Feature Friday - Martin Saint
Name
Martin Saint
Pronouns
He-him
Bio
Martin Saint was the lead-singer and second guitar player with Montreal's The Ember Glows.
He is now pursuing his own solo project full time as well as other collaborations with various local musicians. Glimmers of Nick Cave, Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Bauhaus and The Doors infuse most of his work with strong emphasis on words and dramatic atmosphere. His last album Radio Murmurs, out since March 9th 2023, displays these references a little at a time.
His 4th solo release, Seekers, came out on April 18th, with the single 'Look At Me That Way' on March 28th. As always, lyrics aim at standing for themselves outside the music, as a major cornerstone of the ensemble.
In the meantime he pursues part-time projects such as electronica-driven Portmanteau, some spoken word (Fly Tales, an experimental spoken-word set to avant-garde, music came out in 2019) and collaborations with various local musicians such as members of SU and Lagora, HJ & The Constellations. For the last 10 years he's been a regular member of Johnny Couteau's band.with whom he toured Europe in 2018
Where in Montreal are you located?
Tucked between the Plateau, Rosemont and Hochlag.
What do you love about your neighborhood?
I like that it's a bit of a cultural No Man's Land where nothing happens. I'm sort of nestled in that little pocket between the neighbourhoods mentioned above. So I'm not quite sure. Technically it's Ville-Marie but it doesn't feel like Ville-Marie at all, me being literally at the border. Unless you're there to see somebody or eat some greasy pizza after a night out, there's really nothing. This provides me with the balance I need, since I'm very much a loner who needs peace and calm. Because of what I do I do spend a lot of time in Mile-End, Plateau so I often find myself in the middle of the thriving artistic nightlife, live music, etc...However, at home I need that calm serenity. It's a question of balance. That's why living in such a quiet, almost bland, area is beneficial to me. Lots of trees and cats, I'm happy.
What’s your favourite art space in Montreal and why?
By art you mean music venue, I assume since we're discussing music? I don't know because I'm at a point where I'm desperately hoping for other underground avenues to open up for artists, not just musicians but performance art of all kinds. I do like playing at Casa very much, L'Esco, Quai des Brumes. Incidentally, I'm also a drawing artist and Quai des Brumes were cool enough to let me show my art for a whole month there last year. So I'm thankful for that.
Describe your art in your own words.
I know this is a feature about music but since you mention art and I also happen to be a visual artist, I'll talk about my art a little. My approach consists of a hybrid drawing technique mixing pencil -both coloured and graphite - watercolour markers, conté and occasionally pastel. I've even resorted to a simple ballpoint pen a handful of times. I like to create renditions of my travel pictures, places that I've visited, illustrate my song lyrics cartoon style, old days black and whites as well as a tarot card collection underway. One could describe my style as bordering on adult cartoons with at times a touch of Film Noir sensibility in the song lyric album.
What have you been working on recently?
My new album Seekers, came out on April 18th, with the single out on Friday, March 28th. This album marks a significant upgrade in terms of production value. After completing more than half the recording process at home, I enlisted the help of Frank Bones on drums and co-mixing duties at Studio Orange. I've also remixed a song by my good friends SU. I'm not sure when it comes out, that is for them to decide. It was a lot of fun and different. There was also Hélas, hélas, a French-speaking duet with Ursa Minor from SU, speaking of. That was a lot of fun to do Then I'm trying to revive my pandemic electronica side-project Portmanteau, working on my own Electro EP, and I'm already 10 songs deep into a new release at some point. I can't sit on my hands very long.
What sparked your passion for music?
I grew up with instruments in our family home and my father is a fantastic piano player so that definitely had to do with it, on a unconscious level. It started very slow and gently. There was no revelation on the mountain moment, so to speak.
Describe your sound.
I'm a lounge crooner with a wedding band from hell. I've often been told by multiple sources that my music would fit in a David Lynch or Wim Wenders movie. It is very word-oriented as mentioned in my bio. It's very atmospheric, dramatic and intense during live performances. My band and I play with silences, tension and release a lot. But in spite of that adventurous side, the songs always contain a certain pop sensibility.
What does your creative process look like?
I'm fairly disciplined. I always make a point of advancing on something almost everyday, except if I purposely take a mental break. I'm always on the lookout for new ideas, I'm like a sponge. I'm very much in touch with my senses, my emotions, the present moment. I absorb energies, notice little things that inspire me. The same goes for the music, I write songs in my head sometimes, even away from my station and then I apply it when I get home, see if it works or not. Then at home I either write words or music, record songs that are ready or mix some of the more advanced ones. What works for me is to have about 3 or 4 going at the same time. No more, no less. This way, it's more than one in case I get stuck. I can still continue working. But at the same time it's not too many so I spread myself too thin and get nothing done.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
I like to divide this question into two categories, since I wear many hats. I'm a multi-instrumentalist and arranger but also very much a lyricist. So I have more lyric influences and some strictly musical and even more specific as a singer. Lyrically: Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, Jim Morrison, Patti Smith, Matt Johnson (The The), Ian Curtis, Beat poetry. Musically: The Mission, Bowie, Bauhaus, The Verve, Joy Division, The Doors, Nick Cave, Echo and The Bunnymen, Johnny Marr as a guitar player Vocally: Bowie, Elvis, Morrison, Ian McCulloch, Morrissey, Wayne Hussey (The Mission).
What do you love about playing live?
Performing is the life blood and a form of exhibitionism. It’s a sprint of sorts. You give all you’ve got - hopefully that is - no time to think. It’s more of a bare knuckle approach. There’s also the possibility of an element of surprise, unpredictability. Depending on the style of music, the orchestration, it might be necessary to strip down the sound compared to the recorded versions. I like that. It’s a different animal. I’m totally cool with being at a show and the live renditions differ from what I’m used to hear. As long as the main components of the songs are there and the spirit is intact.
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