Eddie Martin
Barry Middleton (BM) Interview with Eddie Martin (Eddie) - June 2010
BM: What were your first experiences of the Blues?
Eddie: Aged 16 listening to Freddy King's "Burglar" album (UK production-nice one Mike Vernon!), although I'd heard Led Zeppelin's take on the blues before that.
BM: Who were the influences on your musical career?
Eddie: As above really, I'd soaked up British Blues Rock as a Brit teenager but consciously studied US blues after hearing Freddy King. And then it was working back from Freddy to Chicago and Texan and every other sub genre of electric and acoustic blues pre and post war.. you name them, and I've studied them or intend to.
BM: Does singing the Blues come from experience?
Eddie: Rarely a voice comes like Johnny Lang that seems to have been-hard-wired to sing the blues from voice-break. Otherwise you have to work at it with years of practice and dedication like your instrumental skills. As far as good song-writing goes I think definitely a bit of experience is necessary, otherwise what do you write about?..but again studying the greats
is essential
BM: What was the first gig that you played?
Eddie: At mum and dad's Christmas party when I was 15
BM: Do you think that Blues needs to evolve to stay relevant?
Eddie: All art does unless the interest is just academic. For me, old blues (say up to 1960) would always be a reference point though.
BM: Aims for the future and what do you hope to achieve within the Blues?
Eddie: Keep on Keeping on as I have done with any luck, trying new themes and sounds within the blues world, enjoying and deepening my knowledge of old themes and sounds
BM: If you weren’t a musician (in a band) what would you be doing?
Eddie: Alienated and frustrated in a day job like most people I suppose. I’m very lucky to be doing what I want.
BM: What sort of music did you listen to growing up?
Eddie: The radio, and Mum and Dad’s pretty crummy record collection to start with. I started making choices about aged 15 and then it was rock folk and blues
BM: Why do you feel that young people are not as attracted to the Blues as other Genres?
Eddie: The music business controls access to mainstream musical trends and the business has to find new products all the time that do not challenge the status quo..like folk, blues is pre-capitalist and only has fleeting and peripheral relevance to the music industry and selling things. The web and digital music have enabled some expansion of independent music’s popularity though. When young people hear it they can still be as excited by it as ever though.
BM: What other styles of music have you drawn inspiration from?
Eddie: My ears are open to all sorts of music but I prefer music where the heavy hand of the business world is not obvious.
BM: When did you start playing (guitar)?
Eddie: Age 15
BM: How would you like to see music change over the next 10 years?
Eddie: As above, more people doing it for themselves, i.e. more honesty, less marketing and hype n bullshit
BM: You are a singer/songwriter. What drives your song-writing?
Eddie: I don’t know why but it’s a compulsive fascination, I love writing songs, poetry, raps..whatever.using and playing with words..I keep several notebooks handy all the time.jotting down overheard phrases...or in case I get the muse and a whole song can come out in one go
BM: If you had the opportunity to play with any blues artist dead or alive live on stage who would it be?
Eddie: There's so many..I'd love to have played guitar behind Sonny Boy 11 or with Freddy Below and Willie Dixon behind Muddy..or front my own band with them as the rhythm section..on the acoustic side I'd love to blow harp in a Juke Joint after two many whiskies with Lightin Hopkins or R L Burnside
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