Interview: Billie Marten
Interview By Sophie Minello
Photos from billie’s facebook
Though hardly into her 20’s, Billie Marten is able to craft songs that feel timeless, encapsulating listeners in simple and soft and beautiful moments. During the pandemic, Marten released Flora Fauna, which gives a look into the multitudes that she is capable of. This England hailing artist was able to embark on her first USA headline tour after the turbulence of the pandemic. We were able to catch up with her once the tour ended to hear about the wondrous experience and talk about some latest releases.
Have you toured the US before? How did you enjoy the experience?
[Though] I did a support tour in 2019, but it was nothing compared to this run. This tour was genuinely my favourite so far, with such lovely people coming to the shows, such smiling and loving faces - pure joy.
Do you have a favorite place you’ve been so far on the tour? Why?
Surprisingly (because I don't have a lot of US knowledge/background, and everyone says LA), I loved Chicago. I felt a synergy between it and London, something about the tall city hidden in the middle of lovely wooden suburbia. Quaint coffee shops on each corner and a real musical pulse. I felt the most presence from the crowd there as well, I guess that's the sports mentality but people arrived with a lot of warmth.
What’s an experience that’s happened on this tour that you think you’ll remember forever?
I decided to try and horse ride when I was out there, so I could see more of the land and the coast whilst being on tour, which is a rare thing. One very much craves outside space and room to breathe, so riding felt like the perfect activity. There was a moment where I found a ride on San Francisco beach, it was super windy and not too warm, but classically SF, with snowy plovers running around the horse's hooves and pelicans flying overhead. It was a real moment of peace for me and the rider that took me out actually surprised me at the gig that night, she was lovely.
What’s your favorite part of live shows?
Usually the 'any requests' line brings a lot of happiness, you get to play songs that maybe aren't in your usual set, and some people go way back with your catalogue, so I enjoy re-playing and re-learning obscure songs on the spot. It brings a lot of interest to a potentially repetitive style of job.
How did you approach writing your latest release, Flora Fauna, vs your earlier albums?
This time around I'd been dropped by my previous label, and wasn't in a very good headspace, so I took up the task of learning a completely new instrument - bass, which really flipped writing around for me. I've by no means perfected bass, but it was a relief to know the painter can sometimes pick up a new brush and something good can come out.
Do you think this change impacted your audience and your performances?
There's a general shift in sound, which is bound to happen on your third album, it can almost be a cry out for stability, to let people know you aren't a one-faceted writer I guess, and it felt great live to be able to make a lot of sound vs me and the acoustic. As uncomfortable as I am with that type of performance, it's still within my musical realm, and I'll always revert back to the core of songwriting, so a departure doesn't seem too dramatic. In terms of audience, I hope it didn't put too many fans off, because I'm usually that fan when an artist changes their direction, but as I said it's not too extreme.
What are your favorite things to write about? What’s your writing process like?
It's very much an automatic, spur of the moment process for me, so mostly it's a time of reflection to pinpoint a section of life down in history, or to clear that nook in your brain that maybe needs a little dusting. Sometimes writing comes from boredom, or from listening, being an open ear to society, always a voyeur, never the other side of the camera, which is where I find the most peace.
Do you have any new releases brewing?
I've just released a cover of Roxy Music's More Than This, which was actually the first thing I trial recorded in my studio last year (to begin the process of another album), so you can listen to that for now.
Who are some musicians that inspire your music?
I'm such an enormous fan of music, which sounds silly to say, but I often meet people that work in the industry that have actually stopped listening, or lose interest in finding new and old music. It's my main hobby and I'm always listening, all hours of the day, which brings a lot of inspiration. For now it's a lot of Mark Koselek's stuff, his album Ghosts of The Great Highway is really something. My support artist for a couple of shows on this tour has been Marina Allen, who I think is glorious. Her song 'Original Goodness' blows me away.
What was it like getting so much attention from your music at such a young age?
Luckily it was left field enough to be able to avoid the immediate mainstream lane of music, but there was quite a lot of pressure put on me then. I remember very clearly once finishing a radio session in London, after one of my first headlines, then putting my school uniform back on, getting the train back home and sitting in a physics lesson pretending nothing had happened. It was certainly an emotionally confusing time when all you're trying to do is discover the world and grow up, but in a way I'm thankful that I got to do that so soon, because without music I'd probably be flailing around at life currently, having not figured out that elusive thing.
How have you grown since then?
In many ways, we all do each year, which is a gift I think. I feel a lot more certainty and confidence as each year passes, and with that brings heaps of relief. It's nice to know who you are after all this time of trying to figure it out. Or writing about not knowing.
Any tips for young musicians?
The thing musicians say most to other musicians is 'trust your gut', which I think is a good rule of thumb. But mostly try not to cling onto music, music is not your mother, she's a cruel beast that can chew people out, so keep your distance and keep making music you genuinely love, despite the ears that might listen to it.