Equally divided between arena-rock and roots country, singer-songwriter CORY MARKS has released a double serving of new music today, June 28, with the rock-leaning “Guilty” featuring guest vocals from DL of Bad Wolves, and country-oriented summer anthem “Drunk When I’m High.” Both tracks are available digitally via all streaming platforms and will be included on MARKS’ forthcoming solo album due later this year via Better Noise Music.  

“Guilty (feat. DL of Bad Wolves)” was produced, engineered and mixed by Kile Odell (Failure Anthem, Nita Strauss). “‘Guilty’ is really all about being unapologetically yourself and being okay with that,” says MARKS. “Having DL of Bad Wolves join me on this track really adds more fuel to this rock song making it even harder and heavier—he sounds great on it. If living my life is a crime, then I’m guilty.” Stream/download “Guilty (feat. DL of Bad Wolves)” here: https://corymarks.ffm.to/guilty.

“This song was a really fun listen from the first time, so when I got the opportunity to sing on it, I was stoked,” shares DL. “This was really enjoying to do, thanks to Cory for having me.”

“Drunk When I’m High” was produced, engineered and mixed by Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Five Finger Death Punch, Shania Twain) at The Hideout Recording Studio in Henderson, NV. According to MARKS, “This summer anthem is just supposed to make you feel good, happy and upbeat. It’s a great song to turn up and play in your car, on your boat, at a house party, just chilling on a beach or by the pool all summer long. Drunk while I’m high watching days go by…” Stream/download “Drunk When I’m High” here: https://corymarks.ffm.to/guilty. 

MARKS has brought his country-rock fusion in front of a diverse range of audiences across Canada and the U.S. alongside acts including Five Finger Death Punch, ZZ Top, Toby Keith, and Brantley Gilbert, while also joining Nickelback on the main stage at this year’s Boots and Hearts festival. This summer, MARKS will appear at several festivals in Canada and a handful of headlining shows. See dates listed below and find ticket details at https://www.corymarks.com. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for a special U.S. tour announcement.

MARKS’ 2020 groundbreaking debut album, Who I Am, landed at #1 on several Canadian charts including iTunes’ “Country Songs” and the Canadian Nielsen “Digital Sales Rock Genre” charts. The album featured the hit rock single “Outlaws & Outsiders,” which charted at #1 in the U.S. on Billboard’s “Rock Digital Song Sales” chart and #5 on iTunes “Country Songs. “Outlaws & Outsiders” made history in the U.S. by being the first-ever Top 10 rock radio-charting single from a Canadian country act. The single has received over 160 million streams to date while achieving Platinum certification in Canada (MARKS’ home country) and Gold certification in the U.S.   MARKS has since released three additional EPs and kicked off 2024 with a new track, “A Different Kind Of Year,” which to date has accumulated  1 million streams and charted in the Top 10 on SiriusXM’s Top of the Country  Radio.

CORY MARKS TOUR DATES
7/1 Cold Lake, AB – Cold Lake Canada Day Celebration
7/3 Fort McMurray, AB – Kickin Horse Saloon
7/9 Calgary, AB – Zero Hungry Kids Bootleggin’ Breakfast (w/Aaron Pritchett & Matt Lang)
7/10 Calgary, AB – Burwood Stampede Music Festival Calgary 2024
7/27 Temiskaming Shores, ON – Sutton Bay Countryfest
8/2 Nashville, TN – Vinyl Lounge
8/4 Sturgis, SD – Buffalo Chip (w/ Travis Tritt)
8/23 Northumberland County, ON – Crooks Rapid’s Country Fest
9/6 Sault Ste. Marie, ON – The Machine Shop

Find CORY MARKS online at: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

A new rock-infused EP, titled I Rise, from next-generation country-rocker CORY MARKS arrives today, along with an official music video for his new track “Flying” appearing on YouTube. The new EP is being released as Marks’ US Top 10 active rock hit “Outlaws & Outsiders” nears Gold certification in the US and Platinum certification in Canada. His latest body of work includes singles “Burn It Up,” which appears on The Retaliators Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, and “In Me I Trust.” These new tracks have earned over 1.7M streams on digital streaming platforms combined and will be performed on tour with Five Finger Death Punch and Brantley Gilbert in cities across North America, including Nashville, Des Moines, Birmingham, and Las Vegas. His set will also feature songs from his massively successful sophomore album Who I Am, which was released in 2020 and as a result includes tracks that have never been performed live. Earning over 140M streams so far in his career, Cory Marks has established himself as a fixture in the up-and-coming country-rock genre. Listen to I Rise HERE, now available for streaming and download. Watch “Flying” HERE. 

“This EP was a blast to create and it’s very special to me because it’s rooted in my edgier rock side,” says Cory Marks. “Every track allowed me to push myself vocally and gave me one hell of a challenge, but it also allowed me the time to focus on writing rock songs that express my passion for the genre and this side of who I am as an artist”

Produced by Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, Shania Twain) and Kane Churko (In This Moment, Hellyeah), the new EP includes a collection of songs written during the pandemic, while Marks worked toward completing his pilot’s license. He was inspired by the intense training, determination, patience, and grit required to become a certified pilot, channeling this experience in the songs written for this EP. “Flying,” Marks’ new single and video, describes this process.

