Our Song of the Day comes from Martha Rose who learnt to play the violin as a child and studied English and German literature. She began writing songs after she was given a guitar wrapped up in newspaper by her first boyfriend. She has since gained a cult following in both the UK and Germany (especially in Berlin). Her debut album, ‘Spit’, came out in 2016 on Treibender Teppich Records. She has been working extensively with other musicians as a multi-instrumentalist and has supported artists such as Kevin Morby, Ilgen-Nur and Joan as Policewoman. She has performed and recorded with Berlin-favourites such as Fenster, Magic Island, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, John Moods and Stella Sommer.
Her new album, ‘Undress & Dive After’, comes from the lyrics of an old English folk song called ‘Hares on the Mountain‘ – about the hopeless desire of women to pursue the men they are interested in. “If all you young men were fish in the water, how many young girls would undress and dive after?” The title informed the recording and writing process from the very beginning on. Rose’s lyrics consistently follow through the threads of the heart, the intertwining of desire and loss, and evoke a medieval valour in the pursuit of true love. There is always a sense of the unattainable crush – “I’m such a liar / but it’s just cos I love ya” – permeating Martha Rose’s work.
The music video for her new single ‘Keep a Part’ was made by UK artist Rosie Carr. Using sculptured objects and abstractions she creates an imaginary world for Martha to play within. The song is both for and about the work of the filmmaker. She responds with pulses of disco lights rolling through green fields, and strange dances with her own hands. The literal is celebrated with the prettiest of posies, a heart-shaped friendship necklace, and the two friends playing recorder together.
Rose’s music, as demonstrated here, is both playful and inspiring, invigorating and original.
‘Undress & Dive After’ is an invitation to dive deep into Martha Rose’s poetic and emotional world, with all its sources of inspiration (a track-by-track is available separately) – a warm wash of Casio sounds and visual cues embedded in mystical lyricism. Cotton and water, it is a sonic vision of a medieval forest and a 1980s village-hall disco that also references Japanese funk. It asks the listener to engage with different kinds of love, and to fiercely keep hold of joy. Rose puts herself into vulnerable positions, exploring both the cruelty and the sweetness that experience evokes.
Her songwriting process was opened up to collaboration, with sounds heavily influenced by Berlin’s Miami Nice Studio’s collection of synths, Dandy Deniz’s charming lead guitars and keys, and Garagen Uwe’s irresistible groove via his outfit Balayage. Garagen Uwe, himself a multi-faceted musician and Berlin-underground mainstay, member of Walls & Birds and drummer for not only Rose but also for All Diese Gewalt and Die Heiterkeit, produced the album together with Thomas Zehnle and Sebastian Gieck, who played bass and synthesizers. Additional guests: Can Winter (bass on Coffee Love, The Infanta) and Kevin Kuhn (Drums on ‘Keep a Part’). Mastering: Enyang Urbiks.
The music video for her new single ‘Keep a Part’ was made by UK artist Rosie Carr. Using sculptured objects and abstractions she creates an imaginary world for Martha to play within. The song is both for and about the work of the filmmaker. She responds with pulses of disco lights rolling through green fields, and strange dances with her own hands. The literal is celebrated with the prettiest of posies, a heart-shaped friendship necklace, and the two friends playing recorder together.
‘Undress & Drive After’ will be released on 31 July (download/stream) and on 4 September 2020 (vinyl) on Treibender Teppich Records (Stuttgart; vinyl, download/stream for World excl. GSA) and Martin Hossbach (Berlin; digital, GSA only).