Back in the charts 6 years after A1 split and establishing him self as a songwriter, writing for many high profile singers, Mark Read is back in the charts as a solo artist, after writing many songs for everybody else, Mark returned to the recording studio to record his own album and Piece At Last was born! Back on the live scene Mark will be performing a series of gigs through out the summer all dates are added to his official web site @ www.markreadmusic.com Interview Backstage at Party In The Park.

How was your performance today (Party In The Park)? any pre performances nerves?

It was great, I wasn't sure what to expect, i thought it could be a washout, the rain hasn't dampened spirits, the crowds are fantastic, they are so loud. Not nervous as such, I've been performing professionally for 20 years, ten years in the industry, its just really exciting to be back here again.

Do you feel there's more pressure to gain success as a solo artists?

I put pressure on my self, it's only natural to have aspirations, I've been a singer/songwriter for 20 years, being in A1 we all wrote together so the pressure was on all of us, now its my music, my songs the pressure is on me. I was writing songs for others artists
and It came to a point where I felt like well I wanna do these myself so I put my album together and now I am ready to do it again.

Six years since A1, you've been writing for other artists, did you miss the buzz of performing?

Yeah, its the reason i came back, i miss performing being on stage, the buzz, like today there so loud :-) performing is my passion. Its where I want to be.

Do you find it easier or harder writing for other artists?

I don't really write a song with a particular artist in mind, I write a lot of songs and then a band or artist would come along and i think they would suit this song, when i hear Take that's music i think wow great songs or i hear something from
somebody else and i think i'd like my album to sound like that.

Having just released your album Peace At Last, what kind of style and sound can your fans expect from your album?

The music I'm doing is actually, possibly where a1 would have gone next were we was heading with tracks like Caught In The Middle, with our last cd we released i would say Piece At Last was slightly the direction we was moving it to before we split. Piece at last is very personal I'm witting about things what has happened in my life, an inspiration if you like.

How long did you spend recording Piece At last?

I year writing it and 1 year recording it coming up with great songs, making a good album to come back with get back out there, doing what i love.

What are your expectation towards chart success?

You know its still early days, I'm pushing Piece at last, starting again with performing live, getting my own music heard. Obviously I have high expectations that Piece At last is a success, from being in a band who was successfully, there is always pressure
to continue that being solo i'm just getting my self back out there as Mark Read and seeing what happens.

What songs from your album will be released as a single?

Piece at last is the first single its just been released, promoting that over the Summer, there's a few from the album which could be possible singles, were thinking maybe Fallen From Grace which is a really great track, Cat Out Of THe Bag another good choice, at the moment Piece at Last is the track were pushing.

Are you writing for any artists at the moment or is Piece Of Mind your main focus?

focusing on my self at the moment i think.. I've got songs which have been picked up by different artists over the past couple of years which has been great, I'm just focusing on my album for now.

Do you have any more Summer gigs coming up?? have you got any plans to tour?

Lots of gigs coming up, I've just done the Boyzone tour at the O2 which was great, lots of festivals coming up, i'm looking at doing another big support slot coming up in the autumn as well so how that goes, every one can find all dates on my web site as well, I've got pride coming up, Doncaster, Cardiff, I'm going to be all over the place.
That all depends how the album goes, that is my plan, but at the moment i'm happy to re establish my self, get my self back out there. Does it feel like your starting all over again? It does a little bit but being in the band when we was first starting out
we didn't know what to expect we was in experienced, this time round, I'm just having fun enjoying it less pressure

Any final messages for your fans?

I've always got messages for my fans, Always got messages for the people who have supported me for the past ten years or so, just a big big thank you for sticking a round and i hope your all enjoying the new material, please get in touch on face book,
and yeah look forward to seeing you all out on the road again.