The official music video for “Flying” was directed by Travis Nesbitt. Marks and Nesbitt incorporated Marks’ passion for flying, featuring fighter jets from the Canadian Armed Forces in the video.

Joining Five Finger Death Punch and Brantley Gilbert on tour this fall, Marks is excited to perform his new music and fan-favorites. Fans can catch him in Grand Rapids for opening night, and in Tampa, Little Rock, and Dallas – for a solo tour stop – on other nights. The tour ends on December 17 in Las Vegas – visit http://www.corymarks.com/ for more information. Full list of dates below.

Stories Behind the Music

 

In Me I Trust is simply about believing in yourself and what you’re doing. Don’t give up and keep fighting for what you want, whatever that may be. You can make a plan, set goals or simply want to get through a hard time in your life. At the end of the day no one is going to do it but YOU, stand up, go get it and trust yourself! 

 

Burn It Up is an aggressive, energetic and positive rock anthem that is meant to push the listener to make you feel good. We know these past two years have been different and hard on many, so it’s meant to get us through that in a big way and see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Flying I have a great passion and respect for aviation as a private pilot myself and always dreamt of being a fighter pilot growing up. This song is a mix of my story as Cory the artist, but also through the eyes and mind of a fighter pilot about to go on his mission. Two of the greatest feelings in the world for me is that very moment you hit the stage and the moment your wheels leave the ground, both exhilarating, powerful and very unique. It’s about the wait finally being over, you know your mission and you know where you love to be, it’s time to fly! 

 

Jet Airliner This is a classic rock cover of a song I’ve always loved. When Kevin sent me the music and asked if I wanted to cover it, I jumped on it right away. After reading the lyrics I never realized how connected to the song I was. Not only is it talking about jets but the road life of an artist, leaving home and being away for sometimes months at a time to make this crazy dream come true! 

I Rise This business, as a newer artist, is very challenging and one of the hardest jobs to succeed in, especially when you’re doing something different and doing it your own way. It’s been a challenge but no matter what, you gotta rise and keep coming back and letting them know why you’re here and just who you are. You can’t quit, you keep climbing, believe in yourself until they start believing in you. The fighter in me will never die… I RISE.

Hold On is a song about always trying to find the light on your darkest days. We all have them and we will get through it. Don’t ever be afraid to reach out and get help or support when you feel you need it. There’s gonna be brighter and better days ahead, I’m here for you. 

I Rise Track List

1. In Me I Trust
2. Burn It Up
3. Flying
4. Jet Airliner
5. I Rise
6. Hold On 

Upcoming Tour Dates:

November 13 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center
November 16 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
November 17 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena
November 19 – Charleston, WV – Charleston Civic Coliseum
November 20 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
November 22 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
November 25 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena
November 26 – Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
November 27 – Dallas, TX – Amplified Live
November 29 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
November 30 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Arena
December 2 – Madison, WI – Alliant Energy Center Coliseum
December 3 – Green Bay, WI – Resch Center
December 5 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
December 6 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
December 7 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
December 9 – Grand Forks, ND – Alerus Center
December 10 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford Premier Center
December 12 – Great Falls, MT – The Newberry
December 13 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena
December 15 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Arena
December 17 – Las Vegas, NV – Michelob Ultra Arena

ABOUT CORY MARKS

In 2019, Billboard deemed Cory Marks’ top 10 Rock Radio single “Outlaws and Outsiders” the “hit that couldn’t be confined.” The same statement could be said about Cory himself, who has exploded onto airwaves and tour stages over the past few years, making himself known as the next generation of southern rock. Mixing the storytelling tradition of country music and the loud, unapologetic sounds of heavy rock, Cory’s music blasts with an aggressive, soulful edge. 2020 saw the release of his critically acclaimed debut album WHO I AM – spawning fan favorites like “Devil’s Grin” and “Blame It on the Double.”  The album is the product of an artist who knows where he’s been and has many excited to know where he’ll go.

“Outlaws and Outsiders,” which features country music icon Travis Tritt, Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch, and Mick Mars of Motley Crue, was a global hit, receiving more than 62 million streams and music video views worldwide, trending near the top of Shazam’s all-genre discovery charts alongside some of the biggest names in music, and already certified gold in Cory’s home country of Canada. Touring forces like Toby Keith and Brantley Gilbert have invited Cory to join them on the road. And despite this, Cory remains grounded and grateful. Rooted in the influence of his hometown in North Bay, Ontario, where he grew up surrounded by its salt-of-the-earth residents, Cory is undoubtedly himself, not just as a musician, but as a person.  He continues to be influenced by the acts that drew him to writing and performing in the first place: The Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Rush, Ozzy Osbourne, and most notably Merle Haggard, who Cory embodies in his own 21^st century way.

With a new studio album in the works and the upcoming horror-thriller film THE RETALIATORS in which he has an onscreen cameo and a song featured on the original soundtrack, Cory has just begun to make his mark(s) on the music industry.

For more information on Cory Marks, visit www.CoryMarks.com and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.