Martha Wainwright to appear at The Apex next week
Twenty years ago, Martha Wainwright stepped out of her family’s illustrious shadow and announced herself to the world with her stunning debut album “Martha Wainwright”.
The Sunday Times called her “a tour de force”, Uncut described the disc as “brilliant” while Q said she was “a thing of wonder”.
Twenty years on, she continues to enthral listeners both onstage and record and is to perform at The Apex, in Bury St Edmunds, next week.
Martha says: “Twenty years ago my life as an artist took shape when my first record was released.
“In many ways that record defined me and made me who I am.
“It was after 10 years of playing in bars, making cassettes and EPs to sell at my shows, singing backup for my brother Rufus, falling in love and out of love and in again, practicing, writing, singing, partying, walking for hours and hours, crying and laughing with friends, playing with musicians and listening to great artists working with my ex-husband in the studio for two years that created this first record.
“Labels wouldn’t sign me when I started and I had to craft, with the help of many people, an album that would finally be licensed and released in 2005.
“My first record tells my story and when it was finally released, I was able to work and tour and have a career in music – something that I always wanted but wasn’t sure would happen.
“Twenty years later, with six other albums under my belt, two kids and a career that is chugging along, I can safely say that my first record paved my way forward and I’m very proud of it and still sing many of these early songs.”
Martha Wainwright’s songwriting has always carried a raw depth and uncompromising defiance, often written from places of pain and with a need for catharsis.
This spring, to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the “Martha Wainwright” album was released on vinyl for the first time, along with digitally released unheard songs, outtakes and early material.
Martha says: “Along with the re-release, there will be a tour with a few great musicians, where I’ll play the record in its entirety as well as a few new songs – there’s no 48-year-old me without the 28-year-old me.”
Martha Wainwright is at The Apex on Tuesday, May 27, at 7.30pm. See www.theapex.co.uk or ring 01284 758000 for more information, or to book tickets.