Question: Who and what are you most looking forward to at the Melbourne Guitar Show?
Minnie Marks: Dave Leslie and Sarah Mcleod; they were very early influences in my music career and still are to this day.
Question: Can you share your earliest guitar memory, with us?
Minnie Marks: I would say it would have been watching Sarah McLeod at one of the local pubs near where I grew up. I always wanted to play the guitar but I held back quite a bit because I thought I would have to play quietly and sing softly because I was a girl. But that changed very quickly when I saw Sarah shredding - I went home from that gig and it was game on ever since that day!
Question: What originally inspired you to begin playing the guitar?
Minnie Marks: My eldest brother used to dabble with guitar around house and I thought that was pretty cool. I wanted to be like him and soon after I picked up the guitar I couldn't put it down.
Question: What advice do you have for young aspiring guitarist?
Minnie Marks: Play for the right reasons, have fun while you're doing it and play as much as you can.
Question: What music and musicians are you currently listening to?
Minnie Marks: Currently I'm drowning my ears in Joey Landreth; he's a beautiful slide player, killer songwriter and his voice is honey.
Question: Who would you say has been your guitar hero?
Minnie Marks: Definitely Julz Parker from the Hussy Hicks; I was lucky enough those two girls took me under their wing and practically raised me on the road (laughs). She's one of the most humble, most musical guitarists I've ever had the pleasure playing music with and I'm grateful for the thousands of things she's taught me. Plus she gives a lot of the fellas a run for their money with their six string.
Question: Which is your all-time favourite guitar and why?
Minnie Marks: I would have to say my own. My EBG808C Maton Guitar with modified pickups. It's been with me for 14 years almost and I love that thing. But a few other honourable mentions for me would be a Gretsch Country Gent Junior, a Mule Resonator, and I'm digging on the Collings i35 (335 shaped beast). I could go on forever...
Question: What's next, for you?
Minnie Marks: I'm working on writing a new album at the moment and a new show. Lots of exciting things...
Interview by Brooke Hunter