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Selina Martin Blurb pdf
Selina Martin is a highly acclaimed and truly original songwriter. Based in Toronto with roots in the Ottawa Valley she is an artist who has forged her own brand of pop by melding rock, new wave, punk, dance, folk and occasionally country, always with smart lyrics and always making it her own. “Martin has a way with a hook” (Exclaim!) and her songs are as accessible as they are idiosyncratic. Many of Canada’s most respected music writers have highly praised her work, including multiple accolades in the Globe and Mail.
On top of this Selina is an extremely expressive live performer and is also endowed with a distinctive voice, making her what some might call a ‘triple threat’. Known also as a skilled composer/arranger/producer and multi-instrumentalist, Selina has contributed to numerous recordings by her friends & peers (Rheostatics, Veda Hille, Bob Wiseman, Justin Rutledge, N.Q. Arbuckle...). Recent works of note include co-producing and arranging Martin Tielli's The Ghost Of Danny Gross, Parts 1 & 2.
She's also a gifted actor. Martin was one of the 4 main creators with the innovative and impressionistic Toronto-based theatre company Bald Ego Theatre. Selina has toured across Canada, the US and Europe. Her third full length and much-lauded recording, Disaster Fantasies, was produced by indie wunderkind Chris Stringer (Timber Timbre, Ohbijou, The Coast), and is her most focused album to date. It's a fierce collection of genre-defying tunes, including “a beautiful rendition” (Geddy Lee) of The Spirit of Radio (Rush), and was released on CD and vinyl across Canada in 2010. Martin is currently touring with a 3 piece band called Selina Martin Triage. Compact and potent, they perform artful arrangements of the songs using electric guitars, accordion, kalimba, foot percussion, bass & 3 part harmonies.
PRESS:
"One of the 10 best albums of the year" - Ottawa Citizen
"one of the most intriguing songwriters in Toronto." - Vish Khanna, CBC Radio 3 track of the day
"'Throw Me In the Water,” “Breathe In” and “Always On My Mind” all candidates for song of the year." - Michael Barclay, Radio Free Canuckistan
"The Rush cover is killer good being quite minimalist, heartfelt, and beautifully adapted. ... a mere portal into a wonderful twelve song album of quality material from what will surely go down as one of this years must-hear indie releases." - Lithium Magazine
"Smartly arranged and lyrically vivid... definitely interesting." - Now Magazine
“Selina Martin kicks some serious ass.” – Mote Magazine
"Without question the most underrated Canadian album of the year." - The Record
**** “ [Life Drawing Without Instruction] is full of sneaky wisdom and good tunes that refuse to know where to draw the line.” – The Globe and Mail
“Martin’s singing is astounding.” – Toronto Star
**** “Martin revels in the unexpected on her tough, tender, and frequently astounding sophomore effort.” – Ottawa Xpress
“Any fan of Jane Siberry or the Rheostatics will instantly be captivated by Martin’s impressionistic approach but her songs stand on their own… Thrilling.” – Exclaim
**** “Life Drawing Without Instruction is a compelling collection, showcasing Martin’s musicianship, vocal talent and songwriting. From supple, lilting songs to swaggering anthems Martin shows off her musical range and versatility.” – Vue Magazine
“Martin blew in like a breath of
fresh air with a voice full of
beauty and angst and a wholly
unique writing sensibility.”
– View Magazine
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Disaster Fantasies is chosen as one of the Globe and Mail’s Polaris picks for 2010.
• Two songs from Disaster Fantasies (Dec. 7 - The Hottest Day, June 29 - The Spirit of Radio)
are heralded by the Globe and Mail as “Essential Tracks”.
• Breathe In, also from Disaster Fantasies is touted as “one of the best Canadian songs of the
year” by Robert Everett-Green of The Globe & Mail
• Selina’s song 20 Miles is featured in the Canadian road film One Week, which debuted
at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.
• Selina penned and performed the soundtrack for – and is animated along with The
Five Hole Band in – the award winning short film Five Hole by Cam Christiansen,
based on the book by Dave Bidini (Rheostatics).
• Act of God, the new documentary by Jennifer Baichwall (Manufactured Landscapes),
with film score by Fred Frith, Martin Tielli (Rheostatics), Dave Bidini, and Selina
Martin opens the 2009 Hot Docs festival.
• Selina shared the stage with Ani Di Franco at the Vancouver Folk Festival and
received a 1500 person standing ovation. She has also shared the stage with Feist,
Kathleen Edwards, The Rheostatics, Oh Susannah, Bob Wiseman, The Skydiggers,
Veda Hille and many more.
• Selina’s second full-length album, Life Drawing Without Instruction, was one of CBC
radio 3’s top albums of 2005 and is on Gord Downie’s (The Tragically Hip) web-list of
“Music You Should Hear”
SHORT BIO 120words
Toronto-based, Ottawa Valley raised, Selina Martin is a high-powered art pop siren who has toured across Canada, the US and Europe, has 2 critically acclaimed CD’s under her belt, and is releasing her 3rd at the end of June, 2010. Disaster Fantasies promises to be her most focused & accessible recording to date.It is a fierce collection of genre-defying tunes skillfully produced by Toronto indie wunderkind Chris Stringer (Timber Timbre, Ohbijou, The Coast), and will be available on CD and vinyl. She has an unforgettable voice, a striking ear for melody, a gigantic stage presence and on top of it all, is an incredibly high calibre songwriter. Her music is as original as it is catchy, and as playful as it is powerful.
"Martin's singing is astounding " - Toronto Star
"Any fan of Jane Siberry or the Rheostatics will instantly be captivated by Martin's impressionistic approach, but her songs stand on their own... Thrilling" - Exclaim
"Martin blew in like a breath of fresh air with a voice full of beauty and angst and a wholly unique writing sensibility" - View Magazine
4/4 stars - Selina Martin has the voice of a thrift-shop angel and the eye of an eagle circling over it's prey" - The Globe & Mail
Exclaim Magazine June 2010
Selina Martin
Disaster Fantasies
By Eric Hill
The flurry of pop punches that introduces Miss Martin's third album jellies up the knees, so when the suggestion to "Breathe In" comes around on track five, that's basically all you can do. Her "Can rock" guitar attack is backed by a fine storytelling ear for detail and savvy avoidance of the traffic merge that strands other female artists in the carpool lane. Time spent working with Dave Bidini and Martin Tielli on the Five Hole Band's Tales of Hockey Erotica transfers over in the form of brave studio experimentation. Vocal layering, singing saws and wine glasses, plus guest kalimba by Laura Barrett, take many tracks into a nice twilight zone of sound. The little wink to the Talking Heads on "Rape During Wartime" is a masterful dissimulation of the political into the party, another of her skill sets. And for pure Canadiana, what could be cooler than a fragile, jazzy take on "Spirit of the Radio"? Insert boho finger-snapping sounds here. (Independent)