Martin Kerr - Vox, Rhythm Guitar, Songs.
Lane Arndt - Lead Guitar.
Chris Budnarchuk - Drums.
Kris Glabush - Bass.
David Aide - Keys.
Influences
Baha'u'llah, Radiohead, Counting Crows, Smashing Pumpkins, Sarah MacLachlan, John Mayer, Tracy Chapman, Peter Gabriel, Alexi Murdoch, Ron Sexsmith, The Frames, Damien Rice, Kate Bush, The Levellers, Jeff Buckley, Brett Dennen. I collaborate with many other Baha'i artists around the world. You can hear many of them here:
radioNUR
Sounds Like
Take your pick:
a ginger Ben Harper with a sense of humour...Badly Drawn boy without the fleas...John Mayer without Jessica Simpson...Tracy Chapman with a more girly voice...early Radiohead without the manic depression...James Blunt, without falling in love with random strangers on public transit... a male Joni Mitchell who's lost his piano...Let me know if you think of any others!
"Took us all by storm", said the BBC World Service, introducing Martin Kerr to 40 million listeners, aged just 13.
Twelve years later, Kerr's new album, 'I Know You're Out There' is winning accolades from around the world, including 'Best Canadian Pop Album 2007' (Toronto Exclusive Magazine).
The years in between have seen Kerr travel to 30 countries with a guitar over his back. On the way he has learned Chinese, put his passport through the washing machine, and missed several flights. Thankfully, his songwriting is somewhat better organized.
The album's unforgettable first single - the anthemic 'Undiscovered Geniuses' - is a tribute to the meek and the humble, and a sweet stab at the cult of celebrity. Martin explains, "When traveling round the world, aged 18, I found that there were so many people with incredible talents going completely unnoticed. Meanwhile everyone could tell you what Britney Spears was wearing last night. Since then I've been making a conscious effort to focus on local artists instead of watching MTV or reading Rolling Stone."
Kerr's CD collection is populated mostly by musicians he's met on his travels, with a few favourite megastars thrown in, like John Mayer, Tracy Chapman and Jack Johnson. Like these songwriters, Kerr gives us instantly singable melodies, to brave lyrics that are cliche-free, straight from the heart, and not evading controversy. His voice however, in its power and range, puts all these stars in the shade.
More seasoned listeners compare him to greats like James Taylor, Cat Stevens and John Denver, whilst the younger crowd have rarely heard a male voice of such caliber.
He has primed his pipes from a young age, with his first lead role in musical theatre coming aged just 5, in a Christmas play called Snow Robin. He still sings songs from this occasionally, just to annoy his older sister. Later he pushed himself to be heard above the din of street corners, subway stations and farmer's markets, with no amplification.
Playing for change and selling CDs out of his backpack paid Martin's way around the world for 5 years. Such adventures have left him with profound insights, and themes of travel and spirituality are found everywhere in his songs:
"These aeroplanes don't bring me home, 'cause I'm not from this world" he writes in the soothing ballad 'Breathing', which has become a hit amongst yoga practitioners.
During his time in China, Martin worked as a preschool teacher in Beijing (recording 3 albums of kids songs) and met Tara, Canadian girl who stalked him with email love poetry until he finally married her in 2005.
I Know You're Out There includes several tracks about marriage, not the most likely topic for a pop-song. Kerr explains, "There seems to be plenty of songs about hooking up for the night, but not many saying something real about trying to stick together forever, except maybe by old folk singers with big beards and woolly jumpers. So I'm trying to bring a fresh voice to an old theme."
The results, like the hilarious Celtic footstomper, 'My Love's Been More Than Two Hours Long' will likely have you playing the spoons with the best of the beardies. Then, suddenly sounding more like Ricky Martin, Kerr delivers the brilliantly titled 'Kryptonite Anniversary' and calls on the spirit of Santana for a wild guitar solo.
With such a versatile sound, Kerr finds he is able to grab the attention of any audience that doesn't limit their entertainment to rocking out until their ears bleed or grinding the night away to a DJ.
Hence he follows a rather unconventional touring model; once a month he gets on a plane with his guitar, and goes to just one city to play a full week of shows from nightclubs to elementary schools, churches to charity conventions. True to his belief in local talent, he hires backing musicians in each town, sending them songs by email to practice in advance. Often too, he invites new friends or aspiring musicians to join him on stage for one song.
When asked about the record deals he's turned down, he says "I don't use a manager or a record label - I'm not necessarily opposed to it, but I haven't needed one yet. I love to collaborate, but preferably on short-term projects. Most of my tours start out with someone inviting me to visit their town, and then together we make it happen. I feel like a medieval troubadour in the digital age."
This e-minstrel's recordings are available at iTunes, cdbaby.com and just maybe on your street corner.
Hello from the amazing windy plains just outside Calgary , Alberta Wonderful sites and sounds in your space.Many discoveries made at your space, very nice indeed to be Space m8s.
In a act of Kindness endorphin levels are elevated in the Giver, the Receiver and the Observer, how nice is that.
"do not seek happiness .. but .. do rid your self of unhappiness = Zero Negative thoughts"
"Share knowledge ,it is a way to achieve immortality"
Just finished a very simple mix of a verse and chorus structure. Just a rather simple beat with a simple bassline. I added a bit of a synth towards the end too. I'm thinking it sounds a bit cheesey 80's underground belgic disco. Tell me what you think of it's current state...if it doesn't fit quite well, I'll get something else sorted.
Hey Martin, sorry for the delay. I've been working on some instrumentals, but as much as I try to finish them, they start sounding random and structure-less.
If I could sort out some really basic instrumentals first, maybe a simple beat and a general riff/progression, would that be easier? The extra filling can come in afterwards.
Well I'm down with whatever, I'll finish off the instrumentals and send them your way. Feel free to do whatever you want with them, like create your own structure. Thanks
I very much enjoyed seeing you at the Winspear Centre last night and I loved your music ~ as always. It was also a treat to meet you and to get your two CD's. I'm going to get a lot of listening enjoyment from both of them.
I'll be sure to watch as your career progresses ~ and I'll be sure to attend other of your performances. You're a great musical artist.
Hey Martin Come to the Maritime provinces and we'll collaborate. Yes I know it's far but we could rock the Baha'i scene out here. Take Care and Allah'u'Abha Steve
Looking forward to any trips south that find you in my vicinity. I'll be in San Diego until December or January when I'll be moving to Vegas. The upside will be that it will be cheaper to live in Vegas so I'm more likely to visit LA if that's where you end up. Keep in touch! Hugs for you!
Martin! Unfortunately, being a San Diegan, I don't get Canadian Idol, but I've been following up through youtube. Maybe proud isn't the right word, but I was so excited to see you make it and do so well. There is no question about it-- you are talented. Moreover you are the type of person that deserves whatever success comes your way. You have a very loving heart and it was your talent that made me a fan, but your heart that made you a favorite musician and person. Best of luck to you!
Sorry it's taken so long to get this announcement out, but the URL for the store where you can buy a copy of Promise (EP) is up and running! Check it out! (And don't forget to send along a note if you want your copy autographed!)
