Mark Howard’s latest single, “My Girl Is On Fire,” is timely for Halloween and just about as intoxicating as it sounds. Hailing from the miles of beaches and wild landscapes that make Phillip Island, this alternative indie rocker has created a track that weaves its way between rock, blues, and alt-country-fusing swampy grooves with rich melodies and his unmistakably sultry vocals. If you follow Mark, then you can’t help but know he’s one of those artists who can take anything that’s considered normal and turn it into epic, and this track isn’t any different.
“My Girl is On Fire” feels, on first blush, like an anthem for some femme fatale-more mystery and less tangible. If one digs a little deeper, though, he finds the inspiration refreshingly down-to-earth: Mark’s wife.
The idea just came to her one morning when she had stormed through a mountain of tasks before he’d even managed to get out of bed. Mark’s cheeky wit does shine through in these lyrics as he takes this rather ordinary moment in time and weaves it into a tale larger than life. He takes the ordinary and turns it into a paean to female strength and capability, without losing an ounce of humour and romance.
The song is performed muscularly-a dynamic ride musically-and bursts with raw energy, as has been expected from Mark. His unique blend of folk, rock, and blues simmers throughout the song, presenting the perfect backdrop for his storytelling through driving beats and swampy, rock-infused rhythms. It goes without saying that his sound draws such comparisons to Tom Waits, Nick Cave, and Bruce Springsteen; yet in this place alone, it stands on its own. It’s confident, it’s bold, and-most importantly-fun. With another single set for release in November and a full album on the way in February 2025, Mark is showing no signs of slowing down.
If you need something to lighten up the Halloween playlist, get “My Girl Is On Fire” on volume loud. This is such a fiery, soulful rock anthem that will just leave one smiling-maybe even a little in awe of the unstoppable women in your life, too.
You can find more of Mark Howard at:
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You can listen to ‘My Girl Is On Fire’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.