Sleeping in Suburbia is the latest single from Martha Paton, a South London-based singer and writer of “little chocolate-box songs about the city, suburbia, and how f****d we all are.” We were hooked on this from first listen which is why it’s also our Song of the Day.
Born in the badlands of Hampshire and raised on the worst pop excesses of the 90s and early 00s, she now specialises in folk and country-infused pop (which she calls Briticana) that takes cues from Laura Marling, Regina Spektor, Margo Price and First Aid Kit. You may have seen her busking a gut out on the South Bank, or supporting artists like Rae Morris, Kim Churchill and Joel Baker.
Sleeping in Suburbia, toys with the cheery themes of isolation, ennui and death with insight and playfulness. Recorded with Parousia Productions, it was released on the 12th of January 2018.
“I live in South London now, but I wrote the song when I was still living at home with my parents. My friends had all already fled to the city, and I think the song is about my own terror of leaving as well as my itchy feet. I made the video with my friend Claudia in my old hometown and I wanted it to tell a story of suburban childhood. We tried to give the song a cinematic feel, and wanted to make a video that reflects that. I hope that the drone with its widening perspective makes a place that seems so humdrum to me feel a little grander.”
Streaming/Purchase link:
https://song.link/
Upcoming gigs:
25th of January: Sofar Sounds London
13th of February: The Bedford / Balham
https://www.facebook.com/marthapatonofficial/
https://twitter.com/MarthaPaton
https://www.instagram.com/marthapaton/