My other life: Mark Payne, musician

How did your interest in music start?
I started to play the guitar around the age of 13 and I was very interested in heavy rock and metal types of music. Initially I listened to my favourite bands and learned some of the songs I particularly liked. I then took some lessons before joining some bands to gain more experience.

What is the gigging experience like?
To date our band Indominus has played in the UK, Holland, Switzerland and more recently Malta. We have played a variety of venues including some high profile festivals.

I really like playing abroad and gaining new fans. A highlight has been playing Metal Yard in the Atak venue in Enschede in March 2016, plus us getting our new EP Legion Within released to good reviews and fan responses.

How has the experience changed you?
It has made me a better negotiator in my day job with CIP Insurance, as I have to discuss deals with promoters and studios to get what is best for the band with the limited budget we work with.

Is there any crossover between music and your insurance day job?
Yes there has been recently, our recent EP Legion Within was recorded at a great studio in Belfast called Bearcat Studios. The crossover is that I insure these guys with my employer CIP Insurance, so there is a real link between my music and my day job.