martha tilston
Martha's interest in song started at an early age. Her father Steve Tilston, acclaimed songwriter and performer and stepmother Maggie Boyle, folk singer, had a great influence on her musically. She spent parts of her childhood around the bright lights of the folk revival scene such as Bert Janch, John Renbourne and of course her parents. This early introduction to folk music gave her an understanding of the importance of music in communitys and inspired Martha to write her own songs from an early age, first on piano then later guitar.
She studied acting/theatre at Rose Bruford college and obtained a BA as an actor/musician. Although she enjoyed acting, music was her passion and pretty soon after leaving Drama school she was out on the London gig circuit .
She formed acoustic duo MOUSE with guitarist Nick Marshall and they enjoyed a couple of years touring all over the UK and Europe. This cult duo gained huge respect and a dedicated following both in the underground festival scene and also the contemporary acoustic culture. They released 'mouse-tales' the album which is still gathering rave reviews around the world.
At the end of 2002 Martha supported Damien rice on tour round Ireland and this was really the start of her solo career. Since then she has picked up an ever growing word of mouth following and supported artists such as Roddy Frame, Nick Harper and others. She toured round Britain on the 'Twisted Folk' Tour with Hem and The Earlies, and has headlined many gigs around the UK.
She has played to full houses in many respected venues such as The Shepherd's Bush Hall, Bloomsbury Theatre - London, the Borderline, the Astoria -London, St Georges - Bristol, Manchester Academy 3, Hebdon Bridge trades Club,the Komedia - Brighton and more.
Martha has also enjoyed successful festival appearances such as , the Avalon stage and Leftfield stage at Glastonbury, Cambridge festival, Guil-fest, the Big Green Gathering, Towersey, Broadstairs, among others. In 2003 she and friend Nigel recorded a little 'lo-fi' album - 'rolling' with accompanist Matt Tweed which was intended as a sort of calling card, but it soon passed into the hands of many people from the festival scene to the folk and indie scene.
In Feb 2005 she released her official debut album 'bimbling' on her label squiggly records. This album was funded by the sale of paintings Martha made of each song at an exhibition at the 12bar, Soho. The paintings were used as the artwork for the album. Martha has since given talks/seminars to young musicians about finding original ways to fund albums.
She has appeared on numerous radio shows both on the playlist and through interviews - such as radio 4's loose ends, BBC radio Bristol, London LBC, BBC Southern Counties and is due to be played live with band and an interview on BBC radio 2 show " Charles' farm' in April 2006, hosted by Charles Hazlewood, well respected orchestral conductor.
Martha's song, 'the saddest game', about child soldiers in Afica, was released on the Big Issue 'peace not war' CD, which was distributed to over 50,000 people.
She is now working on a new solo album - 'songs that make Sophie fizz' and a free downloadable album with her band 'the woods'.
Her influences at the moment would come mostly from the 'wupadupa' crowd ( a collective of artists she set up with friends - www.wupadupa.com ) and the artists she has played with on the Small world solar stage - a breeding ground for talent such as 'nizlopi' and 'mouse'. Martha has enjoyed playing 'under the radar', round campfires, in the woods and in front rooms, as this is where folk began, and where she learnt her trade.
This biography is just a list of things she's done, or places she's played, The music will hopefully explain the rest.
'A sparkling repertoire of self-penned songs' -Timeout
'she has probably the purest voice I have heard and at times it sent shivers up and down my spine' - Lee Allen, BBC
'As political as often as she is romantic, her voice weaves magic... ...sounding redolent of wet leaves and spider-webbed hollows... ...The Tilston name seems fair set to dominate the English folk scene for another generation. ' - Netrhythms
'Martha Tilston is on her way to being considered one of Britains finest young singer-songwriters' - Orpheus magazine/Virgin