It helps me when I go to take a solo on guitar now.” It’s taught me how to find my style when I play leads and how to express myself melodically on the instrument. The advantages flow both ways, of course: “I think diving into the mandolin made me think of the guitar as more of a melodic instrument. It helps me when I go to take a solo on guitar now It’s taught me how to find my style when I play leads. As soon as you’ve learned one song, you’ve pretty much learned five songs.” “But, the mandolin, really it’s laid-out like an upside down guitar or bass: instead of E-A-D-G, it’s G-D-A-E, so you know all the chords - you just have to think about them like a left-handed player. “I feel like you might find yourself with a few extra gigs if pick up the mandolin!” starts Marlin. It’s beautifully constructed and, at first listen, might be considered the polar opposite of the metal that soundtracked Marlin’s formative years. Their latest record, Tides Of A Teardrop, is their first ‘band’ album, freeing Marlin and Frantz up to focus on their melodic leanings. They’re now major players in the US Americana scene, gaining renown across six albums and numerous sold-out tours all while updating old-time fiddle music with a songwriter’s ear and progressive politics. His duo with partner Emily Frantz - who shares acoustic duties with Marlin and plays a mean bluegrass fiddle - has expanded with the band’s popularity, encompassing a live rhythm section and an electric guitarist. Oddly enough, I feel like there’s a lot of correlation between bluegrass and heavy metal Not better, but it gives me my own little corner in this world.” “Because I think it makes me approach folk and old-time music differently than some other folks. “I’m glad that I’ve gone through all the avenues that I have,” he tells us.

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