Credit: Ryan Falcoa
The uplifting project includes fan favourites ‘Good To Be’ and ‘Our Way’ alongside hit single ‘Belong Together’, which remains in the top 20 on the UK Official Singles Chart, has been in the Top 40 for 12 weeks and is now certified gold in the UK.
Rising star Mark Ambor has shared his long awaited debut album ‘Rockwood’. Fans and new listeners alike can enjoy 12 wondrous sonic stories, as Mark bears his soul on his largest body of work to date.
“Rockwood was the perfect escape for my friends and I growing up. A place where the weight of the world fell off our shoulders for just a moment. If I’ve done this album justice, it’ll be that escape for whoever listens.” – Mark Ambor
The album’s title track acts as the album’s opening credits, as it sets the tone with an atmospheric piano instrumental, taken from the first single on the project ‘Good To Be’. The joyous strings sequence unites perfectly with Mark’s hopeful lyrics in ‘Good To Be’ as he sings “it’s so good to be alive”. ‘Academy Street’ progresses to a more introspective layer within the album, as Ambor reminisces, and tells the all-too-relatable story of missing someone deeply “when the world gets loud, you’re all that I think about”. Mark delves into special memories made on both Academy Street, and of course, Rockwood.
Ambor strips things back with ‘Second Best’, as his raw lyricism notes “jealousy is making me a mess, you know I don’t wanna be his second best”. As listeners keep on tenterhooks in hopes of the next puzzle piece of the story, ‘Hate That I Still Love You’ outlines the familiar frustration of wanting to forget about someone, but feeling unconditionally attached. Urging listeners to be proud of their ‘Bruises and Stains’ the album’s next track delivers a heartfelt message to accept ourselves as we are.
‘Hope It All Works Out’ picks up the tempo, as the talent confesses his yearning “I would drive across the country, if you would tell me that you want me”. Ambor’s soft vocals are goosebump inducing in ‘Someone That’s Better’, as he beautifully encapsulates the painful sorrow that comes with moving on from someone you loved. ‘Under The Willow’sits as the album’s penultimate track, as the second instrumental piece on the project paints a stunning audio picture, as its entrancing keys transports listeners to a magical place in Rockwood. The final track ‘My Love!’ closes the album with a euphoric essence, as Ambor sings “you’ll always have my heart”.
‘Rockwood’ was produced and written by Mark Ambor in the same childhood home where his career took off, just a short drive away from the eponymous State Park, a lush estate nestled in Westchester County. Mark explains, “Rockwood is a place you’d go to watch the sunset, to drink, to smoke, first date, maybe a picnic…everyone has a version of that, no matter where you grow up”. “I want this album to be an escape for people. I want them to feel good when they listen to these songs. I want them to feel heard. I want them to feel like part of a community, to feel a certain togetherness, to feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves.”
Ambor’s full-length debut comes amid a truly meteoric 2024 for the star, who sold out his extensive 2024 headline tours across North America and Europe in less than 24 hours, penned his first chart-topping single and captivated a global fanbase through his prodigious storytelling, all within a few short years of starting to write lyrics in his parents’ basement during 2020. Ambor began uploading cover songs and snippets of originals online following his pandemic-ridden graduation year and before long, he went from playing mostly alone in his room to charming millions of fans across the world.
The announcement of his 2025 European tour was met with incredible fan reaction, resulting in upgraded venues in Manchester and Birmingham, extra dates added to his London shows, whilst instantly selling out venues in Dublin, The Netherlands and Spain.
The 26-year-old emerging musician has now found himself at the top of the global charts, solidifying himself as a rising force and artist to watch. This is just the beginning for Mark Ambor!
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