Some things are just meant to be. Birds are born to fly, politicians were born to lie, big fat guys with giant beards were born to ride their machines without getting hassled by the man, and Carolyn Mark was born to make music.

Ever since first taking to the stage as Templeton the rat in her elementary school's musical version of Charlotte's Web, show business has been the main driving force in Carolyn's life. After coming to the obvious conclusion that musicians were much more fun to hang around with than actors, in the early 90's Carolyn formed her first band... all-girl surfy twang popsters, The Vinaigrettes. This was the beginning of a love affair with music, musicians and the road that, even after 15+ years of crazy hard work, still puts the nitro in her funny car.

After the Vinaigrettes, Carolyn did brief stints in such bands as The Metronome Cowboys and The Fixin's before, in 2000, making her Mint Record debut with her first solo album, Party Girl. Since then, and with the help of a revolving cast of Can-Country super stars including, but not limited to, Tolan McNeil, Garth Johnson,Ford Pier, Nathan Tinkham, Corb Lund, NQ Arbuckle, Luke Doucet, Amy Honey, Greg MacDonald, Neko Case and Carey Mercer, she has released four more highly acclaimed albums. As well, she has also travelled thousands of miles entertaining crowds of 4 to 4000... touring Canada,the United States, the UK, Norway and Italy. She has shared the stage with such talented musicians as Jenny Whitely, Hank & Lily, Luther Wright, Sarah Harmer, Kelly Hogan, Lederhosen Lucil, Geoff Berner, Joel Plaskett, The Handsome Family, Neil Hamburger, JT and The Clouds, The Shiftless Rounders, NQ Arbuckle, Wanda Jackson,The Waco Brothers, The Sadies and Blue Rodeo.

July 2, 2007 marks the release of Carolyn Mark's 6th Mint album, Nothing Is Free, described by Carolyn as her "woodsy, introspective album". Appropriately enough, Nothing Is Free was recorded by Myke Hall at Beaver Point Hall (between visits from the ladies drum circle and a teenage karate class!) on British Columbia's scenic Salt Spring Island. Along for the ride this time were guitar and bass virtuoso Paul Pigat (Cousin Harley), guitar and mandolin heavyweight Paul Rigby (Neko Case), expert vocalist Emilie Rhone (Fishing Derby, Antler) and vivacious violinist and vocalist, Diona Davies (Po' Girl, Geoff Berner, ESL). Additional help was ably rendered by Allison Russell and Awna Teixeira of Po' Girl and the mythical Calvin Dick (Neckbeard).

- Andrew Pearson