Martin Martini is soon to be launching his record Vienna 1913 at a select few venues and so we were able to score some of his time ahead of it all. Speaking about the foundation of Pound Records and how Vienna 1913 came out of this independent process, Martini gives us an insight into his creative mindset and offers an exciting insight into what we can be expecting.
Congratulations of the launch of Pound Records - as an independent venture, what has been the most rewarding and challenging part of the process thus far?
My partner Laurie and I made a son together last year. We called him Briar. So starting a record label was like having another son. Two sons running around the house. One has two legs and the other, too many legs. To say that getting this label off the ground has been a challenge is an understatement.
Can you tell me about the first recording session at 'the Pound'? What was it about this experience that made the light bulb go off and from there, set everything else in motion?
The first recording at the Pound was never intended to see the light of day. I was intoxicated at a Vodka Bar and I got a talking to some strangers, went back to a poorly designed house and sat down at the piano there. Someone dragged a cheap microphone down the stairs and recorded the evening into the morning. We wrote a dozen or so tunes that evening, all small songs, they just happened like rain happens, and the next day we had a record. We called our band The Smallest Band in the World - and then Bill, this tall beauty of a woman jumped on a plane and we never saw her again. Years later, a friend somehow got hold of these tracks and was shuffling through his iPod and made the comment, "You can always tell when a song from the Pound is coming up. Its sounds like nothing else". And that was the light bulb for me - under produced music in a falling down mansion with no studio fees and some good people.
About Pound Records - The smallest record label in the world. from Pound Records on Vimeo.
The first release is Vienna 1913 - how are you feeling about this record, as we head toward its release on November 30?
We recorded this record back at the end of 2011. I feel that this record is a pretty good indication of where I was at back then. It was the first time I had recorded live without overdubs, and just one take of each song. First time I let go of wanting something to be perfect. It was a nice spring day and the birds were singing, a good day to play some music. I hadn't played music before with Lynn Wallis (drums) and Ian Smith (tuba), so there was a lot of new ideas floating round.
Along with the record, there is the book of illustrations by Michael Camilleri - how long had this aspect of the project been in the works? Was it always an entwined process, the music and the drawing?
This book was a real surprise to me. With all of my recordings, I like to find an artist to make some images. I met Michael through Bernard Caleo, who suggested we should work together. I remember getting a call from Michael in the middle of night and he wanted to know what kind of mushroom I would be if I was a mushroom. I was pretty confused. I had no idea what was happening. Then we went from a one month deadline to a six month deadline. And then this book appeared and I was like, "How am I going to afford to print this? But it’s beautiful". It’s all white and spacious and like a dream. It's Michael’s dream of my album, I think. He took one lyric from the album where I mention a mushroom and dreamt on that one line till we had ourselves a 50 page picture book.
As the musician, looking at these drawings, were they manifestations far off from what you had in your head originally?
These images you could never have in your head before you saw them. Michael is a true original dream child. He should be working for Disney or Pixar or Marvel or whoever it is that makes those big animated movies. Turning a man into a mushroom is kids stuff. For an adult to do that you have to be a good dreamer, a good stealer of dream from children.
For a listener, what do you hope they take away from listening to Vienna 1913 for the first time?<?b>
Some guy in an organic food store in New Farm Brisbane once said, "It’s none of your business what anyone else thinks of you". That’s the best advice I think. I have let go of all of that now. It's easier to just to put the songs out and let other people deal with it. It’s hard enough sometimes getting up the confidence to feel I have a right to pollute the space with my art, my songs. There’s a lot of stuff out there to process.
"Rolls Royce Arms", the first single, features the amazing Jack Charles in the film clip - can you tell me about the origins of that song in particular?
"Rolls Royce Arms" was stolen from an old poet. Darcy (playing saxophone on the record and co-writer of "Rolls Royce...") overheard this old fella ranting about his Rolls Royce Arms in a pub, apparently a very old, unpublished as far as I can tell, pioneer poem by from way back. We took that and ran. It's a junkie reference.
You're set to present Vienna 1913 over a run of shows starting at the end of the month - how are preparations coming along for those gigs?
I don't prepare for shows. I find if I rehearse the music too much it loses its shine. So I will just labour on some work sites. I find that a shovel in the hand takes my mind off such things. Which is a good thing. It's just music and story telling. This old German witch doctor I met once said, "Music is not a job, it’s a hobby". I think he could be onto something.
What is going to be the most surprising, unconventional aspect of these shows that you can tell us about?
We are playing a great show at Captains of Industry. The night has a sit down meal and wine inclusive with the show. All the food we are serving has been grown organically out on my farm, but that’s another whole story. There are only 40 tickets available to that dinner and then we open the doors to the general public for a late show. http://www.trybooking.com/DYJO
Eddie Perfect is quoted as saying, "This is heartbreaking music from heartbroken musicians - I defy anyone not to get lost in these songs." - how much would you agree?
Heartbroken musicians make the best musicians. It’s not good to be too happy. You gotta be like a polar mountain. Like the North and South poles. One part always in darkness and one part always in light, otherwise the music comes out like jelly.
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Martin Martini will be playing three shows to launch Vienna 1913 and Pound Records.
Bennetts Lane:
Saturday 30 November 2013
http://www.bennettslane.com/gigs.php?eID=1027
Captains of Industry:
Thursday 5 December 2013
http://www.trybooking.com/DYJO
Evelyn Rooftop:
Sunday 15 December 2013
http://evelynhotel.oztix.com.au