We spoke to the 27-year-old behind The Arusha Accord

From banging pots and pans as a toddler to touring across the UK as a post-grad, Mark Vincent has already had a very colourful musical career.

The 27-year-old has just left Brookes, with his band The Arusha Accord blowing up in popularity, as well as being part of several well-known groups around Oxford including Sloe Jim and Pastel Frontier – all while negotiating the toxic minefield that is university.

After enrolling in drum lessons at the age of seven and then developing an interest in rock, drum corps and jazz, he was determined to make something out of music for himself. Fast forward to A-levels and a gap year (or six), and Mark’s toured numerous times with The Arusha Accord, playing at many festivals in the UK as well as a major one in the Czech Republic. Finally, Mark enrolled at Brookes.

He started playing drums when he was seven

What would you say is the main reason you’re glad you came to Brookes over places like Trinity and Guildhall?

“The way courses are structured at places like that is very narrow, so you find yourself playing a few things over, say, four years. At Brookes, you get to play everything.”

How did you manage to get yourself noticed as a first year? Because second and third years aren’t noted for their fondness of freshers…

“Basically, you just need to say yes to everyone. Most older students are looking for fresh talent so they can share ideas and suchlike, so if you make yourself readily accessible, and if you’re good enough, then people should notice you. It helps to just be in the right place at the right time as well.”

Could you talk about what it was like touring with a band? Any particular shenanigans of note?

“Many different things, I guess. Some of the more notable ones involved us being pulled over by the German police on some autobahn, and we all got searched for hard drugs. One of the pleasant ones was when we crashed at this random millionaire’s house.”

Sorry, but…why?

“Oh, his son was a huge metalhead, though I’m not sure they knew about the additional tribe of metalhead fans that came with. Also, one of the most surrealist moments was when we had to drive all  the way from Torquay to Glasgow in one day.”

Mark (left)

Seriously?

“We were beyond tired.”

Do you have anything to say about trying to balance things like student life, music life and work?

“It really wasn’t all fun and games though. It was exhaustingly hectic and it took its toll, not just touring but in my third year, balancing everything made me physically ill. You really have to put yourself first when it comes to third year.”

Any final words when it comes to young performing artists?

“Whether you’re a dancer, actor or a musician, you need to make yourself accessible and approachable. You need to have a passion for what you do, then you’ll put that much more work in. When it comes to working on a project, you need to form at least a basic emotional connection with the people you’re working with. Then the fun shit happens.”