The Journey of Mark Foster

 

Who is Mark Foster?

American singer-songwriter Mark Derek Foster was born in Milpitas, California USA, on 29 February 1984, making Pisces his zodiac sign. He’s probably known best for being the lead singer of the American Indie pop band Foster the People, while their most popular song is perhaps “Pumped Up Kicks” – the song’s YouTube music video has been watched close to a billion times since it was uploaded on 5 February 2011.

Education and early life

Mark was raised in a small city close to Cleveland, Ohio, by his parents about whom he hasn’t spoken in public, because they prefer to stay away from media; he hasn’t disclosed whether or not he has siblings, and is thus believed to be an only child.

Mark became interested in music around the age of eight, when he began playing both the guitar and drums, while he eventually took on the piano and joined the Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus. He enrolled at Nordonia High School in 1998 and was a member of several garage bands during his four years there; Mark matriculated in 2002 and then focused on making a name for himself in the music industry, rather than to go after a college degree.

Mark’s career

Mark was advised by his father in 2002 to move to San Fernando Valley and live there with his uncle, believing that he would have more chances to succeed in music in Los Angeles, California; he later revealed that he had found it hard to adjust to this ‘intimidating city’, claiming that the people who were mentally ill held the most powerful positions in Los Angeles.

He worked various jobs during his first a couple of years there, including waiting tables, bartending and delivering pizzas – he spent eight years working as a pizza delivery boy.

i remember that one. was a beautiful night ❤️ -mf https://t.co/QxwjWoA7lG

— Foster The People (@fosterthepeople) January 21, 2022

Mark was unlucky with music, and his first real opportunity came in 2005, when he was nearly signed to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment; in the following year, he sang the song “Breakdown”, recorded for the 2006 teen comedy movie “Stick It”. He then recorded his single “The Ballad of Andy”, and produced several songs for bands The Rondo Brothers and Frodad.

Mark became seriously addicted to drugs in 2007 and 2008, but after realizing the negative impact drugs had on his health and his friends, he entered a rehab program; his friend, American actor and singer Brad Barron Renfro died from a heroin overdose on 15 January 2008, and Mark dedicated his 2009 song “Downtown” to Brad.

He began working as a commercial jingle writer for Mophonics in 2008, but after suffering from writer’s block realized that he needed a band. The following year saw him release his debut and so far only solo album “Solo Songs”, comprising nine songs; also in 2009, Mark met with Jacob ‘Cubbie’ Fink and Mark Pontius, and they founded Foster the People. The band was meant to be called ‘Foster and the People’, but after Fink and Pontius misunderstood the name, Mark chose to keep it.

Their first song was “Pumped Up Kicks”, which remains their most popular song today; it was released in 2010, and Foster the People then signed a contract with Columbia Records in May of the same year. The song was re-released under Columbia on 14 September 2010, and became a huge hit – it’s amongst only 64 songs which have been certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Their debut album “Torches” was released on 23 May 2011; it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, and reached #8 on the Billboard 200 chart. Foster the People’s second album “Supermodel” followed on 14 March 2014, and reached #3 on Billboard 200, and their third album “Sacred Hearts Club” was released on 21 July 2017, and its single “Sit Next to Me” was certified double platinum by RIAA.

The band’s debut extended play (EP) “Pick U Up” came out in September 2019, and their second EP “In the Darkest of Nights, Let the Birds Sing” followed in December 2020.

Most recently, in November 2021, Mark was featured on Taylor Swift’s album “Red (Taylor’s Version)”.

Love life and relationships

Mark prefers to keep his love life away from media, and there’s only one girl whom he’s dated, that his fans know about. He and famous American actress and producer Julia Garner began seeing each other sometime in the mid-2010s; they became engaged in March 2019, and married on 28 December of the same year. Julia’s appeared in 34 TV series and movies, and is probably known best for starring as Ruth Langmore in all the 44 episodes of the critically acclaimed crime thriller series “Ozark”, which aired from 2017 through 2022 and won 24 of its 206 award nominations; for her performance in “Ozark”, Julia won three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019, 2020 and 2022.

Mark’s married to Julia Garner as of April 2023, and doesn’t have children.

Interesting facts and hobbies

To honor his late grandfather who was a boxer, Mark has a tattoo of boxing gloves.

His favorite rock ‘n’ roll band’s The Beach Boys – Foster the People and The Beach Boys performed together at the 2012 Grammy Awards.

Mark bought Maurice Bernard’s Hollywood Hills home in 2013, for $2.1 million.

He loves to travel because he feels the need to break free from the special treatment he gets in the US; he’s spent months living in India and Africa, and his travels have influenced his music.

Mark’s favorite actors are Hugh Grant and Russell Crowe, and some of his favorite movies include “Sense and Sensibility”, “Music and Lyrics”, and “Paddington”.

Height, eyes and wealth

Mark’s age is 39. His hair and eyes are brown, he’s 5ft 9ins (1.75m) tall and weighs around 155lbs (71kgs).

Mark’s net worth’s been estimated at over $10 million, as of April 2023.