Mark Mariash

Drummer-percussionist Mark Mariash resides in Grey County, a short drive from Toronto. Mark divides his schedule between studio and concert tours, some of which take him around the globe. Artists include Royal Wood, Ron Sexsmith, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Molly Johnson, the late Jeff Healey, Morgan Davis, The Wailin Jennies, Good Lovelies, Sarah Slean, Tami Neilson, and the Small Glories, to name just a few. Producers include Michael Phillip Wojewoda, Rick Hutt, Joel Schwartz, James Paul, Joel Plaskett and George Koller.

Mark played drums on Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Power In The Blood" album, which became the 2015 Polaris Prize and 2015 Juno winner. The album “Tales From The Blue Lounge” (co-produced by Mark and artist Richard Underhill in 2002) also garnered a Juno for Best Contemporary Jazz Album Of The Year. Other highlights include a trip to Dubai in 2021 to perform at the World Expo with artist Jill Barber and in 2020, creating the soundscape as part of the Interference Ensemble, for an installation titled “First Train / Last Train”.

The construction of a Geodesic Dome attached to the main home created an additional solution for Mark to impart years of studio drumming and percussion experience to clients. The StarBird HQ studio has top-notch recording equipment to facilitate impressive-sounding tracks. Mark’s vintage Gretsch and Premier drum sets, Ludwig bass drums, a plethora of percussion instruments, Timpani, and small Marimba are always at the ready.

markmariash at gmail.com

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“Mark is one of those musicians who is both a soulful player and a smart, thinking/composing player. He writes great drum parts and plays them beautifully. He is often my first call for many sessions.”
 - Michael Phillip Wojewoda (producer/engineer)

“Deep grooves to killer tones to endless percussive ideas from his array of classic gear ... working with Mark is always a pleasure.”
 - Danny Michel (artist/producer)

“Mark Mariash is a world class drummer, who plays with the best roots artists in Canada. Mark has played on most of the recordings I've produced and when working remotely, is able to capture beautiful hi-fidelity recordings at his Starbird studio. Mark's approach is perfect for the recordings I make: he can play with incredible sensitivity and atmosphere, or when needed, he can make everything danceable and fun. I'm lucky to have Mark Mariash in my corner as an integral part of my sonic team.”
 - Joel Schwartz (producer/guitarist/composer)

Buffy Sainte-Marie, Leslie Feist, Danny Michel, Royal Wood, Morgan Davis, Sarah Slean, Good Lovelies, The Small Glories, Patricia O’Callaghan, Jill Barber, Blair Packham, Meaghan Smith, Kevin Fox, Lindy Vopnfjord, Shaye, Joel Schwartz, Lori Cullen, Jadea Kelly.

... and more:

Arlene Bishop, Andy McGuire, Andy Humphrey, Ari Posner, Attila Fias, Andy Sheppard, Adam Warner, Art of Time Ensemble, Beau Charalambos Losif, Bruce Guthro, Beckon, Coco Love Alcorn, Champagne James Robertson, Colm Wilkinson, Chris Whiteley, Cynthia Hamar, Caroline Colantino, Chris Gale, Carla Walker, Danny Greenspoon, Don Rook, David Leask, Dean Drouillard, Don Bray, Dan Bryk, Drew McIvor, David Matheson, David Szigeti, Emma Cook, Erin Blackstock, Eric Dick, Frank Patrick, The Houseplants, Interference Ensemble, Jackie Richardson, James McKenty, Jason Fowler, Jeffrey Straker, Jory Nash, Julie Sparks, Joel Kroeker, James Bruce Moore, JK Gulley, Justin Hines, John Sheard, Jason Steidman, John Brownlow, Jake Chisholm, Kat Goldman, Kurt Swinghammer, Katherine Wheatley, Leslie Spit Tree-o, Layah Jane, Lenni Jabour, Maria Muldaur, Morgan Barrie, Melanie Peterson, Mike Ford, Monkeybunch, Michelle Willis, Marc Parent, Nicky Phillips, Noah Zacharin, Natasha Alexandra, Pierson Ross, Ruth Moody, Raoul And The Big Time, Richard Underhill, Rae Materick, River Glen, Rob Blanc, Ron Davis, Ronley Teper, Suzie Vinnick, Shawna Caspi, The Supers, Suzanne de Bussac, Susan Crowe, Steven Taetz, Tragedy Ann, Terra Hazelwood, Tory Cassis, Troy McLaggan, Tyler Yarema, Tyler Wagler, Taivi, The Wailin Jennies, William Sperandei.

StarBird HQ is the home and studio of Mark Mariash & Beth Hamilton, located 2 hours NW of Toronto in beautiful Grey County. Positioned on a glacial esker, nestled in stands of Sugar Maple, Pines and Cedar, we aptly enjoy the stars by night and the birds by day.

The StarBird complex comprises two geodesic domes joined via a connecting foyer, creating an organic work-live environment. The studio portion is a 625sq ft geodesic dome attached to our main living dome. This Scandinavian-inspired space is where we create, teach and record music. The large triangular skylights and walls of whitewash and pine add to the tranquillity.

Acoustics are pleasing and conducive to recording "live off the floor". The recording system is on the tracking floor for effortless flow and communication.

The framework for recording includes an iZ RADAR Studio (Nyquist 96K), Soundcraft Delta 32 analogue desk, OSA and Avedis mic preamps and Genelec foldback. Microphones from AEA, Beyerdynamic, Josephson, AKG, Advanced Audio, Sennheiser, Shure, and Audio-Technica are employed to nick the best performances for each project.

Vintage ingredients include 60's Gretsch, 1940s Ludwig bass drums, a 1930’s Premier brass snare, Pearl maple steam-bent shell snare, 50’s and 60’s Zildjian cymbals, 1973 Yamaha U3 upright piano and Fender Rhodes Mk1.

(photos by Heather Pollock; additional photos by Gary Slye)

(Two Domes) Land Acknowledgement.

We recognize that StarBird home and studio are located on the traditional territory of the Anishnaabek Nation. We acknowledge them and strive to learn more of their history, spirituality and culture - both past and present. We are grateful and thank them, as also we thank the Saugeen Ojibway Nation for being the traditional keepers of these lands. We recognize this acknowledgement as only one small step of many on the path to reconciliation.