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]
In 2014, Mark and Juliana Spicoluk (née Semenova, born May 16, 1990 in SiberiaRussia, 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]
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
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
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
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.
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]
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]
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
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]
