Last week I had the extreme pleasure of interviewing Wade Martin. He is an up and coming recording artist who is beginning to make waves in the US. His debut CD sold millions and built a strong fan base worldwide. His latest CD and single, A Song For You is making it’s way up the charts.
Wade has the looks of a star and a voice that is captivating. He is someone I will be watching in the coming year. By the end of 2006 I believe everyone will know the name, Wade Martin!.
Check out my interview and log onto his website where you can see his pics and download samples of his music. http://www.wademartin.com
At what age did you get started on your musical career?
This question breaks down in three ways; as a writer, my first song was written with my first Spanish guitar when I was eight and called it “A whisper of goodbye”. As a performer my first stage performance was when I was ten in some smoky bar in Europe (age wasn’t a problem over there in those days). I sang and played cover tunes with a local entertainer. I started producing and recording other artists when I was 16 after I had developed my own musical abilities a bit more.
You started in London but then came to the USA?
I was born in England but my parents moved to the Canary Islands (off the coast of Africa) when I was eight, so I seriously started my musical career over there. It was great for me because it gave me a chance to learn how to speak Spanish and be exposed to other flavors of music. As an artist I hit the radar over there in the mid 90’s and developed a very healthy following but my ambition wanted more than just Europe. So I packed my things and sold my home and recording studio and arrived in the US in 1999.
Can you describe your musical style?
I can’t really box a musical style for you because every album I’ve released has been in a different style. I started with glam rock then moved into hard rock shifted dramatically to pop and now I’m doing hot AC, go figure… I get bored singing and writing the same music all the time.
Tell us about your last albums, what inspired you?
My albums in most cases are a product of life’s trails and tribulation. I’m inspired by the hurt, excitement the ups and the downs that I’ve had in my personal life, and my life has been full of these things from a very early age (long story for another time). I know it sounds rather masochistic of me to be inspired by these extremes I assure you I’m not. Song writing has served for me as a form of therapy that when I need to vent or let go of thing I can through song.
Where have you performed?
I’ve performed all over Europe and so far Las Vegas is the only place in the US.
Tell us about the new album and the single that is #29 on the charts
This new album’s a refreshing change for me, being that the guitars are turned down and I’m singing songs that are a bit more laid back in comparison to the music I’ve been doing over the past couple of years. I’m extremely happy with how my single “A Song For You” is shooting up the charts. It was fun singing it with my friend Jilla Roberts and equally as fun writing with Stephen Steward and LaFrance Austin. One of my better days as a producer when I recorded that track not that I have many bad days but some days shine a little bit more than others.
Is it hard to get airplay as in independent?
Do I find it hard to get airplay as an independent? Well, if you can first find reputable radio promoters and get them to believe in your music it can work.
The record I’m pleased to report is playing every where from New York to Hawaii. Last report I received the track is playing 720 (and raising) times a week which is a great start being that it was only released a few weeks ago.
You also produce, can you tell us about them and who you have worked with?
I’ve worked with a number of artists in Europe who have not yet made it over the pond. As far as producing people in the US, I been too busy producing and managing myself, however, I have produced and written music for unknowns soon to be well-known.
Who do you admire in the industry?
I have great admiration for artists that have been able to maintain there career through the decades. You see I know how hard it is to maintain for a couple of years let alone decades! As far as mainstream artists I have nothing but respect for them and their accomplishments in breaking into a very cut throat business.
Will you stay independent or look to sign with a major label?
I am happy as an independent and apparently capable of knocking mainstream artists down in the charts, signed with major labels. If a major label were to offer me an exorbitant amount of money and a jet with my name on it, I would consider it, otherwise I don’t need a major label in order to get the job done. ;)
How big is your fan base? are they worldwide?
I have fans from Australia all the way across the world to believe it or not, Kuwait. I feel very fortunate, that my fan base is growing every day at a surprising rate.
What are your goals with the new album?
Three million copies sold in 2005, which may not sound significant considering a lot of mainstream artists are selling 10 to 20 million copies of their record, but as an independent it’s one hell of an accomplishment to sell just one million.
What makes you stand out from other recording artists?
At the risk of sounding vain, there are not too many recording artists today who do everything from the creation (i.e. performing all the instruments, writing, recording, arranging, singing, etc) to the business implementation. Of course now-a-days no one really cares about any of that stuff what you do or don’t do. We live in a time when most artists and producers are using prerecorded loops and samples for their music. A time where you could be caught lip syncing on national television and still have a career the next day. Oh yes, things have changed a lot since I first started in this business… Sorry about that I was on a typing role and couldn’t stop so back to the question. My singing style sets me apart from other male artists because I like to push the envelope by using the full range of my voice, I don’t know of any male artists today that are doing that. Then again do people really care how high you can sing?? …not really… but it makes me different.
Have you been compared to any other recording artist?
As a singer, I’ve been compared to Jeff Tate and Steve Perry, even though I don’t particularly agree. As a producer, fortunately I’ve not been boxed yet due to the variety of my productions so far.
What are your future musical goals?
To sell millions of copies of my current album which will allow me to write and produce other artists. For I enjoy that part of the business very much, but to date I‘ve had difficulty finding time
Who would you like to work with, either producing or singing?
I would love to work with Quincy Jones. He’s one of the few truly old school producers, who is still working.
Do you have advice for other struggling recording artists?
My philosophy to success which I’ll share is to be strategically persistent and consistent with your chosen career. NEVER let any one bring you down from your dreams.
