Artist Profile : Martin Newell
Martin Newell is a singer-songwriter and poet. He works from a small, sleepy village called Wivenhoe, which is situated on an estuary in Essex, England. He writes two poems a week for the Independent newspaper and often for national and local radio stations, this has earned him the reputation of most frequently published UK poet. More importantly perhaps, at least as far as this project goes, he is also a great singer songwriter, his perfect pop records have won him many fans all over the world.
After a career fronting many gigging bands from the late sixties until the very late seventies, Martin began making music from home, writing, recording and playing everything himself . He became something of a pioneer in a fledgling movement which has grown with him. It is pretty commonplace to hear of musicians making music at home and setting up their own labels these days, but back then it was revolutionary.
Martin called his band The Cleaners From Venus, it was a band made up of Newell and whoever else wanted to play, but the main colleagues were Lawrence (Lol) Elliot and later Giles Smith. Giles was a very talented musician and brought his keyboard skills and song writing capabilities to the band and made them very much a going concern around 1984 when they were briefly signed to RCA Germany.
Martin's appeal to the Germans has always been strong and for many years his sole representation was through the small German label JarMusic who continue their engagement to this day.
In 1993 Martin released what many (including him) regard as his finest work. It was called 'The Greatest Living Englishman' and instead of recording it at home, he recorded it in a shed.
This shed happened to belong to Andy Partridge of XTC and Andy produced it. It was wonderful pop marriage, Newell and his musical hero gave birth to a collection of songs as strong and as timeless as any great pop music in the last fourty years. The XTC connection helped to win him many new fans, especially in the US. Since that time nearly all his musical work has been re-released several times and his reputation grows and grows.
This year sees the release of a brand new Martin Newell album 'The Spirit Cage' which is released on Cherry Red Records, and of course this marvellous tribute bares testimony to his song writing.
He remains a fairly quiet, unassuming, down to earth character, doing what he does best, writing poetry and songs, making and drinking beer, raising money for charity and annoying the neighbours. Unlike many of his colleagues he does not actively seek fame and fortune. He enjoys what he does, if other people enjoy it too and buy his works, then all the better. He's a national treasure and long may he continue.