Andrew Martin (musician)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Martin is an English
singer, songwriter
, musician
and occasional producer
.
s in 1989 while still at school, taking influences from Cathy Dennis
, Michael Jackson
, Soul II Soul
and numerous artists from the highly successful PWL
label. While beginning with early lo-fi solo recordings of his own compositions in 1989, he went on to record under the pseudonym band of Supernatural until 1999.
, bamboo saxophone
and numerous percussion instruments, which joined the bands line up of guitar
, bass guitar
and drums
.
Through the changes of band members, Octosound's style steadily became more rock
orientated and saw Martin write some of his darkest material to date. While the band wrote and recorded steadily over three years, they rarely performed live, notching just three public performances.
In August 2004, Martin took a temporary break from the band, citing 'tiredness' and 'creative stagnancy'. The band have never reformed.
, Björk
, Kraftwerk
, Cathy Dennis
, Lamb
, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
, Portishead, Morcheeba
and The Sweet.
In November 2001, he was asked by Chris Boland of folk
/rock
band Alighting to write and record a song for a charity compilation. Within two weeks he had written three tracks and recorded his favourite - the heavily electro influenced "While You Were Sleeping". The track was included in the 'Skyline Songs' compilation, raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Relief in Cambridge
. The track was also released as a single and saw the beginning of a long-term production partnership with remixer Matthew John Youens who produced numerous remixes of the track.
and journalist
Alan Pedder.
The album also included "I'll Be Gone", a collaboration with former Octosound bandmate Dario Galasso, who can be heard performing backing vocals as well as performing all musical instruments with the exception of Martin's orchestral arrangement.
. Martin also revealed in January 2010 that the album opens with the track "Welcome To My World". It has seen Andrew's musical style swing clearly into synth/electro pop and is co-produced by Matthew Youens.
Martin launched an online remix competition in March 2009, giving the chance for remixers from all countries and genre to submit mixes of his track "Irresistible". The winning entries were by Sven Erler and Sean Goes Pop!.
Martin provides vocals for 'Irresistible' and backing vocals for 'Apart' on the eponymous album by Idioteque which was released in June 2010.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and occasional producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
Early days
Martin began writing songSong
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s in 1989 while still at school, taking influences from Cathy Dennis
Cathy Dennis
Cathy Dennis is a British dance-oriented pop singer-songwriter, record producer and actress...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Soul II Soul
Soul II Soul
Soul II Soul are a British group that was created in London in 1988. They are best known for their 1989 UK chart-topper and U.S. Top 5 hit, "Back to Life ".-Career:...
and numerous artists from the highly successful PWL
PWL
Pete Waterman Entertainment is the production company one-time pop and dance record label owned by pop mogul Pete Waterman. The label, originally PWL, is most famous for being the home of hit record producers Stock Aitken Waterman....
label. While beginning with early lo-fi solo recordings of his own compositions in 1989, he went on to record under the pseudonym band of Supernatural until 1999.
2001-2004: Octosound
After a brief hiatus of recording, Martin became the lead vocalist of Octosound, a six-piece trip-hop band founded in 2001. The band consisted of an evolving six members and incorporated the use of instruments not commonly associated with live bands including a stylophone, electric violinElectric violin
An electric violin is a violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound. The term most properly refers to an instrument purposely made to be electrified with built-in pickups, usually with a solid body...
, bamboo saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
and numerous percussion instruments, which joined the bands line up of guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
.
Through the changes of band members, Octosound's style steadily became more rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
orientated and saw Martin write some of his darkest material to date. While the band wrote and recorded steadily over three years, they rarely performed live, notching just three public performances.
In August 2004, Martin took a temporary break from the band, citing 'tiredness' and 'creative stagnancy'. The band have never reformed.
2001: While You Were Sleeping
While part of Octosound, Martin continued writing his own material. By this time, his own music collection was beginning to evolve, and he has often stated that his influences have come from artists like TrickyTricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
, Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
, Cathy Dennis
Cathy Dennis
Cathy Dennis is a British dance-oriented pop singer-songwriter, record producer and actress...
, Lamb
Lamb (band)
Lamb is an electronic music duo from Manchester, England, whose music is influenced by trip hop and drum and bass. The duo consists of producer Andy Barlow, who also produces under the pseudonym Hipoptimist, and singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes...
, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
, Portishead, Morcheeba
Morcheeba
Morcheeba are a British band, mixing influences from trip hop, rock, R&B, and pop.They have produced 7 albums since 1995, two of which reached the UK top ten.-Biography:...
and The Sweet.
In November 2001, he was asked by Chris Boland of folk
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
/rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Alighting to write and record a song for a charity compilation. Within two weeks he had written three tracks and recorded his favourite - the heavily electro influenced "While You Were Sleeping". The track was included in the 'Skyline Songs' compilation, raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Relief in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. The track was also released as a single and saw the beginning of a long-term production partnership with remixer Matthew John Youens who produced numerous remixes of the track.
2005: The Fury and the Fire
Andrew released his first official solo album, The Fury and the Fire, in June 2005, which included the singles "While You Were Sleeping" and "Amnesty/Wreckage", the latter of which was written by his friend, the poetPoet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Alan Pedder.
The album also included "I'll Be Gone", a collaboration with former Octosound bandmate Dario Galasso, who can be heard performing backing vocals as well as performing all musical instruments with the exception of Martin's orchestral arrangement.
2010: The Vorticist
Martin is due to release his second official solo album in 2010. It will contain the singles "A Moment With You" and "Irresistible" on CD and DLMusic download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
. Martin also revealed in January 2010 that the album opens with the track "Welcome To My World". It has seen Andrew's musical style swing clearly into synth/electro pop and is co-produced by Matthew Youens.
Martin launched an online remix competition in March 2009, giving the chance for remixers from all countries and genre to submit mixes of his track "Irresistible". The winning entries were by Sven Erler and Sean Goes Pop!.
Martin provides vocals for 'Irresistible' and backing vocals for 'Apart' on the eponymous album by Idioteque which was released in June 2010.
Singles
- 2002: "While You Were Sleeping"
- 2004: "Amnesty/Wreckage"
- 2008: "A Moment with You"
- 2009: "Irresistible"
Other appearances
| Year | Song(s) | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "While You Were Sleeping" | Various Artists: Skyline Songs | |
| 2010 | "Apart" (with Idioteque), "Irresistible" | Idioteque by Idioteque | Hearing Damage Studios |