Steve Hill

Come back often to hear about new songs and shows. Mark also has other sites and blogs, including Mark's Black Pot and his MoBoy blog.


He's Out There

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This song is a lot of fun. But is has a deeper underlying message about respect and about the priesthood.

But it's still just a fun tune.

He’s Out There
By Mark Hansen

I know a boy
He's kept it clean all of his life
He's saving it up for his wife
'Cause he knows what's right

I know a boy
He doesn't have to be mean or bad
He learned it by watching his dad
Treat his mama right

Chorus:
And the girls say
Where have the good ones gone?

They're out there
They're out there
They're out there
And they're not that hard to find

I know a boy
He likes the girls sweet and pure
Who don't have to dress to allure
They let their own lights shine

I know a boy
Just trying to keep it real
His promise is his deal
And that's his bottom line

Chorus

And you've heard all the names they call him
'Cause he walks a narrow way

He's out there
He's out there
He's out there
He's way way out there
etc... etc...



Written and performed by Mark Hansen
Produced by Mark Hansen and John Newman
Drums by Steve Hill
Backing vocals by Sherri Garrett, Jodi Hansen, John Newman
Recorded by Mark Hansen, Ron Hill, and John Newman
Vocals produced by Sherri Garrett, John Newman
Special thanks to Heather and Eddie Gist


Come back often to hear about new songs and shows. Mark also has other sites and blogs, including Mark's Black Pot and his MoBoy blog.


Shine The Light

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I've always been fascinated by the combination of rock and rap. As far back as Anthrax' "I'm the Man" and the one song by Faith No More (I can't remember the name), I've always thought the sound was cool. Then recently, POD did some more cool stuff.

As I've been looking around the 'net, I've discovered some cool LDS rappers. One of them, Arhythmatik, came by my home one day about a year ago or so for a visit. At the time, I showed him a vague, rough idea I had for a rock/rap tune. I had little more than a guitar riff and a chorus. My idea was that I'd sing the chorus, and he'd rap the verses.

It sat and did nothing for a long time. Then, one day, I just threw down some tracks and sent them off to him, to see if he could get any ideas for the verses. Soon after, he sent me a verse, and it was GREAT! In the process, he encouraged me to write and rap the second verse. I was way out of my comfort zone. But I did it anyway, and I'm kinda pleased with the results!


Shine the Light
By Mark Hansen

Chorus:
Shine the Light
Let the hard man crumble
Shine the Light
Set the captive free
Shine the Light
See the proud ones tumble
Shine the Light
Shine the light on me


Arhythmatik:

Light squared and impaired nightmares
might leave your eyes scared
the brightness will expand your iris
but you got to be the one to open your eyelids
but you'll never see life
sitting in your high chair
but look man--
it's right there!
i refused to be refused
refuted and diluted
misused and polluted
instead i stay rooted in truth
not incongruent like humans
consuming the fumes in
i inhale innovation
and exhale exploration
too legit
too legit to spit wack radio hits
sins talons grip and rip
the balance from your well built palace
let your youthfulness
be usefulness
it's the last days and the masters of sin have waged war
against the fishers of men
that's why i'm here to defend with my tongue
and my pen

Chorus

Mark:

Let me help you see, now,
this is the story, laid out for ya,
this is the work and the glory
To chase the darkness
feel the spark
this lights the fire inside,
shakes down pride
leaves me inspired.
I will not lay me down
On the ground to be found
when the final battle is won
I will sing and shout with the armies of heaven
I’ll be the leaven
I’ll turn it up to eleven
House to house
people stand on their porches
I’m lighting their torches
so everyone will shine and refine
and the city on the hill
cannot be hid from the eyes of men my friend
And I’ll shout it till the end
with my tongue and my pen!

Chorus


Let the hard man crumble
Set the captive free
See the proud ones tumble
Shine the light on me

Hear it calm the rumble
Watch the darkness flee
Lift me when I stumble
Shine the light on me


Written and performed by Mark Hansen and Arhythmatik
Rock Mix Produced by Mark Hansen
News Anchor by Eric Endres

Monday, September 21, 2009

Welcome Back, Bill!

