Life & Work with Mark Allee of Nashville Tennessee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Allee.

Hi Mark, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Sure! Thank you for having me again. I wanted to highlight a pivotal moment. Like many in 2020, we had to shut down, and in short, it turned out to be the best thing to happen to me personally. Moments like that don’t come often in history, and what I called “The Great Reset Button” gave me perspective and forced me to answer important questions for myself:

“What else am I good at?”
“How else can I add value to this world?”

In 2020, there was no more FOMO—no more “Fear of Missing Out.” I had a phone call that was disheartening and left me really bummed. A country artist I had been playing with let me go. After devoting all my energy to that person, I faced the harsh reality that many hired-gun musicians do. So, I asked myself those questions and did what anyone in that position would do—I started learning.

I grew up in Northern California, born in San Jose in 1980. From 1980 to 1989, I lived south of the Bay Area before moving to Petaluma in 1989. In 2005, I left for Los Angeles. I had been an artist from the age of five, obsessed with painters and artists like William Alexander, Bob Ross, and the great Jim Davis, who created Garfield. Art was all I knew because, frankly, I was terrible at math and everything else. After graduating high school, I attended The Academy of Art College in San Francisco for four years but eventually dropped out to pursue drumming.

In 2005, I moved to Los Angeles to attend Musicians Institute in Hollywood. That story is detailed in another interview, so I won’t repeat it here. However, what’s important is how this background impacted me in 2020. While playing drums for various bands and artists, I had already been involved in artistic work—designing logos, creating T-shirts, and even dabbling in video with camcorders. I knew a little about photography and video, but it dawned on me that I knew nowhere near enough to be a professional.

So, I turned to YouTube to learn how to work a camera. I also needed to learn editing. I had dabbled in iMovie before and loved it, but I needed to get up to speed. I spent hours studying and following some of the greats on YouTube at the time—Pete McKinnon, Parker Walbeck, and others. Fortunately, with the financial aid available at the time, I invested in my first camera. I spent countless hours learning, downloading software, and honing my craft.

Fast forward to today—I now have a whole new way of generating income, and it has given me a renewed sense of value. Like many, I went through depression during that period, but I quickly realized that I do have value and that I can be happy. I decided to put drumming in the backseat, even though it was the very reason I had moved to Nashville. in the first place.

But funny enough, music found its way back to me. A great friend of mine, Timothy Stanton Dial, befriended me and invited me to join his band Firepower, an ‘80s tribute band at the time. He later referred me to Tattered Sons, and I’ve been with them ever since.

I let go of drumming, and it came right back to me. I was shocked. After that, I decided to stop taking random gigs and focus only on the music I truly loved.

I thought to myself, I LOVE Pink Floyd—it’s therapeutic and makes me happy. No one is going to hire me for a tribute band, so I’ll start my own. So, I did just that, and I’ve now been active with it for two years celebrating two bands I love dearly.

I LOVE Pink Floyd and Bad Religion, so I started a Pink Floyd Tribute and a Bad Religion tribute band as well.
Both of these projects allowed me to flex my artistic and musical skills. MY HAPPY PLACES, The two tribute bands are called:

DOMINE – For the Love of Pink Floyd. nashvillepinkfloyd.com
NO CONTROL – A Bad Religion Tribute. nocontrolnashville.com

I also share knowledge with my new endeavors. My Youtube channel under my name Mark Allee, https://www.youtube.com/@MarkAllee
where I share my skills and knowledge of the history of Nashville through the eyes of a musician, Interview successful friends of mine in the entertainment industry as well as education content. My latest endeavor is Young Creators Studio, where I teach kids how to be content creators along side their parents. youngcreatorsstudio.com

Now, I feel great about life, and to this day, I continue to receive opportunities and thrive as much as I can. I’m creating music videos, promo videos, photoshoots, logo designs, and album artwork, all while playing in my tribute bands and an original rock band.

Most importantly, I’ve rediscovered my sense of value—something I had always wanted to be reminded of.
I also resurrected my YouTube channel, Mark Allee, because it lives and dies with me. It’s my platform to share these stories and experiences that I’ve had the pleasure of living up until this point. I share my experiences in Nashville and Interview famous friends in the industry and help tell their stories.

Life is good and I’m grateful for any future projects and collaborations.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The reality is that you’re just one of thousands doing the same thing. So, how do you stand out? How do you carve out your own unique space while keeping up with trends? In an industry where supply often outweighs demand, growth and evolution aren’t just options—they’re necessities. The key lies in innovation, authenticity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. How will you rise above the noise?

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
These days, I work as a Cinematographer, Director, Editor, and Producer, bringing my own film projects to life. I’m currently shooting a documentary about a well-known public figure and collaborating with local artists here in Nashville. Beyond filmmaking, I also work as a photographer and logo designer, constantly exploring different creative avenues. Having the ability to do design work of any kind has been truly helpful in my creative endeavors. It’s incredibly rewarding to do so for other creative people as well.

as before mentioned and I’ll mention again, for the music side if things, I have taken that in my own control, operating two tribute bands. One is DOMINE: For the Love of Pink Floyd, a tribute to Pink Floyd, and the other is NO CONTROL, dedicated to the legendary punk band Bad Religion. Creativity isn’t just my profession—it’s my way of life, expressed across multiple artistic mediums. It’s a great super power to have, the power of creativity.

I often use this analogy when discussing any form of art: Think like a painter. Every picture should tell a story. You start with a blank canvas, applying gesso so the paint adheres. But before applying color, you need a color scheme—otherwise, your choices will feel disconnected. Understanding color theory and how to mix hues is essential for depth and vibrancy. Once you have the foundation, you begin layering, building the image step by step. A strong base coat sets the stage for the details that follow. Layer upon layers are applied and then come the final touches bring the vision to life, transforming scattered elements into a cohesive, meaningful piece.

This principle applies to everything I create. Whether it’s music, film, photography, or design, the process remains the same: attention to detail, layering, and storytelling. In music, it’s about honoring the original intent of a song—playing it as it was meant to be played, not just interpreting it freely. A video requires an understanding of color, composition, and storytelling, just as a photo should evoke emotion and meaning.

At the core of it all, great art demands integrity, passion, self-critique, and an awareness of human emotion. As creators, we have a responsibility to respect the work, refine our craft, and deliver something that resonates. Because in the end, that’s what the audience—what we all—seek: something that moves us, inspires us, and makes us feel.

What were you like growing up?
Creativity and art in every way helped me express myself. I’ve always been emotional and expressive—though a bit shy in my early years. That all changed in high school when I immersed myself in choirs and performance-based activities, experiences that became invaluable in shaping my life as a musician and performer. The people I still call close friends to this day and the inspirational people that fuel my fire as well as the growing support and trust, truly make life amazing and worth living.

I was fortunate to build deep friendships during my early years, many of which I still cherish to this day as I approach my 45th birthday on April 16th.

Empathy and a big heart have always been at my core, guiding my relationships, my work, and my creative journey. These qualities, along with the strong foundation I’ve built over the years, have been shaped by the stellar examples set before me—something I remain deeply grateful for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alleevisuals.com
• Instagram: @alleevisuals
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markalleemusic
• Twitter: @drumleviathan
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkAllee
• Other: https://www.nashvillepinkfloyd.com