The Apprehension Engine | 2017
Artist Statement: Working on The Witch, reawakened my yearning to be more closely connected to a physical instrument, rather than sounds realized only through software, as is more typical with composers in the horror genre. The Apprehension Engine was created to allow a more tactile, organic way to create disturbing sounds. Every touch, scratch, pull, knock, and bow scrape resonates as much within myself as with the instrument.
Mark was raised in the Canadian prairies, and cut his musical teeth as a guitarist, performing with rock bands, reggae bands, jazz fusion ensembles, and left of centre pop. A love of films, and also the more reflective life of a composer led to a successful career in film and television. He is best known for his work on the sci-fi horror film CUBE and most recently for the 2016 period horror film The Witch, which won the best director award at the 2015 Sundance festival for director Robert Eggers, and went on to earn $40 million at the box office.
He has composed for CBS, CTV, CBC, E1, PBS, and BBC and has won nine film and television awards. He has also composed feature film scores for acclaimed directors Deepa Mehta, Patricia Rozema and Vincenzo Natale.
Mark is also a multi-instrumentalist specializing in world music. His ear for experimental and unusual sounds led him to come up with the concept for The Apprehension Engine.