In today’s age, technology has flooded our lives with content. Caught in the mire are modern musicians who champion an art form that’s more widely distributed than any other throughout human history. And we, more often than not, overlook the music created by unfamiliar faces because it’s challenging. We’d rather have an easy listen, a known quantity to skim through while we think about something else.
Hearing is easy, but listening is difficult. Welcome to “Why We Like It”, where we rebuke the trends in favor of thoughtful analysis and underknown sounds.
“Dedication” — Mark Ferg
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How We Found It
NYC soul man, Mark Ferg pens a letter of love and admiration for his fellow sun- kissed kin in our SubmitHub inbox. “Dedication” is the opener to his latest album, Planet Earth Is a Ghetto… But I Still Love You. A title that, to me, tells the duality of being young, gifted, and Black in a society that says it constantly hates you but the universe still blesses you with glory. It’s a duality that rings true to me and one worth exploring.
Why We Like It
There is a time to be silent and there’s a time to speak. 2020 is the time to be the loudest you can be. Because if you don’t, your throat will be burnt by the fiery words left unsaid as the tears scorch the skin each time they roll down your cheek. At least, that’s how my heart felt — left to bleed out on the floor. Tragedy after tragedy, the heart hasn’t had time to truly rest and process what’s been going on this year. Frankly, it’s exhausting. I need salvation and music is my relief. Songs like “Dedication” are part of those blissful moments that get me through it all when I’m deep in contemplation.
Given the current state of the world I wanted to make a song of encouragement for my Black brothers and my black sisters. I wanted to make a song to let people know that they aren’t alone and they aren’t crazy. This world is a Ghetto and the only way for us to improve our situation is if we protect one another and love one another. As I was creating the beat the lyrics just came to me almost like a stream of consciousness.” – Mark Ferg for CentralSauce (2020)
Mark Ferg has an old soul and exudes that wonderful feeling of soul and community with a song that sounds like it’s straight from Barry White himself. Rich and delicate. It’s like I’m watching Black Klansman again and I’m ready to fight for revolution. I want my hair to be in an Afro and my fist raised high. It’s in community and unity. He sings “different mothers but we all come from the motherland.” He’s about bringing black people together. It’s about healing together so we can move forward and face what’s coming.
If I see you sliding down then I’ll extend my hand / because we are all instrumental to this marching band / all the pain you hold inside is fine let’s talk about it / confront the issues on your heart no good will come from silence” – Mark Ferg “Dedication” (2020)
I want to grab his hand and help those in their healing. We can escape this hell and make it a heaven in the midst of the fire. We have to be stuck in the same spot. We can spread love within our communities and fight against the injustices surrounding us. Ferg’s voice is one that is needed. He sings with such sincerity that you believe he’s truly there for you. This dedication is to every Black brother and sister and family member he sees along the way struggling to make it today. To me, he’s saying there will be a tomorrow and that the sun will shine on us. The melanin we have can finally glow in the sun we’re meant to bask in.
From Mark Ferg
This album serves as a journal of my black experience living in America during a worldwide pandemic. “Dedication” fits into the album as a springboard into my world for the last 7-8 months.
After witnessing the murder of George Floyd by the police, hearing about the brutal murder of Breonna Taylor (Also by the Police) and countless other heinous acts that have been committed against the marginalized black and brown people in this place we call home. I was left with so much swirling around in my head and heart. With racism rearing its ugly head yet again, the effects of COVID19 on the world and the unemployment rates skyrocketing, it seems depression, death and despair was lurking in every corner of my mind.
I tried really hard to come up with ways that I could do my part and show up for my myself, my people and for the world and after some deep searching within I made a decision that the best way for me to contribute to what’s going on right now in the world is to reflect and document it through my art. This song is a piece of that picture, I wanted it to be somewhat as a theme song of unity for the oppressed and subjugated people in the world.” – Mark Ferg for CentralSauce (2020)
More From Mark Ferg
To keep up with his journey, you can follow Mark Ferg on Instagram, Twitter, and his official website. You can listen to his latest album Planet Earth Is a Ghetto… But I Still Love You. You can also check out his previous albums No Disclaimers and If You Say So with The Culture.
More to Discover
Subscribe to the CentralSauce mailing list so you never miss out on the freshest sauce. Check out this continuously updated playlist of songs Tyler has added to our Discovery section! Each track or artist has been featured in our “Why We Like It” section, so be sure to check out the page here on the site.
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