Mark Cee is a Long Island-based indie folk singer/songwriter who recently delivered one of this year's most beautiful songs. Titled Missed Connection and serving as the second single from his forthcoming debut EP, the delicate, atmospheric tune immediately caught my attention.

Wanting to know more about the man behind the music, I reached out to Mark to see whether he'd be interested in having a little chat. Thankfully, he was more than happy to pull back the curtain!

Taking us through the inspiration behind Missed Connection, his thoughts on music's role in society, and the three albums he'd want by his side if stranded on a desert island, please welcome the hugely talented Mark Cee!

Hi Mark, I'm so grateful you've taken the time to chat with us, and I can't wait to introduce you to our ever-growing audience!

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, please tell us a little bit about your musical journey so far.

What sparked your passion for it, and how has that led you to where you are today?

I've been writing songs for about 30 years now, though mostly part-time — it's been a companion to a whole separate career, not a substitute for one.

I spent over a decade in academic technology leadership at CUNY, and music lived on the margins of that life: something I did on occasion rather than something I built a career around. It wasn't until 2025–2026, after retiring / at this point in my life, that I started formally releasing music under the name Mark Cee. It’s a passion project for me.

OK, let's talk about Missed Connection, your most recent release.

As one of the most moving pieces of music I've heard all year, I'm wondering if you could tell our readers what the writing process was like, and whether the finished product ended up being what you originally set out to create?

Missed Connection is about my father's sudden death, and what stays still after someone's gone — that sense of things frozen in place around an absence.

As for the writing and recording process: I don't chase polish for polish's sake. Everything I make comes out of a home studio — no live performances, no big production — I record until a take feels true, not until it's technically perfect.

Your sound has drawn comparisons to legendary artists like Bon Iver, Elliott Smith, and Nick Drake. Not bad company to keep!

Who are some of your biggest musical influences - and if I peeked at your ‘Recently Played’ section right now, who would I find there?

The comparisons to Bon Iver, Elliott Smith, and Nick Drake are flattering company — though interestingly, if you asked me directly, I'd point to a slightly different set: Traffic, Bon Iver, Tim Buckley, and The Beatles, as the artists who actually shaped how I write.

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.”

What would your life look like without music, and what fills your days when you’re not busy creating?

Walking and hiking through parks and the beaches here in Long Island. Enjoying my day and the quiet moments more as I am retired from a thirty-plus-year career.

What would “being successful” in the music industry look like for you? And do you see it as an imperative or more of a cherry on top?

Just having folks discover and enjoy my music for what it is and enjoying the creative experience. The music business is not something I am looking to pursue as a second career, been there and done that, not my focus.

What, to you, is music's role in society?

To be a pure creator, enjoying the process and sharing music.

OK, Mark – desert island time! You’re allowed to grab 3 albums before being stranded on an island. Which do you go with and why?

Traffic's self-titled album, and The Beatles' Rubber Soul and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Mark, it's been an absolute pleasure getting to know you better! Thanks again for taking the time.

Before we say farewell, what comes next for you musically, and do you have any words of wisdom you'd like to leave us with?

What's next is concrete: a debut LP, It's Me, Mark Cee, coming this fall — eight tracks, including How You Left Me Still and Missed Connection alongside six more.

Follow Mark Cee on Instagram

Mark Cee: “I don't chase polish for polish's sake…I record until a take feels true, not until it's technically perfect”

AJ Gilmore and Steve Simms of Rumour Den: “The music industry as we knew it and tried very hard to break into when we were younger is gone, and it won’t be coming back”