Mark Berthold

Music was the main topic at my school but I was fanatical. I even started on classical guitar but it was not propulsive enough to satisfy an electric blues fan. When a few years later I chose to study law as well as philosophy I was approached by students disappointed by such lack of originality. They would be glad to know that I have written 23 songs since I stopped being a legal aid and law reform (originality is stubborn) lawyer in 2005. Going to China to teach provided both the inspiration and the guaranteed audience! Also a long-term National Geographic fan, I later hit the Marco Polo trail: http://english.china.com/mark .In "Wanderlust", Life's a Mystery" and "Mama Said" I combine my songs with my images. As Bob Dylan wrote in "Dirge": "In a world of fiber glass I'm looking for a gem."

Nice to be now able to share some of the gems to be spotted more easily perhaps off the beaten track-my other songs grittier.

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