Martha Berner and The Significant Others

Artist Information

Biography

NEWS:

"A delightfully twangy, alt-country/bar-rock sound. Fritz contributes tumbling guitar lines that nicely compliment Berner's vocals, which switch from smoky-sweet to raw and impassioned on a dime—it's easy to see why the singer's live performances have been so lauded by critics." - Metromix NYC

“…think Natalie Merchant with fewer adult contemporary leanings or Aimee Mann on a folkier trip. Berner’s voice can thicken and thin like Joni Mitchell’s and it’s unmistakably her greatest asset" – Magnet

Ever since the release of her 2005 full-length debut ...this side of yesterday indie-folk singer/songwriter Martha Berner has created quite a buzz in the music world. Not only did that release and her 2007 follow-up EP Ten Tiny Little Pieces garner a wealth of press accolades both nationally
and abroad, including features in high-profile publications, such as Magnet, Performing Songwriter, Chicago Tribune, Hear/Say and Out Magazine, but it also opened the door for worldwide radio play (not only in the U.S., but also abroad on radio stations in Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Israel, as well as many other countries). In addition, Martha has made numerous in-studio radio performances throughout the nation, and has also performed live on a number of FOX, CBS and NBC television news shows. Her song “Wait For Me” was also featured on MTV’s popular television show “The Real World.”
Martha’s own upbeat Americana composition “A Town Called Happiness” was also featured along with songs from Neko Case, Joseph Arthur, The New Pornographers, Michelle Shocked and others on a compilation CD entitled The Voices and Faces Project. This same song also later appeared on an exclusive CD sampler compiled by Chicago’s I-GO Car Sharing alongside other Chicago luminaries such as Wilco, Studs Terkel and Neko Case.

It's been six years since the release of her well-received debut album ...this side of yesterday, but December marks the return of indie-folk singer/songwriter Martha Berner with her long-awaited full-length follow-up Fool's Fantasy along with her new band The Significant Others.

The entire album was recorded at Chicago’s premiere digital recording studio Stranded On A Planet with producer & Significant Others' guitarist Scott Fritz, and was mastered by four-time Grammy Award winner Gavin Lurssen (Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Cat Power, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, etc). While this new material still incorporates the Chicago-based (by way of Williams Bay, WI) musician's trademark whiskey-and-honey vocals and thought-provoking subjects that stretch across folk, pop and Americana, Fool’s Fantasy marks Martha's first true band effort - incorporating elements of Stax soul, insurgent country and the unbridled passion of late ‘60s rock-n-roll.

Instrumentation

Tyson Ellert - Drums, Percussion
Will Sprawls - Bass, keyboards
Scott Fritz - Guitar

Discography

"Fool's Fantasy" full-length released December 13, 2011 on pOprOck recOrds, Los Angeles.

"Ten Tiny Little Pieces " E.P. released January 23rd, 2007
The song “Wait For Me” from this album was featured on MTV’s
popular television show “The Real World.”

"...this side of yesterday" (full-length debut CD on Machine Records) : Released Oct. 15, 2005


"Friend of Howard" (self-produced 5-song EP)

Official Website

http://www.marthaberner.com

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace

Audio

• Fool's Fantasy
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• Brave
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• A Town Called Happiness
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• Wait For Me
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• Cry
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• All The Rock Stars
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• Where Does The Day Go
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• Adore Me
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• Irene
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• People Are Crazy
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Lyrics

• A Town Called Happiness
• Fantastic Ordinary
• Good Company
• Ten Tiny Little Pieces
• Wait For Me
• Cry
• People Are Crazy
• Fool's Fantasy

Video

Cry

Photo Gallery

Press

• Press [+ Show ]
  

  "Sumptuous well-produced sound of singer / songwriters like the European artists Emiliana Torrini an..."Sumptuous well-produced sound of singer / songwriters like the European artists Emiliana Torrini and Martha Tilston or American artists like Dar Williams and Shawn Colvin". songs:illinois
  
  "Wilco-esque glow with the sweetly sung vocals of Natalie Merchant and the darker guitars and imagery of the Indigo Girls." HearSay magazine
  
