Biography
A not so long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....
Mixtapes from Mars launched in the crisp breeze of late fall 2023, a venture sparked by the visionary minds of its founding fathers, Jason (lead guitar and vocals) and Mark (bass and vocals). With a shared nostalgia for the anthems of their youth, they deemed it time to infuse those cherished melodies with renewed vitality and respect. Originally conceived as a homage to the Smashing Pumpkins, their journey swiftly evolved as they recognized the need to explore the diverse landscape of 90s music, a veritable time capsule of their formative years.
Realizing the magnitude of their musical odyssey, Jason and Mark sought kindred spirits to join their quest. Thus, they assembled a troupe of like-minded artisans, forging a bond that would propel them through the depths of sonic exploration. One of those artisans, Sharon (and wife of founding father Jason), weaves her enchanting voice into the fabric of our sound. With her ethereal melodies and boundless charisma, she adds a new dimension to our musical tapestry, elevating our performances to celestial heights. In January 2024, the final constellation of talent was crystallized, marking the birth of Mixtapes from Mars in its full splendor.
Amidst the electric fervor of a basement rehearsal, etched into the hallowed annals of band legend, our intrepid founders are found deep in the throes of creation. Mark's conspicuous absence, attributed to shadowy exploits in international espionage, is whimsically commemorated by the unmistakable sight of the Kool-Aid Man bursting through the walls. In his stead, the dynamic duo of Megan (affectionately known as Gan in her extraterrestrial realm) and Jarid adeptly navigate the bass at times in his absence, seamlessly blending their talents into our sonic tapestry. While typically wielding guitars and/or keys, their versatility knows no bounds as they step into different roles with effortless finesse when the need arises so that Mark can continue his international exploits.
Central to our sonic saga is the irrepressible spirit of our percussion virtuoso, Rafael. With thunderous beats and exuberant shouts of "Ga Ga Gaaaaaaaaaaaaas" while attempting "The Pretender" that timeless masterpiece of Foo Fighting history, he steers our ship through the tempest of creativity, ensuring every note resonates with passion and precision.
And lest any misconception arise, let it be known that amidst our musical revelry, there's nary a bird flipped nor a shred of decorum lost. For we are not just musicians but stewards of decency, tempered by the wisdom of years, the joys and utter chaos of parenthood, and some of us enduring the soul-crushing grind of careers in software development (sorry Megan!). These virtues, honed over decades, imbue each chord with an essence of authenticity and grace, in the fervent hope that our musical offerings strike a chord with someone out there, resonating deeply and leaving a lasting impression even if the listener is under the influence and in an altered and diminished state of consciousness due to imbibing too much.
About us
Sharon - lead Vocals
Jason - Lead & rhythm guitar, vocals, bass*
Mark - bass and vocals
Sharon's journey as a vocalist kicked off with a bang with her smash hit first solo, “O Christmas Tree” in the 4th grade concert. Since then, she's taken a weird whirlwind tour through the music scene, making stops at every station from the Middle School Show Choir to portraying "Robin" in her friend's church’s production of Godspell. At
Sharon's journey as a vocalist kicked off with a bang with her smash hit first solo, “O Christmas Tree” in the 4th grade concert. Since then, she's taken a weird whirlwind tour through the music scene, making stops at every station from the Middle School Show Choir to portraying "Robin" in her friend's church’s production of Godspell. At home, Sharon refines her vocal skills by serenading her children to sleep, though their reviews range from rave ("That's enough, Mom!") to... well, let's just say mixed. Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of musical legends including Chris Cornell, Sandi Patty, David Bowie, Dave Grohl, Fiona Apple and Freddie Mercury, Sharon has a soft spot for passionate lyrics and powerful voices. Currently, she's deeply involved in two projects: Playing with the Mixtapes from Mars, and belting out worship songs at Discovery Church a few times a month. Working with the Mixtapes has proven to be one of the most gratifying collaborations of her musical journey. But when Sharon's not belting out tunes, she's immersed in the whimsical world of Captain Underpants, sharing laughs and crude humor with her son as they navigate the cleverly crafted pages of their favorite superhero. And in the galaxy far, far away, she finds inspiration in the unassuming yet indomitable spirit of R2-D2, who faces life's challenges with cheerful perseverance and an unwavering determination to keep moving forward. And let's not forget Smeagol/Gollum from Lord of the Rings—a character who both terrifies and fascinates her with his inner turmoil.
