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Mark Spicoluk

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Mark Spicoluk
Spicoluk in 2023
Spicoluk in 2023
Background information
OriginEdmonton, Alberta, Canada
Genres
Occupations
Instruments
  • Bass guitar
  • vocals
Years active1994–present
LabelsUnderground Operations
Formerly of
PartnerJuliana Spicoluk (née Semenova)
Websitemarkspicoluk.com

Mark Spicoluk is a Canadian content creator, yoga instructor, musician, podcaster,[1] and entrepreneur.[2] He is best known as co-creator and yoga teacher for the lifestyle brand Boho Beautiful, his time as bass player with Avril Lavigne, and as the vocalist and bassist for the punk rock band Closet Monster.[3][4] From 2012 to 2015 he appeared as a judge on YTV's The Next Star.[5] He is also known as the founder of the indie record label Underground Operations, and his production credits on albums by artists such as Protest the Hero, Abandon All Ships, Stereos and DVBBS. Along with his musical and business accomplishments, he is also a strong animal rights and social justice advocate.[6][7]

Boho Beautiful

[edit]
Boho Beautiful
Websitewww.bohobeautiful.life
YouTube information
Years active2014–present
Genre(s)Travel
Yoga
Fitness
Wellness
Subscribers2.69 million (Boho Beautiful Yoga)
91.1K (Boho Beautiful Life)
Total views401,225,467 (Boho Beautiful Yoga)
1,256,286 (Boho Beautiful Life)

In 2014, Mark and Juliana Spicoluk (née Semenova, born May 16, 1990 in Siberia Russia, raised in Ukraine)[8] started a YouTube channel known as Boho Beautiful, when Mark became injured while snowboarding and decided to take up yoga for his recovery.[9][10][11] The channel has content that focuses on the tranquility of the mind and body. Topics include yoga, fitness, pilates, guided meditation, a vegan diet, and self-awareness.[12]

Boho Beautiful held a tour in 2017, during which the Spicoluks taught yoga classes and met with the channel's community across North America.[13][14] In 2017, Mark and Juliana Spicoluk also published their first book, The Happy Healthy Plant-Based Eating Guide.[15][16] In 2020, Boho Beautiful published its second book.[17]

Boho Beautiful also has content about veganism and meditation topics.[18]

Boho Beautiful had over 2 million subscribers on YouTube and was the third-most followed channel in the yoga category.[19] Their videos have been mentioned in Prevention magazine,[20] Vogue Australia,[21] Cosmopolitan,[22] The South African,[23] Men's Journal,[24] Shape Magazine,[25] and AsiaOne.[26]

Stars+Destruct. podcast

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Spicoluk is currently the co-host of the podcast stars+destruct. with his wife Juliana Spicoluk.[27] The podcast has a 4.9 out of 5 rating from over 4000 listeners[28] on Spotify, and has had guests such as Teal Swan,[29] Chris Williamson,[30] actor Adrien Grenier,[31] Ricki Lake,[32] Vandana Shiva,[33] Aubrey Marcus,[34] Mei-Lan,[35] film-maker Kip Anderson,[36] & Shunyamurti.[37]

Music career overview

[edit]

Spicoluk founded and played bass for the band Closet Monster from 1997 until their last show in December 2005, and established the indie punk rock label Underground Operations in 1995.[38] In the winter of 2002 Spicoluk began playing bass for Avril Lavigne and helped prepare the launch of her first album "Let Go."[39] From 2007 until 2012 he was an A&R Representative, eventually becoming Head of A&R for Universal Music Canada as well as a personal A&R for Gene Simmons at Simmons Records.[40][41] He has production credits on albums by Protest the Hero, Abandon All Ships and many others. Most recently Spicoluk has co-founded a new entertainment business service company called Cloud Empire.[42]

Spicoluk appeared for two seasons on MuchMusic's reality show Disband from 2009 to 2011,[43] and then judged on YTV's The Next Star for its last three seasons.

Activism and charity work

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Spicoluk is a vegan, and has publicly supported and worked with several animals rights groups in Toronto, including Toronto Pig Save, Peta2 and Mercy for Animals.[44] He has also appeared in a public service announcement for Finding Fido,[45] and has hosted parties for Fuck Cancer, a Montreal-based organization devoted to cancer research.[46]

Early bands

[edit]

Spicoluk sang and played lead guitar in his first band, Public Display, formed with high school friends in 1995 under the name Special Ed. The band played shows all over Ontario, releasing a self-titled CD in 1996.

