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Mark Sinnis
Mark Sinnis, Singer songwriter born Aug 25, 1963. Founder of New York City bands Apostates and Ninth House and solo artist. Born on Long Island in Cedarhurst, New York in 1963. Entered the United States Air Force in 1983. Enlisted from 1983 -1987. His first band Apostates formed in 1988 as a melodic Punk/Rock band. The band was started by him (Vocals/Bass), and his brother Francis Xavier (Drums). In 1989 the band released a Demo and appeared on several Lower East Side N.Y.C. compilations.

In 1990, after one of many line up changes, the bands primary songwriter Mark Sinnis decided to move the direction to a darker Gothic sound. In 1991 Apostates released a Single, "Burning World Of Hate" on the Punk California label, Vinyl Communications.

In 1992 a self released full length album "In Vain" was released. Around this period Apostates also released several songs on the German label OX Records. In 1995 Apostates released their second single "Burn" followed in 1995 by their last CD "Ashtray", but by this time Mark Sinnis was already moving into another new direction.

After ten years Apostates made their mark in the New York City Punk/Gothic scene playing everywhere from underground lower east side squats to the Limelight and CBGB'S. In 1998, after a ten year run, and numerous revolving door line-up changes, Mark Sinnis and Francis Xavier ended the band.

Mark Sinnis started Ninth House in 1998.

Ninth House, Ninth House is a New York City band that has been playing a distinctive blend of alternative country and dark rock since it's inception in 1998. With a sound summed up as "Gothic Johnny Cash meets The Clash" they manage to blend varied influences to produce their haunting and unforgettable "Cemetery & Western" sound. Mark is joined in Ninth House by former Apostates drummer and brother Francis Xavier. New York City music scene veteran Keith Otten plays guitar. Other band members included Bernard SanJuan, Guitar and Zach Ingram, Keyboards.

Ninth House has four full length CDs to date. The first release in 2000, “Swim In The Silence” featured the single “Injury Home” which appeared on the Fox TV show “ANGEL”, episode "Spin The Bottle". This album got recognized by Indie Music.com.

In 2005, the band released their second album, “The Eye That Refuses to Blink” which featured the epic song "Forsaken Psalm". Their third CD, “Realize And It’s Gone”, was released in June 2007, and features the Johnny Cash/Stan Jones classic “Ghost Riders In The Sky" done in the classic Ninth House "Cemetery & Western" style.

Music critic Mick Mercer noted Sinnis's vocals as "Quite superb vocals, of a calibre most bands within the scene cannot match"

The fourth full length Ninth House CD, “11 Cemetery & Western Classics” was released in August 2010. The album was reviewed as "Faultless" by critical Gothic music writer Mick Mercer.

Mark Sinnis present:

Mark Sinnis is a New York City music scene veteran. He has been writing a dark blend of Rock, Country and Alternative music since 1998 to create his signature modern "Cemetery & Western" sound, with thought-provoking lyrics.

Mark, whose music spans over two decades, started his music career as the co-founder and singer/songwriter of the N.Y.C. Punk turned Gothic band Apostates, which lasted for 10 years from 1988 -1998 and released two full length albums and 2 singles. In 1998 he started his current band, Ninth House, and is the sole songwriter for the group.

With a distinctive voice that has been acclaimed as a hybrid of vocal greats like Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison, Sinnis’s music incorporates dark undertones as well as traditional Country music with a contemporary modern edge.

Mark's debut album “Into An Unhidden Future” contained 19 tracks and was released in 2008. It contained both old songs from Apostates and new ones, all introduced with his new acoustic stripped down sound. Lucid Culture called the CD a mix of Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison.

The album “A Southern Tale” followed in 2009, which contained the title song about Memphis and Elvis's Graceland. This album, although subdued, captured a more focused "Cemetery & Western" sound. The album was called "sweet, often touching collection of singer-song writer music." by Sepia Chord Music

In 2010, Mark's third album "The Night's Last Tomorrow" was released and listed as one of the top albums of 2010 by music critic Mick Mercer. In Mercer’s words: "He’s like a swashbuckling son of Johnny Cash, swaying and crooning dramatically". "Like Roy Orbison walking down subterranean corridors, alone in the dark". This album showed off Sinnis's broad vocal range with unique renditions of classics like "Gloomy Sunday" and "St. James Infirmary".

In June 2011, "The Undertaker In My Rearview Mirror" was released and contained 13 tracks. This fourth release continues Mark's journey into life, love, relationships, and death. Lucid Culture reviewd the CD as "Arguably his deepest and darkest. A loosely thematic collection of songs with a cautionary “carpe diem” message, it’s a mix of Johnny Cash-influenced Nashville gothic along with artsy, atmospheric rock"

This album explores Sinnis's darker side of Country music with songs like "The Undertaker In My Rearview Mirror", a spoken word song about how death always lurks around us.

The album also contains two unique renditions of classic country songs "Ghost Riders In The Sky," and "Fifty Odd Hours" (Sixteen Tons). With "Ghost Riders In The Sky," Sinnis takes you on an ominous, dark ride in the sky right out of a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western. "Fifty Odd Hours" is a modern spin on the classic "Sixteen Tons" that would surely make the original author Merle Travis proud.

The album ends with the song “I’ll Have Another Drink Of Whiskey, ‘Cause Death Is Not So Far Away” which music blog Lucid Culture called the drinking anthem that pays homage to the patron saint of doomed drinkers, Shane MacGowan.

Mark Sinnis has been noted for starting his own genre called "Cemetery & Western" which is a modern style that combines the best of Gothic and Country music.

Musicians who play with Mark Sinnis and on his recordings include:

Mark Sinnis ~ Acoustic Guitar|Bass|Vocals Susan Mitchell ~ Violin & Cello Sara Landeau ~ Lead Electric Guitar Matt Dundas ~ Piano Lenny Molotov ~ Lap Steel Guitar Eric Enjem ~ Keyboards Francis Xavier ~ Drums Annette Kudrak ~ Accordion Keith Otten ~ Lead Electric Guitar Dave Sussman ~ Lead Electric Guitar Zach Ingram ~ Keyboards Bernard San Juan ~ Lead Electric Guitar

Mark Sinnis music biography to date:

Apostates ~ "Burning World Of Hate" - 7 inch / Released 1991 Apostates ~ "In Vain" - CD/ Released 1993 Apostates ~ "Burn" - 7 inch/ Released 1995 Apostates ~ "Ashtray" - CD/ Released 1996 Ninth House ~ "Aerosol" - CD-EP/ Released 1998 Ninth House ~ "Swim In The Silence" - CD/ Released 2000 Ninth House ~ "The Eye That Refuses To Blink" - CD/ Released 2005 Ninth House ~ "Realize And It's Gone" - CD/ Released 2007 Mark Sinnis ~ "Into An Unhidden Future" - CD/ Released 2008 Mark Sinnis ~ "A Southern Tale" - CD/ Released 2009 Mark Sinnis ~ "The Night's Last Tomorrow" - CD/ Released 2010 Ninth House ~ "11 Cemetery & Western Classics" - CD/ Released 2010 Mark Sinnis ~ "The Undertaker In My Rearview Mirror" - CD/ Released 2011