Mark - bass and vocals
Jason - Lead & rhythm guitar, vocals, bass*
Mark - bass and vocals
Mark (or Mr. Hyde – your choice)
If there is an archetype for the classically trained bassist, Mark would fall far from that tree. He is a self-taught hobby guitarist who converted to bass late in life, but with the enthusiasm of someone who finally found an oasis in a desert of crowded lead lines. Always looking to set the foundation of t
Mark (or Mr. Hyde – your choice)
If there is an archetype for the classically trained bassist, Mark would fall far from that tree. He is a self-taught hobby guitarist who converted to bass late in life, but with the enthusiasm of someone who finally found an oasis in a desert of crowded lead lines. Always looking to set the foundation of the groove from his background in metal, grunge, alternative, early hip-hop, industrial, Pink Floyd, and Jimmy Buffett, Mr. Hyde believes that each note is sacred but should be closely connected to the entire grove. His primary influences are Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, Tim Commerford of Rage Against the Machine (et.al), and David Gilmour.
His favorite comic book character is Ghost Rider (whose comics he collected with a zeal only matched by his need to have every single Halo release from Nine Inch Nails) and plays a custom Fender bass inspired by his two favorite Mandalorians: Boba Fett and Din Djarin. His favorite Lord of the Rings character is Strider.
Jason - Lead & rhythm guitar, vocals, bass*
Jason - Lead & rhythm guitar, vocals, bass*
Jason - Lead & rhythm guitar, vocals, bass*
Jason is a musician whose passion for guitars and amps vastly outweighs his actual skill level. His influences are all over the place, including The Doors, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Sigur Ros, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Buckley, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd (he was forced to stop listing bands at this point). While some might
Jason is a musician whose passion for guitars and amps vastly outweighs his actual skill level. His influences are all over the place, including The Doors, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Sigur Ros, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Buckley, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd (he was forced to stop listing bands at this point). While some might argue he should allocate more time to just practicing music rather than fixating on the perfect amount of delay or reverb, or the precise type of overdrive or distortion for each moment, his devotion to playing remains steadfast.
Whether he's rocking out to 90s-esque tunes with the Mixtapes from Mars, leading worship at Discovery Christian Church, or simply losing himself in his headphones while managing cloud infrastructure, Jason finds solace and inspiration in the power of sound, usually at volumes that others might find excessive. He dreams of a world where his tones, or any musical expression in general, contribute to a collective harmony and peace in the world, and to a time when restaurants serve blue cheese stuffed olives as an actual side dish that you can order.
His favorite Lord of the Rings character is Frodo, yet he's pretty sure he's never seen the film the whole way through.
* Occasionally plays bass in Mixtapes, subject to Mark's global escapades
rafael - drums
Gan - keys, guitar, Mandolin, vocals, Bass*
Jason - Lead & rhythm guitar, vocals, bass*
Introducing the rhythmic force behind the sticks: Rafael, the Puerto Rican powerhouse pounding out beats that'll make your 90s nostalgia groove! Hailing from the vibrant rhythms of Puerto Rico, Rafael brings a melting pot of influences to the stage. With a drumming style infused with metal, alternative, Afro-Cuban, and jazz flavors, Rafae
Introducing the rhythmic force behind the sticks: Rafael, the Puerto Rican powerhouse pounding out beats that'll make your 90s nostalgia groove! Hailing from the vibrant rhythms of Puerto Rico, Rafael brings a melting pot of influences to the stage. With a drumming style infused with metal, alternative, Afro-Cuban, and jazz flavors, Rafael is like a musical gumbo – spicy, soulful, and impossible to resist. Inspired by the the raw energy of Matt Cameron, the groove mastery of Horacio "el negro" Hernandez, and the pioneering rhythms of Tony Allen, Rafael is a walking jukebox of drumming greatness. When he's not behind the kit, you might find him air-drumming to the soundtrack of his life or trying to turn everyday objects into percussion instruments (much to the annoyance of his neighbors). Join Rafael and the band as they take you on a journey back to the 90s, where flannel was king, and the beat was everything.
