My name is Berthmark (Well its the persona I have created for myself, to tell my life's work) My real name is mark Joseph and I am a Singer/Song-writer of Fun Loving Romantic Folk/Rock and Blues told through a story telling Tongue. (You got to tell a story, don't you.? )

As a child I remember I always loved to delve into the arts and while sitting on my parents floor, spent most of my days writing short stories and drawing.I did have friends, It was just very dangerous to play outside, I grew up as a child in Dublin, A place called Ballymun. At the time it was stricken with drugs and crime and had these huge tower complexes, Thankfully they have been long pulled down and the area itself has been cleaned up over the years. But my child hood brings back some horrid memories being a kid there.

My parents finally got us out, Me and my brother Gary and we moved to Blanchardstown. I remember while at school there, I loved to make up characters for myself to role play for my class mates and In 1996 while I was at secondary school , I joined a Drama group.

By being in this group I got a taste of what it would be like to be on center stage and it grabbed me. Myself and a fellow classmate used to write our own short gag reels and after each drama class, we used to act them out for the rest of the group, which became an on going thing and somewhat a highlight for the class. The previous year I was taught how to play the thin whistle and bodhran and over the years that followed, I eventually went on to teach myself other instruments.

And as I started to piece together my short stories into songs, and bring them to life, from then on that Art form took my heart.

During which time, I think I was about 16 or so. I saw an add in the local newsletter, Saying they were looking for members for a Folk group. I joined that Senior folk group in my local church, We would play at the mass and here I got to play with a few older more experienced musicians, while mastering my style of playing.

A few years later I set up a junior folk group, where I used to teach other younger kids how to play and sing, Something I still do today Producing kids as a youth worker through Foroige. I have played in different bands playing the live scene with different styles of music, One of my bands, had record label attention and my future seemed set, until life started to take its toll, with band bust up's ( and all that other stuff that comes with rock n roll).

In that time, I had found myself within a struggle both physically and mentally, fighting my inner demons while trying to raise a young family, full time job and in turn keeping my passion alive….. The music, Its in my bloodstream and it has always been my lifeline, So I took some time out recouped and here I am. I just could not get rid of that itch as I love to tell stories through my music and though I class myself as a writer of indie singer/songwriter stuff, I was reared on the like of the Dubliners and Christy Moore,moving hearts and planxty, So I thought I would have a go at writing a ballad for change. A song such as…. “Government A”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4w4szlb5MM&list=PL329B2AB582BA4319

is about our then struggling Irish government under the bad leadership of Cowen and their bad choices and mishaps, a song most countries today can relate to today.

And going back to the singer/songwriter stuff a song called.. R.I.P In Loving Memory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4t3GK5GmDU

Is a song about a woman's heart ache at the powers up above for taking her love away, after his long struggle with Alzheimer's for years.

I believe shows how I can take a story and tell it with heart and bring it to life with soulful acoustic music..

This music included covers and originals and I have built up quite a back catalog of my own songs over the years.

Some I had recorded as home demos.and some I have already released to you guys.

Newest Tunes are Available To stream on SPOTIFY And ITUNES Music.

Feel free to check out my work by CLICKING the relevant link below. Thanks

https://www.facebook.com/berthmarkmusic

SPOTIFY ARTIST PAGE https://goo.gl/FMwWV5

ITUNES https://itunes.apple.com/ie/artist/berthmark/1188373071