Biography
Australian singer/songwriter Martine Locke has never worked a 9 to 5 job. She has never worn a skirt to work. She has never had straight hair. She has never played the tuba.
She has had only one dream her entire life.
To play music.
Put driving acoustic rhythms together with alternate tunings, a powerhouse voice, intelligent stage banter and intimate life stories that will leave you wiping the tears from laughter one minute and pondering the next. Combine that with the delicate harmonies and passionate percussiveness of Dionne Ward and you almost have described an evening with Martine Locke. (Let it be known that one needs to be in the room to truly experience this, as no words will do it justice.)
Martine Locke spent the first part of her life on the run from the police. Her father, wanted by the Sydney police, became the living, breathing embodiment of Australian convict history when he gathered up his family and evaded jail time by hiding in the Australian outback. Some would say that it was this formative experience that prepared Martine for the life of an itinerant musician. Traveling the world in search of stories and tales to tell, expressing them through her songs and indeed through her stories….and perhaps, occasionally, running from the law (although, at least one of those things is not true). Music, performance and creativity is all Martine has ever known and she passionately lives, breathes and tackles all of life’s concerns through the heart of a creative soul.
Self-releasing 3 solo CDs (Fly, On The Verge and Undone) and 4 CDs with her Australian duo, The Velvet Janes (Live, Opus No.3, Venus Calling & THE Ep), has shown Martine to be an astute and capable business woman in an industry that traditionally lacks integrity. Passionate about her independence, Martine has continued to book/manage/promote/produce and perform over 150 shows a year in three countries. She has toured as opening artist for acts such as Ani DiFranco, The Cowboy Junkies, Tommy Emmanuel, Arlo Guthrie, and Australian favourites Weddings, Parties, Anything and The Waifs, and has managed to realize her desire to develop more house concerts all across the US & Australia.
In 2009 Martine was joined onstage full time by percussionist/vocalist Dionne Ward. Dionne, an established musician in her own right, provides a percussive back drop to the songs and a lilting harmony to the tunes that will have your feet tapping and goose bumps rising up across your body all at once. Together they present a show filled with laughter, stories, hearty tunes and a personable interaction that will leave you feeling like you know them. Performing at festivals, schools and house concerts across the country takes them from one side of the US to the other and proves that the independent spirit is alive, well and thriving in an economy that would otherwise seek to discourage them.
This duo brings a rambunctious, spirited, dynamic performance each time they perform and as columnist Lucky Clark wisely wrote once ‘…they will aim for your heart, as well as your feet’.
Press interviews and questions please contact:
e: info@martinelocke.com
w: www.martinelocke.com
s: www.myspace.com/martinelocke
Discography
2008
Undone - Recorded at forgiveness studios in Tacoma, WA. Producer Evan Brubaker (Cake Records) and features acclaimed musicians Julie Wolf (Ani DiFranco, Bruce Cockburn), Vicki Randle (The Tonight Show Band), Pam Delgado (Blame Sally), Mike Grigoni (Anais Mitchell) and Darin Watkins.
Songs Include:
1. Don't Hold On
2. Devil's Clothes
3. Lady Liberty
4. Fall From Grace
5. Looking Back
6. 9 1/2 Minutes
7. Run Away
8. Take You
9. Choices
10. Free Falling
11. Stand & Deliver
12. Memory I Can't Erase
2006
ON THE VERGE - Recorded and mixed in San Francisco and in Perth, Western Australia, by Martine Locke and Gary Mankin, ON THE VERGE features the talents of: Julie Wolf (Ani DiFranco, Dar Williams, Bruce Cockburn) on keys and vocals, Deb Lane (Pele JuJu) on drums and Chad Heise (Box Set) on bass. Showcasing 10 new tracks. Her songs range from folk to rock, from pop to a powerful ballad performed with the haunting harmonies of Rose Farrow (The Velvet Janes).
Songs Include:
1. Greyhound Bus
2. Watching You
3. Hallelujah
4. Rather Be
5. If I Were A King
6. Barely Breathe
7. Final Breath
8. Wonder Why
9. Telephone
10. Wherever You Are
2004
FLY - distributed by Passionfruit Produce through Goldenrod Music Distributors, CD Baby in the US. Chaos Music in Australia. Recorded at Loop Studios, Perth Western Australia. Produced by Martine Locke & Gary Ridge. Featuring Gary Ridge (drums, percussion), Roy Martinez (bass).
Songs Include:
1. Under My Tongue
2. Crazy
3. A Moment Ago
4. Smells Like Rain
5. 50 Windows
6. History is Laughing
7. Stranger Things
8. Going Mad
9. Once Too Many
10. Waiting...is not what I do
11. Fly
2000 - Live At The Velvet Lounge
Recorded live in Perth, Western Australia, The Velvet Janes latest album.Produced by The Velvet Janes. Engineered by Don Morrison - with Roy Martinez (bass) and Gary Ridge (drums/percussion)
Featuring Songs:
1.Sunflowers
2.Lover Of Mine
3.Shame On Me
4.Purple
5.Heartbeat
6.Zac's Song
7.I Still Haven't Found What I Am Looking For
8.Wellington St
9.Shades Of Blue
10.Waiting(is not what I do)
11.Girl Like Me
12.Wherever We Go
13.Somedays
1999 - Opus No.3
Critically acclaimed album by The Velvet Janes. Received radio airplay and press coverage around the US & Australia. Recorded at Loop Studios in Perth, Western Australia. Produced by The Velvet Janes. Engineered by:Graeme Owens, assisted by Don Morrison. Featuring Matt Branton (bass), Hayden Meggitt (drums), Gary Ridge (perc),Orlagh De Bhaldraithe (Bodhran/Tin Whistle)
Featuring Songs:
1. Wrapped Up
2. Purple
3. Waiting (is not what I do)
4. Loser
5. Zac's Song
6. Wellington St
7. Rivers Of Orange
8. It's All Right
9. Shades Of Blue
10. Away
11. Shiny Black Shoes
12. Sunflowers
1998 - Venus Calling
Recorded at Loop Studios, Perth Western Australia.Produced by The Velvet Janes.Engineered by John Gailbraith. Featuring: Matt Branton (bass), Hayden Meggitt (drums), Dave McDonald(Drums), Carol Hall (Piano)
Featuring Songs:
1. Venus Calling
2. Shame On Me
3. Lover Of Mine
4. Hey You
5. Bob & Beau
6. Final Breath
7. Ahhhh
8. Sorry I Am
9. Girl Like Me
10. Don't Waste My Time
11. See Me Crying
12. I Will Follow
13. Somedays
1997 - The Velvet Janes EP
Recorded at Loop Studios and the Upper Room in Perth, Western Australia. Produced by The Velvet Janes. Engineered by John Gailbraith. Featuring: Matt Branton (bass), Vince Crea (drums), Ian Martinez (perc), Geoff Grubb (electric guitar)
Featuring Songs:
1.Don't Waste My Time
2.The Flying Song
3.Heartbeat
4.Somebody Tell Me Why