  "poignant yet gratifyingly sturdy."Fingertips Music
  
  "Her voice is a tender one with nice range and a captivating storytelling quality about it. Mature adult indie-pop with flecks of alt-country mixed in."Smother.net
  
  " refreshing collection of indie folk-rock" The Music Edge
  
  "haunting and real". MKEonline
  
  "infuses indie-rock sensibilities into songs that embrace the spirit and soul of Americana music." The Week
  

• ...musical style of Wilco
  

  “...evokes the vocals of Tori Amos and the musical style of Wilco.” – The Chicago Tribune

• peppy, poppy and deliciously sad [+ Show ]
  

  Martha Berner's "...this side of yesterday" is a very solid disc with tunes that are peppy, poppy an...Martha Berner's "...this side of yesterday" is a very solid disc with tunes that are peppy, poppy and deliciously sad. Each tune has its own distinct hook, with seemingly very little effort..." - Richard Milne / WXRT Chicago

• MOST REQUESTED ARTIST! [+ Show ]
  

  "Martha Berner is the most requested local artist ever played on 96.1 The Lake. We dream of having ..."Martha Berner is the most requested local artist ever played on 96.1 The Lake. We dream of having the talent she has. She rocks!" - Nancy Douglass - GM / WLKG Radio (Lake Geneva, WI)

• revelatory
  

  “Martha’s live shows are revelatory.” - Chicagoist

• Selected Best of 2005 [+ Show ]
  

  When Martha Berner opens her mouth on : This Side of Yesterday: she conjures up images of Natalie Me...When Martha Berner opens her mouth on : This Side of Yesterday: she conjures up images of Natalie Merchant and Tori Amos. As she strums her guitar and unveils personal poetry with meaty meaning, it's evident she's a disciple of Dylan and probably a fan of Wilco... this troubadour is a true switch hitter committed to quality song craftsmanship" Illinois Entertainer, Jan. 2006, selected Best of 2005 'Around Hear'

• An artist with bittersweet, pleading words [+ Show ]
  

  An individualist. A poet. An artist with bittersweet, pleading words that stick to your heart like g...An individualist. A poet. An artist with bittersweet, pleading words that stick to your heart like gum on a sidewalk in the middle of September.
  
  I hope this side of yesterday receives the recognition it deserves. This is a soothing cup of tea on a cold afternoon, sit back and enjoy the warmth.
  
  Barbara Lawrence

• Wonderful blend...
  

  (Martha Berner's : This Side Of Yesterday), a wonderful blend of indie rock and Americana.

• 'Editors Pick' [+ Show ]
  

  A talented singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (she plays guitar, trumpet, percussion, and h...A talented singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (she plays guitar, trumpet, percussion, and harmonica) like Martha Berner remind us that woman musicians are way more sexy than a million talent-less props like Jessica Simpson and Brittany Spears.

• "Fantastic" [+ Show ]
  

  "The Martha Berner record is fantastic. I've already had e-mails about it." (after the first couple ..."The Martha Berner record is fantastic. I've already had e-mails about it." (after the first couple spins)

• Berner’s voice can thicken and thin like Joni Mitchell’s [+ Show ]
  

  “...think Natalie Merchant with fewer adult contemporary leanings or Aimee Mann on a folkier trip. B...“...think Natalie Merchant with fewer adult contemporary leanings or Aimee Mann on a folkier trip. Berner’s voice can thicken and thin
  like Joni Mitchell’s and it’s unmistakably her greatest asset.” – Magnet

Setlist

Can perform a 30 minute to 2 hour show including:

Songs from her forthcoming release "Fool's Fantasy":

Fool's Fantasy
Brave
Cry
All the Rock Stars
Some Stay A While
Where Does The Day Go
Adore Me
Wolves
Irene
Burning Candles
Never Talked To Oz
People Are Crazy

Previous Release "...this side of yesterday":

Lady Of Plenty
Mary Lately
Poor Little Me
A Town Called Happiness
Fantastic Ordinary
Good Company
Dear Franklin
Or Anyway
Mother

"The Ten Tiny Little Pieces EP"

Ten Tiny Little Pieces
Wait For Me
Down and Out
Sunday Morning (Velvet Underground Cover"

Basic Requirements

Calendar