Closet Monster

[edit]
Main article: Closet Monster (band)

Spicoluk was the bassist and vocalist for the political punk band Closet Monster during its entire existence from 1997 to 2005. Over the course of 7 albums and countless tours of North America and Europe, Spicoluk also co-wrote every song and co-produced every release. Closet Monster's lyrics focused on political and social issues such as human rights violations, gender equality, anti-capitalism, and strongly supported animal rights. The band reunited for one show in 2009 at Wakestock festival in Wasaga Beach, Ontario.[47]

Avril Lavigne

[edit]

Early in 2002, Spicoluk was hired to play bass in Avril Lavigne's band as well as help prepare the launch of her first album, Let Go. Appearing on TV shows such as Good Morning America, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, and in stadiums all around the world. He was also featured in the videos for the songs "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi". Spicoluk later left the band to focus on Closet Monster and Underground Operations.[48]

Underground Operations

[edit]
Main article: Underground Operations

Spicoluk founded Underground Operations to put out releases by his own bands, in hopes that one day they could also release other bands they knew. Originally called Underground Monkey Operations, the label released albums by Public Display and Closet Monster before becoming Underground Operations in 2002. Originally releasing albums by Toronto bands Hostage Life, Bombs Over Providence, and Marilyn's Vitamins, as well as the first of many records by Protest the Hero. By 2007 the label had released albums by The Brat Attack, Dead Letter Dept., I Hate Sally, and These Silhouettes. The next few years saw a change in sound for the label, releasing music by Aspirations, acoustic act Machete Avenue and the Juno-winning first album by Lights. In the next few years the label released albums including Means, Kingdoms and Kathleen Turner Overdrive as well as the much loved The Holly Springs Disaster. Today the label is home to Abandon All Ships, Rob Moir, Diemonds, Skynet and Hands and Teeth. Spicoluk serves as the President/Founder.[49]

Universal Music Canada

[edit]

In 2007, Spicoluk became an A&R representative at Universal Music Canada. Eventually he became Head of A&R, overseeing the entire domestic roster, including Drake, The Tragically Hip, Down With Webster, and Hey Ocean!.[50] During his time at Universal, Spicoluk also worked as a personal A&R for Gene Simmons, signing bands Kobra and the Lotus and The Envy to his label Simmons Records.[51]

Cloud Empire

[edit]

In 2013, Spicoluk partnered with artist manager Dan Hand to create Cloud Empire, a business collective. specializing in music, entertainment, and business services.[52]

Television work

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Spicoluk appeared for two seasons as a panelist on the Muchmusic reality show Disband. Discovering the band Stereos on the show, Spicoluk went on to manage and develop the band into one of 2011's most successful new Canadian artists.[53] In 2012 Spicoluk became a judge on YTV's The Next Star, a youth-oriented singing competition along with singers Tara Oram and Keshia Chanté. In 2014, Chanté was replaced by Dan Kanter.[54] Spicoluk also appears on the web show From Far And Wide, which crosses Canada documenting homegrown music.[55]

Closet Monster discography

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Studio production credits

[edit]
  • Closet Monster – Killed the Radio Star – 2003 – producer/performance
  • Protest the Hero – Search for the Truth – 2003 – producer
  • Closet Monster – Re-built This City – 2005 – producer/performer
  • Protest the Hero – Kezia – 2006 – executive producer
  • The Brat Attack – 2006 – producer
  • Chad Michael Stewart – Machete Avenue – 2008 – executive producer
  • Protest the Hero – Fortress − 2008 – executive producer
  • These Silhouettes – Thomas EP – 2008 – producer
  • Stereos – Stereos – 2009 – executive producer/guest performer/composer
  • Abandon All Ships – Geeving – 2010 – composer, producer
  • Stereos – Stereos – Uncontrollable – 2010 – composer, executive producer
  • The Artist Life – Impossible – 2011 – composer
  • Abandon All Ships – Infamous – 2012 – producer
  • DVBBS – Initio EP – 2012 – composer, producer
  • Protest the Hero – A Calculated Use of Sound – producer[when?]

Music video appearances

[edit]
  • Closet Monster – Mr. Holland vs. Acceptable Behaviour – Performer[56]
  • Closet Monster – Corporate Media Death Squad – Performer[57]
  • Avril Lavigne – Complicated – Performer[58]
  • Avril Lavigne – Sk8er Boi – Performer[59]
  • Protest the Hero – These Colours Don't Run – Cameo[60]
  • Alexisonfire – Waterwings (And Other Poolside Fashion Faux Pas)[61]
  • Closet Monster – Mamma Anti-Fascisto – Performer[62]
  • The Brat Attack – Mr. Capitalist – Cameo[63]
  • Closet Monster – Punk Rock Ruined My Life – Performer[64]
  • Hostage Life – This Song Was Written by a Committee – Cameo[65]
  • Protest the Hero – Palms Read – Feature[66]
  • Lights – Drive My Soul – Role- The Spaceman[67]
  • Stereos – Summer Girl – Cameo[68]
  • Jhevon Paris – She Got Me – Cameo[69]
  • Stereos – She Only Likes Me When She's Drunk – Cameo[70]
  • Abandon All Ships – Geeving – Cameo[71]

