INTERVIEW
 (1).jpg)
Ruby Topaz, the creative project of multi-talented musician Mark Bram, is both a love letter to Classic Rock and a refreshing new take on an old sound. Drawing from influences spanning the generations and genres, Bram brings the comfortable nostalgia of your favorite songs to a new era.
Bram fell in love with the world of music at only 6 years old, inspired by The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. His passion led him to the bass guitar and vocals, and later the guitar and vocals, after hearing Led Zeppelin, when he brought together his first band, Shir (pronounced Sheer).
This band later developed into Ruby Topaz, earning Bram and his band a great amount of success, especially in the British and European channels. The band thrived for years, before taking a pause so Bram could focus on raising his son.
Though Bram took a hiatus from the spotlight to focus on family, he returned with a bang in 2001, with the aptly titled Mark Bram / Ruby Topaz Again, and has now revitalizing that project, now titled Mark Bram / Ruby Topaz Again 23rd Anniversary Remaster. Bram took that 2001 album, added three bonus tracks, tweaked it in his studio, and sent it to Christian Wright at Abbey Road to master, giving it fresh, new sound.
The new album features a collection of songs that were fully composed of Bram’s own creative and technical skill, featuring him on all pieces, due to an injury sustained by his bandmate and drummer Steven D’Andrea, in 2001. There are however a number of tracks that include D’Andrea, from past projects, as well as a few new covers and a fresh original track about Bram’s life and his son.
“There are so many different influences in this project, it is incredibly diversified,” Bram said. “You can hear notes of Blues, Hard Rock, Glitter Rock, Progressive Rock, and a slew of other genres.”
The music on this project, as well as all of Bram’s projects lean into his own personal experiences and tribulations. They provide a platform of emotion that his audience can really dig into and understand. This, culminating alongside the familiar feeling of his style, creates a brand of music that feels personalized to you.
“The music at its very base is essentially a very singable Pop song, then I add a driving rock element and some progressive rock sensibilities that really bring it into its own,” Bram explains.
Following the release of Mark Bram / Ruby Topaz Again 23rd Anniversary Remaster, Bram is excited to see what is to come in the next steps of his career.
“This is about more than just me,” he explained, highlighting the input and support of his friends, jam buddies and band. “It’s usually just me and Steven D’Andrea in the studio, but our on stage bass player Stephen Fassbender deserves a mention too for his incredible skill.”
Bram also notes the importance of past band member and fellow musician Chris Hallam, who not only continues to jam with the band, but also can be found hidden in one of the Ruby Topaz album covers.
“I hope people enjoy what I put out. The technical music is there for those who are paying attention to it, and so is the pleasure of simply listening to something that sounds familiar but is still new.”
Be sure to stay tuned in to Ruby Topaz on various platforms for new music, visuals and social posts.
.jpg)
.png)
.jpeg)