Images supplied by Joe Martin. Used with permission.
Joe Martin, a UK singer-songwriter, is touring the country to promote his newly released album, Alone in Valentine. The album is truly charming, fitting a variety of moods, while Joe’s distinctive vocal delivery, accompanied by his guitar, tells a vivid story from start to finish.
I had the pleasure of speaking to Joe about his career, his music, and his upcoming show in Southampton on 10th September at Hanger Farm.
First and foremost, I asked Joe to introduce himself.
“Hi, my name is Joe Martin. I am a singer-songwriter with a strong focus on logic and storytelling in my work. I’ve been mostly influenced by Country and Americana music from the US, from both modern artists and classical artists and writers from the 60s and 70s.”
From a young age, music was a passion Joe wanted to pursue. He built a well-rounded foundation through piano and singing lessons, but it was not until his teenage years that he picked up the guitar, the same instrument his father played. Joe recalls fond memories of his father playing his own songs on the guitar, helping to inspire his own relationship with the instrument.
His newfound interest in guitar was accompanied by an appreciation for songwriting greats such as Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and James Taylor, alongside more recent artists including Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton. Before long, his love for songwriting followed.
Joe began performing publicly in his late teens, around the same time he started writing his own music. He describes those early performances as daunting, emphasising that it takes time to build a discography into something you can truly be proud of. For Joe, Alone in Valentine represents his greatest achievement so far, a reminder that success is a journey rather than an immediate destination.
A pivotal moment in Joe’s musical journey came through his introduction to modern country music via the television series Nashville, which chronicles the glamorous and cutthroat world of the Nashville country music scene.
Nashville, Tennessee, has long been a staple of country music and is home to the iconic Bluebird Cafe. Joe has himself played at the venue, considering it one of the many memorable moments of his touring history. Having first encountered it on screen, he described the experience as feeling like he had stepped directly into an episode of the show, surely a surreal experience.
Joe has made the pilgrimage to Nashville five times, meeting and working with top writers and musicians along the way. Notably, he has worked with Cal Campbell, son of Glen Campbell, and Cornelius Webb, son of Jimmy Webb, with whom he recently recorded his second album, Alone in Valentine.
Having grown up listening to Glen Campbell and considering him one of his musical heroes, Joe says he is still amazed to have had the opportunity to work with his son.
“I couldn’t have imagined creating this record even just a few years ago.”
Joe describes creating the album “the old-fashioned way”, working in the studio alongside several top-class session musicians who recorded together at the same time. The approach is an ode to the authenticity at the heart of country music.
For Joe, music is all about the story. His aim is to portray a three-hour film within the span of a three-minute song. His perception of good country music is that it can appear simple on the surface while containing powerful and relatable stories underneath, an experience he hopes to deliver both through his songs and his live performances.
“I try and set up the songs with some background of how I wrote them — without giving too much away — and then I try and live the song as I’m singing it, taking the listeners on that journey with me.”
To unlock the album’s true depth, I decided to read the lyrics while listening to it for a second time. Pairing the music with the written words allowed me to connect more deeply with each song and the stories within them.
Joe’s creative process is not a standard, linear one. Instead, he describes it as being more like a web, with each piece of work beginning with its own unique spark and following a distinctive path to completion.
While he used to write more frequently, Joe now waits for a particular moment of inspiration. Whether it begins with a melodic or lyrical idea, he allows it to develop naturally before reaching for his guitar.
He also elaborated on the difference between independent songwriting and co-writing, with the latter being a more structured process.
“Sometimes in a co-write you get magic happening; other times it’s like trying to get blood out of a stone; there is no rhyme or reason to it.”
He reinforces the familiar idea that the best ideas often arrive when you least expect them.
Having previously played at Hanger Farm early last year while supporting Carter Sampson from Oklahoma, Joe is eager to return to the venue, this time to perform his own show. On 10 September, he will get the opportunity to do just that.
I asked Joe what he would say to the people of Southampton, including its university students, who might be considering attending.
“If you want to take a chance on something different and unique, then come along to the show. And if you like Country music, there’s a very good chance you’ll enjoy it. I do get people also coming up to me after gigs saying they never really liked Country music, but I changed their minds, so take that how you will!
“Even if you can’t make the show on the 10th of September, please check out the album. You can stream Alone In Valentine anywhere and find out more at joemartinmusic.com. Give me a follow on the socials to see when I’m gigging locally again. Thanks for letting me share my story with you!”
If you are looking for a night of entertainment and live music near Southampton, catch Joe Martin at Hanger Farm on 10 September at 19:30. Having listened to and thoroughly enjoyed Joe’s music, I anticipate a remarkable performance at a remarkable venue.
Tickets and show information:
joemartinmusic.com/live
Hanger Farm – Alone in Valentine
More information on Joe Martin:
Linktree – Joe Martin Music
