Billie Marten is a 17-year-old singer/songwriter from Ripon, North Yorkshire, known for her cover of Royal BloodÔÇÖs ÔÇÿOut of the BlackÔÇÖ and her own singles such as ÔÇÿLionheartedÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿBirdÔÇÖ. Ahead of her performance at Buffalo Bar in Cardiff, I was given the opportunity to ask the bright, demure teen a few questions about her music and daily life.
Which artists inspired you when you were younger to pursue your career in music?
Everything from my parents record collection really, so people like John Martyn, Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush all the incredible people like that I just loved.
So were you exposed to music in a big way when you were younger?
Yeah, itÔÇÖs like a massive family thing, and everyone in my family plays something or sings or has a passion for music so I guess IÔÇÖve just grown up with it.
Following on from this, what else in your life inspires you to write music?
Well I get a lot from home, as I luckily live in a very beautiful place, so a lot of my songs kind of weave together situations that IÔÇÖm in with a lot of natural imagery and stuff. And I study English Lit, Art and French so quite a lot of that helps as well.
And how has your musical profession influenced this? Has it been a problem to balance the two things?
I wouldnÔÇÖt say a problem, I mean you just have to get into that mentality that everybody has things to balance and mine just happens to be music and school.
So what has been your favourite live show that youÔÇÖve played so far; whatÔÇÖs your favourite city to play in?
We played Glasgow the other night and that was pretty incredible; I havenÔÇÖt done a show there before so I was really worried that no one would turn up and it would be empty or dead, but we played in this derelict church and it was beautiful – I absolutely loved it.
Are there any artists in particular that youÔÇÖd like to gig with in the future?
Ooh, thatÔÇÖs difficult. God, IÔÇÖve no idea, no idea. IÔÇÖm up for playing with anyone!
So who has been your favourite person to support?
IÔÇÖve only supported Lucy (Rose); I did one thing with Soak on her tour and we played Koko in London and that was a beautiful venue and sheÔÇÖs a very beautiful person so, yeah, that was lovely.
Would you say youÔÇÖve been influenced by LucyÔÇÖs music?
Well she was like my main thing when I was, like, 11, and I used to go to her shows and I did a really crappy cover of her song. And then like two years later I went with her on tour and itÔÇÖs been great.
Your new album has recently been released. WhatÔÇÖs the main message in this album?
IÔÇÖm not really one for subliminal messages but I guess itÔÇÖs sort of about finding your grounding and coming back home and sort of returning to who you are, like what youÔÇÖve grown up with because I know music is a very difficult industry to be in. Yeah, itÔÇÖs just a lot of influence from home really.
What would you say is your favourite track on the album?
Oh my goodness, okay. Probably Hello Sunshine? Maybe? It was like the last one and it was really rushed to get on there and it was only written a few weeks before I think it was mastered so I just went in with Rich whos my producer and really quickly did it. But I think it sounds like the most settled and it sounds we put loads of really intricate things in there and I really like the sound it made.
And is this your first time coming to Cardiff?
I played a show with Lucy last year, this week last year which is very weird, but yeah this is my first time having my own show here.
So do you like Cardiff, what do you think of it?
Well, at the moment IÔÇÖve seen the inside of a van and this street so I donÔÇÖt know, IÔÇÖm going to go have a look after soundcheck and explore.
What do you expect of the audience tonight?
Honestly no idea. It could go so badly, which it probably will, so, I donÔÇÖt know. LetÔÇÖs see!
So have you got any plans alongside music for the future?
Well IÔÇÖm just applying to Unis at the moment, I donÔÇÖt know what I want to do but IÔÇÖm just kind of keeping everything open, IÔÇÖd just love to carry on singing.
What are you thinking of applying for?
IÔÇÖve just written a personal statement for Philosophy and History of Art at UCL but you need three As and thatÔÇÖs just not happening so, I donÔÇÖt know, weÔÇÖll see. Anything to do with humanities and arts is great.
So do you think you will pursue music for a long time in the future?
I would love to carry on making music, not for any particular reason just because I love it, so if I can I will.
Have any particular events in your life influenced songs youÔÇÖve written?
Not really, I havenÔÇÖt had a very dramatic childhood, my familyÔÇÖs just one of those boring, quiet ones but, I donÔÇÖt really think about it a lot, I guess itÔÇÖs just I write more about general feelings, and if IÔÇÖm in a mindset for a few months IÔÇÖll write about that but thereÔÇÖs never sort of one particular thing; I wonÔÇÖt be like ÔÇÿIÔÇÖm gonna write this song about this political messageÔÇÖ.
Would you say that writing and playing music acts as a sort of therapy for you?
Yeah, definitely listening to music, I think theres just nothing without music so thats hugely important. And writing songs is like a different sort of cathartic thing but I mean, sometimes its horrible, sometimes you write a really terrible song and you just cant get over yourself cause you think youre horrendous but, I dont know, its different every day.
Amelia Canning
BillieÔÇÖs new album, ÔÇÿWriting of Blues and YellowsÔÇÖ, is out now. For updates on when she will next be touring and how to get tickets, visit www.billiemarten.com.
Catch our Billie Marten live review