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Martha Hill - Issue Three Full Interview

1. When did you know you wanted to be a musician?


It’s not something I really sought out, more something that’s happened haha. I guess I just always took a route that involved music, and then one thing lead to another. 



2. What is your creative process when creating a new song?


It depends on how I’m feeling! Usually, I just sit with an instrument and start playing some chords, then a few lines might come to me and I’ll go from there. I tend to write the verses first, and then a chorus will come to me later out the blue haha.



3. What inspired you to move from Scotland to the North East of England?


My cousins are from the North East, and we have always got on really well. They were always into festivals and music and being a bit hippy, and it just really appealed to me. There wasn’t much of that sort of scene in my hometown (Dunoon) in Scotland, so I moved to be closer to that and to play music!



4. When busking around Europe at the age of 17, which city did you connect with the most?


Lisboa!! I love Portugal so much, and busking in Lisbon was so good! Such a beautiful city and the people are really friendly and passionate about music.


5. Which artists inspire you?


Everyone!!! Anything I ever see live gets me going haha.


6. Do you think there has been a gender imbalance in the music scene? And if so, what can we do to reduce that imbalance?


Of course there has, there’s a gender imbalance in everything! By encouraging, supporting, funding and promoting female and non-binary artists.


7. Are there any creatives (musicians/artists/filmmakers) you urge us to check out?


Yes! Ruth Patterson, Ceitidh Mac, Dansi, Callum Pitt, Me Lost Me, Smithereens… the list goes on!


8. Do you have a favourite or most meaningful song?


Probably “Geordie”. It’s an old English folk song we used to sing when I was wee and I love it.


9. What’s been your greatest experience as a musician?


Most recently, playing the Howzat TV livestream this year! It was so lush to get to play with the band again after nearly 10 months, and to have an audience engaged and have a laugh with Jamie (the host)… especially after the shit year we’ve had! It’s amazing the power music has to make you feel better even when everything is crap.


10. How would you describe your music in 5 words?


big, floppy, orange, pencil, words.



Questions by Emily Duff





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