Oshawa’s Blues Rock Artist Mark Wihlidal and Producer Chris Birkett Collaborate on Age-Defying “One More Time” Single
The adage about time is that it remains undefeated. Everyone has to go at some point. But with today’s musical landscape, artists continue to defy Father Time (and the Grim Reaper) by performing well into their sixties, seventies, and beyond. From the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen to Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, age is just a number. And Oshawa-based blues rock artist Mark Wihlidal and producer/guitarist Chris Birkett are taking that idea to the masses with the great, engrossing single “One More Time.”
Wihlidal says “One More Time,” produced by Chris Birkett and featuring Birkett’s guitar work, was inspired by the idea of equating one’s age to one’s self-worth or ability as an artist. “This song is about an aging artist who wants to keep getting on the stage and performing as they always have,” Wihlidal says. “They don’t want to be left behind or forgotten. They want their music to live on and not fade away. They feel that even though they are aged, they still have lots to give as an artist.”
“One More Time” is a thoughtful, slow-building song as Wihlidal’s powerful and passionate delivery shines while the electric guitar works its magic thanks to both Wihlidal and Birkett. Think of some combination between Canadian artist Tom Cochrane and the earthy, roots feel of John Hiatt, and “One More Time” comes into full view over nearly four and a half enjoyable minutes.
Please let me sing one more day
Please let me play before I’m cast away
One more time, before I leave it all behind
Please don’t let me fade away.
Although Wihlidal says the inspiration for “One More Time” wasn’t initially coming from personal experience, he realized that aging and performing is “a hot topic” for him. “It has been implied that my age has lost me a few performances,” he says. “I was told that I cannot be an ’emerging artist’ because I am older.
“Why is it that the music business only wants youth and beauty? When we listen to a song, do you think about the age of the artist or how they look? NO…Never. Music is ageless. Performing is great for the soul at any age.”
Wihlidal, whose work has been featured in various Ontario daily publications both in his hometown of Oshawa and as far west as Niagara Falls, released the single “Life Can Be A Mystery” in 2022. In 2023 he released “You and Me” with the Doctors of Music, a group Wihlidal amicably parted company with earlier in 2024. Wihlidal has also been featured on several music sites ranging from Cashbox and Tinnitist to Record World and Canadian Beats.
Now with a new single and having recently performed dates in Alberta, Mark Wihlidal looks forward to new material and music in 2024 and beyond. He also hopes to collaborate with Birkett again. “He’s a true gentleman and boy can he play guitar,” Wihlidal says.
And just like the message heard loud and clear in “One More Time,” Wihlidal isn’t putting his feet up and retiring anytime soon. “Personally, you will have to drag me off a stage to put me in the grave. Aging artists deserve more attention. Artists AT ANY AGE have lots to share.”
It’s a timeless message for a song that sounds timeless.
Your single “One More Time” touches on the challenges of an aging artist. What inspired you to explore this theme in your music?
Actually, it was an accident, or a least not on purpose.
Once I wrote the first verse the theme came into view. A song about an artist who wants to perform live, but also by performing live, it lets their music live on. The song kind of subconsciously is about me. I’m an aged artist and I never want to stop writing music, but especially never want to stop my live performances. The only challenge is that you may not get picked for some live performances because they want someone younger. I just continue on, and I get motivated when I come across challenges like this. Music is so much fun so it’s easy to move forward. There will always be people who like your music and there will always be the naysayers who don’t like you for whatever reason. Ignore naysayers, stay positive, move forward.
You mention the song wasn’t initially personal but became a “hot topic “for you. How did your own experience with age in the music industry shape this song?
It has been implied that in some circles because of our age, we cannot be emerging artists. Well, I disagree because that’s small, minded thinking.
Some of our world’s greatest artists are in their late 70s or 80s and are masters of the trade. So, age means nothing in music really. When you listen to a song do you ever think how old are they? No never
My experience in the industry has been awesome because I work with some of Canada’s best musical minds including Eric Alper one of Canada’s best publicists and some other wonderful music people.
The lyrics of “One More Time “ reflect a deep desire to keep performing. How do personally stay motivated and energized as an artist?
You don’t have to motivate me at all, I get up every morning and I’m so thankful because I never ever thought that I would have music on the radio or be in magazines so this to me is a bonus. All these great music things have been unexpected. But I have to say that I have not done this alone. I have many people to thank all the band guys in the last year some who joined me in the studio my cousins who are video guys and musicians. Easy to be motivated with all the help I’ve had and continue to have.
Also who doesn’t love talking to radio people and magazine people they are the ones who get our stories and music out. I’m motivated every day by music it’s so much fun.
Working with producer and guitarist Chris Birkett seems to have been a great collaboration. How did the two of you come together, and what was it like working with him on this single?
I met Chris through some mutual friends at a club in Toronto. I went to see his show and as I was walking in he was talking with the owner of the club. Chris was asking the owner if there was a sound man and as I walked by, I could hear the owner say no sound man. So, I spoke up and introduced myself to Chris and I said I’ll do your sound. He said ok. Well then, we started chatting as the conversation got going. I asked if he would do a song with me. He replied we can do that and proceeded to give me his address and number. We met a couple of weeks later at his studio and he’s such an easy person to get along with that it was instant friendship. Chris has worked with some of the world’s great artists but doing the song with him made me feel like this song was as important to him as it was with me. He has a touch with production though as we did a lot just off the floor with no gimmicks or auto tune NO AI no background fillers.
Chris is a legendary producer, and I was so lucky to work with him and it looks like we will be doing some shows together we have already done one show, together and hopefully I can record more music with him in the future.
It was a watershed moment for my music and a great experience to work with Chris Birkett. More to come!!!
In the music business, there’s often an emphasis on youth and appearance. How do you think that we can shift the industry’s focus to recognizing the talent and wisdom of older artists?
I think it is shifting because of shows like AGT and CGT and the internet in general. It does seem like you can post anything on YouTube no matter what age you are. I just think that when you listen to music no matter what music you prefer, you will rarely think about the age of the person singing and if it’s a good song it probably would never cross your mind. I think at any age if your song is good, it will be liked.
Music is more about the ears, not the eyes. Just saying.