Underground Operations roster history

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "stars+destruct. | a critical podcast experience". stars+destruct. | a critical podcast experience. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Mark Spicoluk | Who Is Mark Spicoluk?". Mark Spicoluk. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
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  9. ^ "Mark Spicoluk | Who Is Mark Spicoluk?". Mark Spicoluk. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  10. ^ Mallon, Skye (6 April 2017). "Boho Beautiful: A Wellness Collaboration Combining Love, Positivity And Health".
  11. ^ Tracy, Liz. "The Yoga YouTubers of Boho Beautiful Will Teach a Miami Class for Charity". Miami New Times.
  12. ^ "How to balance happiness with success, according to Boho Beautiful's Juliana Spicoluk". TODAY.com.
  13. ^ "Six YouTube Yogis You Need to Know". Haute Living. 6 October 2017.
  14. ^ Lindstrand, Emily. "Yoga class will benefit animals". joomlakave.com.
  15. ^ "The Happy Healthy Plant Based Eating Guide". Goodreads.com.
  16. ^ Moeller, Hans-Georg; D'Ambrosio, Paul J. (25 May 2021). You and Your Profile: Identity After Authenticity. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231551595 – via Google Books.
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  18. ^ "Boho Beautiful Review". DietSpotlight. 4 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Research: Fitness gurus earn big on social media in pandemic". advanced-television.com. 26 March 2021.
  20. ^ Dolgoff, Stephanie (31 May 2020). "These Popular YouTube Yoga Workouts Will Help You Ease Stiffness, Increase Flexibility, and Lose Weight". Prevention.
  21. ^ Clark, Lucie (30 July 2021). "The 15 best online workouts, according to the Vogue team". Vogue Australia.
  22. ^ "These Free Pilates Workout Videos Will Kick Your Butt Without Even Leaving the House". Cosmopolitan. 28 July 2021.
  23. ^ "YouTube workouts: Top five free channels for yoga and pilates". The South African. 20 April 2021.
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  32. ^ Ricki Lake | BIG PHARMA & Our Medical Systems 'Low-Key' Gaslighting - What Women & Families NEED To Know, 1 March 2023, retrieved 21 June 2023
  33. ^ "Stars & Destruct.: Vandana Shiva | Living Consciously Amidst The Globalists, Corporatocracies, Bill Gates, & Corrupted Captured Institutions on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  34. ^ Aubrey Marcus | The Mind Virus, Psychedelics & The Warrior Poet, 19 October 2022, retrieved 21 June 2023
  35. ^ "episode 1 with Mei-lan Maurits | stars+destruct. podcast". stars+destruct. | a critical podcast experience. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  36. ^ Kip Andersen & Kameron Waters | When Art Attacks- What The Health, Seaspiracy, Cowspiracy, & The Final Chapter ✟, 11 March 2023, retrieved 21 June 2023
  37. ^ "episode 6 with Shunyamurti | stars+destruct. podcast". stars+destruct. | a critical podcast experience. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
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  39. ^ "Avril Lavigne - mark spicoluk official site". Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  40. ^ "CMW 2008 LARRY LEBLANC NEWSLETTER". Archived from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
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  44. ^ [3] [permanent dead link]
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  52. ^ "Cloud Empire Creative - mark spicoluk official site". Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  53. ^ "Much Music's Disband - mark spicoluk official site". Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  54. ^ "YTV Canada Inc. | the Next Star Season 7 to feature new judge, Dan Kanter". Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  55. ^ "From Far and Wide". Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  56. ^ "Closet Monster – "Mr. Holland vs. Mr. Acceptable Behaviour"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  57. ^ "Closet Monster – "Corporate Media Death Squad" Underground Operations". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  58. ^ "Avril Lavigne – Complicated". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  59. ^ "Avril Lavigne – Sk8er Boi". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  60. ^ "Protest the Hero – "These Colors Don't Run"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  61. ^ "Alexisonfire – Water Wings". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  62. ^ "Closet Monster – "Mamma Anti-Fascisto: Never Surrender"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  63. ^ "The Brat Attack – "Mr. Capitalist" Underground Operations". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  64. ^ "Closet Monster – "Punk Rock Ruined My Life" Underground Operations". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  65. ^ "Hostage Life – This Song was Written by a Committee". YouTube. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  66. ^ "Protest The Hero – Palms Read". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  67. ^ "LIGHTS – Drive My Soul [Official Music Video]". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  68. ^ "Stereos – Summer Girl". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  69. ^ "Jhevon Paris – She Got Me ft. Pat Kordyback, Girlicious". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  70. ^ "Stereos – She Only Likes Me When She's Drunk". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  71. ^ "Abandon All Ships – Geeving (Video) Featuring Jhevon Paris". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
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