Gan - keys, guitar, Mandolin, vocals, Bass*
Gan - keys, guitar, Mandolin, vocals, Bass*
Gan - keys, guitar, Mandolin, vocals, Bass*
Gan plays a number of instruments that can create melodic sounds, some of those instruments include: keys, alto sax, guitar, bass, ukulele, mandolin, balalaika, tuning forks, irish tin whistle (don't ask or she may bust it out and start playing Danny Boy), and her favorite thing to create music with - the mouth trumpet. She also likes to
Gan plays a number of instruments that can create melodic sounds, some of those instruments include: keys, alto sax, guitar, bass, ukulele, mandolin, balalaika, tuning forks, irish tin whistle (don't ask or she may bust it out and start playing Danny Boy), and her favorite thing to create music with - the mouth trumpet. She also likes to sing when the occasion arises or when she gets to do her best Dolores O'Riordan impression. Gan was asked to participate in creating celebratory sounds with the Mixtapes from Mars and felt that the mission was an important one because it's not too often you might get a mixtape from Mars or any other planet for that matter. She's also been in various praise bands throughout the years and continues to work on her own music that is gospel influenced.
Her earthly musical influences are extremely numerous and diverse, and include some of the following:
Pink Floyd, The Doors, The Cure, Blue Öyster Cult, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Eagles, SRV, Cocteau Twins, The Sundays, The Cranberries, Sinead O'Connor, Pixies, Neko Case, Patsy Cline, Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, Roy Orbison, Brent Mason, John Mayer, Rufus Wainwright, BT, Tiësto, a bunch of EDM artists you've never heard of, Grimes (before she got famous), LP, Suki Waterhouse, Mitski,Norah Jones, The Veils, The Decembrists, Vacation Manor, Rayland Baxter, Beach Weather, Gorillaz, The Dandy Warhols, Thievery Corporation, Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, John Coltrane, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Mark Knopfler, Vince Gill, Aimee Mann, Lynryd Skynrd, Fleetwood Mac.... ok this is getting ridiculous, you get the point.
* Occasionally plays bass in Mixtapes, subject to Mark's global escapades
Jarid - LEad & Rhythm guitar, bass*
Gan - keys, guitar, Mandolin, vocals, Bass*
Gan - keys, guitar, Mandolin, vocals, Bass*
If Jarid isn't playing rock, Somebody Get Me a Doctor. Predictably, his music influences are Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Alice in Chains, Chris Cornell, Pearl Jam, Metallica, Dream Theater, Red Hot Chili Peppers, SRV, Ozzy, Extreme, Alter Bridge, TSO.... And of course, a few Michael Jackson songs. He's played in multiple cover/tribute bands on
If Jarid isn't playing rock, Somebody Get Me a Doctor. Predictably, his music influences are Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Alice in Chains, Chris Cornell, Pearl Jam, Metallica, Dream Theater, Red Hot Chili Peppers, SRV, Ozzy, Extreme, Alter Bridge, TSO.... And of course, a few Michael Jackson songs. He's played in multiple cover/tribute bands on and off over the years, and also plays regularly on the Discovery Christian Church worship team in Mars which is extremely humbling and the great company makes him a Better Man.
No Excuses, but unfortunately he's forgotten more songs by these artists than he can count. No More Tears for that, since he can and will tell you about every guitar/amp/speaker he's ever owned in his insatiable search for the ultimate guitar tone... Much to the dismay of his (supportive) wife and (unsupportive) wallet. For him musically, guitar is his voice, tone/style is the inflection, and notes are the words... Or that's the story because his singing ability is laughable. Whether it be at church or in Mixtapes from Mars, his goal is to mesh with his bandmates to help convey the songs message, and create an environment to appreciate good music... It won't be the greatest performance in the world, just a Tribute.
Get to know him and you'll also notice his love of his wife and 2 boys, sports, smoked meats, his self depreciating and dry sense of humor, or just ask him about occasional bursts of energy that result in Scar Tissue... You'll need some information first, just the basic facts, then he'll show you where it hurts.
* Occasionally plays bass in Mixtapes, subject to Mark's global escapades