Yesterday was a pretty thrilling day for me. I got together with a great, long-time friend, who just moved back to the Salt Lake Valley.

I first met Bill Dent as I was trying to establish myself as a sound and recording tech in the Salt Lake Valley. I recorded the band he was in on a simple 4-track setup. He and I got along pretty well, but we were pretty much just acquaintences.

Then, we both started working at Dan Whitley's. He was a guitar teacher, and I was running the studio there. We got to know each other much better, and he played on a lot of the tracks I was recording at the time. He was there with me as I started in my first endeavors with LDS rock music. A lot of his work can be heard on my old cassette "A Joyful Noise". In fact, I think he played on almost every track. At least half of them, anyway.

Then, a few years later, he moved his family out to Atlanta. Over the years, he's done quite a bit of recording. A lot of times, he'd cut stuff for me via email.

He's easily one of the best guitarists I know of, and certainly the best one I know personally. He can play blisteringly fast, but he's also got a lot of style. He can rock, and do smooth jazz. Amazing.

And now, he's back in town! He got a job at the U of U, and he's moving back. And last night, he came out for a bit of dutch oven dinner and tunes. We showed each other the tunes and ideas we've been working on. It's gonna be great jamming with him again. It's always fun when you connect up with great friends!

In some ways, it felt like Alma and his buddies. Not only is it cool to know he's still a friend after all these years, but it's also cool to see him remain faithful. There are very few who can pull off LDS rock music, and we need to keep as many of them as possible!

Come back often to hear about new songs and shows. Mark also has other sites and blogs, including Mark's Black Pot and his MoBoy blog.


Saturday, September 19, 2009

A Little More on Martyrs, a Lot on Alleluia

A long time ago, at the first of the year, in fact, I wrote a song called "Alleluia". At the time I didn't want to record it, because there were parts that reminded me a lot of a famous song. But it still kept haunting me, and I just kept playing it over and over on my acoustic, so I finally cut some scratch tracks on it tonight. It's actually a pretty full recording, but I fear that it's in the wrong key. It's just too low for me. So, I'll probably end up re cutting all the tracks.

And, I think I might have finally worked out the problems with the drum mix on Martyrs. Between playing with the mixes he'd sent me, and tweaking with the EQ, I think I've got it! My sister's going to come over on Conference Sunday, for dinner, and to try and throw down some fiddle tracks. I don't know how that'll turn out, but I'm excited to try!

Come back often to hear about new songs and shows. Mark also has other sites and blogs, including Mark's Black Pot and his MoBoy blog.

Mark's Other Blog Posts: Healthy Dutch Oven!, My Epiphany in the Temple


Thursday, September 10, 2009

Martyrs and Anthems

I've been working a lot on "Martyrs" lately. My good friend Jason recorded some drum tracks for me. He's an incredible drummer. I've been kinda struggling with the mix. There's some low-end rumble goin' on, and if I EQ that out, the kick drum disappears. I'm working on it, though.

Seriously, though, he did a rockin' job playing the drums. And it's perfect for the "anthem-y" style of the song. I can't wait to get this one done. I've been practicing harmony vocals in my car to and from work. Playing this one live will be fun!

It's also made me think a lot about Joseph Smith and his contribution. I read a blog posting the other day about the nature of martyrdom, and Joseph Smith's in particular. I think a martyr is someone who is killed because of what he/she believes. I don't think it matters whether or not the person is frightened, like I'm sure the victims at Haun's Mill were, or shoots back, like Joseph Smith did, or just takes it, like the Ammonites did. The point is, they were killed for their beliefs, and they didn't deny.

And so, as the Book of Mormon says, they are welcomed up in glory. And that's why this song sounds like an anthem instead of a dirge.

Come back often to hear about new songs and shows. Mark also has other sites and blogs, including Mark's Black Pot and his MoBoy blog.

Mark's Other Blog Posts: Healthy Dutch Oven Chicken Recipe, Book of Mormon Study Online


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