Marc Mylar Will Now Take Your Questions

In the May 4th edition of Time magazine, teen country music star Taylor Swift answered 10 questions sent in by their readers. Today, we pose these same questions to 56-year-old L.A. music veteran Marc Mylar, a multi-instrumentalist/vocalist/songwriter and founder of Trigon Records, a small independent record label based in Canoga Park. Mylar burst onto the scene in 1985 as a producer and performer on the critically acclaimed album "Woodstock '85". Reviewer Michael Small wrote in the March 13, 1986 edition of People magazine, "Woodstock '85 is a clever, raucous collection of songs that parody today's rock music." That was 23 years ago. Mylar, who is still performing, never quite made it out of the mean streets of Canoga Park. He is a local cult favorite but has not caught on with the general public. Maybe he was ahead of his time. Now, Marc Mylar will take your questions:
How long does it take you to write a song?
"That depends on the type of song. For an instumental based on a riff or a loop, it might take five minutes in 'Pro Tools'. However, I've been known to spend years writing and revising lyrics."
What's the story behind "Love Story"?
"It's quite complex, but I believe it can be summed up in one sentence: 'Love means never having to say you're sorry'."
How do you manage to appear so genuinely happy when, according to your songs, you've suffered so much heartbreak?
"I'm laughing on the outside, but crying on the inside."
Who are you're biggest musical influences?
"Mozart, Coltrane, Beatles, Floyd, Gabriel, Lehrer, Cage, Devo, Rift, Pere Ubu, Tijuana Brass, not necessarily in that order."
Your songs are really catchy. What sort of music do you listen to?
"I listen to the music that fits into my 8 GB iPod Nano. That includes all of the above, plus many others that are too numerous to enumerate. Everthing from ABBA to Zappa, not including ABBA."
What advice do you have for aspiring songwriters?
"Whatever you do, don't give up. But if you do, I'd recommend a career in the bar code printer industry."
You have so many unrecorded covers floating around on YouTube. Do you think you'll ever make an album of just covers?
"Funny you should ask. As we speak, I'm in the process of recording an album of covers, some of which were written by other artists, and some of which I've written myself. I'm also designing the album cover."
Do you think you have influenced the younger generation to appreciate country more?
Yes, I believe I have influenced the younger generation to appreciate Turkey, Japan, and Slovenia, among others.
What other artists would you like to do a duet with?
"The Jonas Brothers. They are very popular right now, and I think that would be a big boost for my career."
Do you think it's right for people to pay so much attention to the personal lives of entertainers?
"It's not right, but it's a necessary evil. When you make the decision to go into the entertainment business, you give up the right to privacy. You owe it to your fans."