Music
Press
“If they like Sarah Harmer, they will probably like Erin Martell. There is sort of an axis of smart, articulate female artists that are on the go right now...” - Wendy Bergfeldt - Island Echoes, CBC Radio 1 - Sydney, Nova Scotia
“Erin Martell takes elements of folk, jazz and blues, drops in hints of pop and a dash of country influence. She stirs them all gently together, wraps everything up in her amazing voice and lets it cook. The finished product is one of the most original CDs to hit the East Coast scene in some time, a creative (and somewhat introspective) look at Erin and her music. Listen to You & Me just once, and you will remember the CD and the singer forever!” - Dan MacDonald - Creignish Hills Entertainment; Feedback Column - Cape Breton Post
LAURA JEAN GRANT
The Cape Breton Post
SYDNEY — Erin Martell has sung her way into the opportunity to perform for one of Canada’s premiere music producers.
The 24-year-old Sydney Forks resident sent in a demo CD to David Foster’s Ovation Star Search Atlantic competition and was one of 10 Cape Bretoners selected to perform for judges Feb. 11 at the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay — one of six regional competitions in Atlantic Canada, open to residents between the ages of 14 and 29.
Martell impressed the judges and was named winner of the Savoy event.
As a result she and the five other regional winners, plus four others selected as ‘wild cards’, move on to the Ovation Star Search Atlantic talent showcase final in front of David Foster and a panel of celebrity and industry experts, March 28 at Casino Nova Scotia in Halifax. The overall winner there will then perform the next night at a gala evening hosted by Foster and friends.
“There’s not a lot of things that come to Sydney that give you an opportunity like that so I kinda took advantage of the situation,” said Martell.
Each of the 10 selected to sing at the Savoy competition had just one, three-minute song to show the judges what they could do.
“I sang Songbird in an Eva Cassidy-style,” she said. “They took us all up on stage and B.J. Cook was one of the judges and she kinda gave a little talk before they announced who won.
“I was excited, of course. It was great. I got some great feedback from them, things that really tickle you pink as a singer.”
Martell has been singing since she was about 12-years-old and is no stranger to the stage, as she performs regularly in the local area in productions like Island Mania and Christmas Mania, as well as shows with her sister, Laurel Martell, and Aaron Lewis and Howie MacDonald.
Martell said she’s not sure what her chances will be in Halifax but expects the competition to be tough. However, no matter what the outcome, she said the Ovation Star Search experience has been great and she’s happy to get as far as she has in the competition.
“It’s not like Canadian Idol where they’re there to tear you apart and tell you what you’re doing wrong. The judges are there for constructive criticism and they want to help you and they’re there for you and they want you to do well and they told us that before we went on so it’s a really positive contest,” she said.
And more than anything, Martell’s looking forward to the chance to sing for Foster, a producer/songwriter who has received 42 Grammy nominations and won 14 times.
“There’s not really another producer around that has done what he’s done and gets to work with the people he works with and he’s so good at what he does,” she said.
ljgrant@cbpost.com
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=109019&sc=147 - Cape Breton Post
Discography
YOU & ME - 2009
Produced by Ed Woodsworth
“You & Me” was recorded over five months. Initially, it was intended to be a promotional EP with only two or three tracks, but once the project started, creativity sparked and soon the EP grew to a full length album. Six of the eight original tracks were written during the recording process.
Erin’s imaginative songs combine with producer Ed Woodsworth’s celtic rock and jazz background to create an album with a fresh take on folk and pop music. She will remind you of Sarah Harmer, Glen Hansard, and Kathleen Edwards, but still sound like nothing you've heard before.
This album is available for purchase online @ HMV.ca or for download at the most popular sites on the web.
Selected tracks from the album can be heard at www.myspace.com/erinmartellmusic or at www.erinmartell.com.
Photos
Bio
With an impressive debut album and an extensive performance résumé, Sydney native Erin Martell is breaking out of the small stage.
Over the last decade Erin has been perfecting her vocal and song-writing skills in venues across Nova Scotia and Ireland. In July 2009 she released her debut album, “You & Me” which features eight original tracks. Her deeply personal lyrics unite with melodic arrangements to create unforgettable songs. Her sound is best described as pop and folk with hints of jazz, reminiscent of some of her greatest influences: Joni Mitchell, Valdy, and Gordon Lightfoot.
Erin is lining up gigs to promote the album with an Eastern Canadian tour in 2010.
Her career as a full-time singer and songwriter began in 2005. At age 16 she began performing her own songs and taught herself to play guitar. She also plays bodhrán and was trained on piano and fiddle.
The strength of Erin’s performance is built upon her ability to captivate audiences. Coffee house, concert hall, or corporate show -- Erin is always a hit with listeners of all ages.
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