Profile

The desolate hi-desert of Australia is home to many things: venomous snakes, dry and leaning trees, miraging heat and a lonely view as far as the eye can see. Occasionally you run across a blossom, and desert flowers make their presence known, especially when in the form of a fiery redhead with a powerfully independent voice. To give her a name, Martine Locke has been recognized as one of Australia’s most supercharged solo acoustic acts. Not only musically but personally, as one reported noted,

“Martine Locke is a fine example of everything I admire about the chick singer phenomenon. She’s got a beautiful voice, plays guitar like a monster, and is one of the most motivated and enthusiastic people this reporter has come across in a long time” —Revolver Magazine, Australia.

Elvis has Colonel Tom Parker, the Beatles had Brian Epstein. Martine Locke has...well, Martine Locke. This Australian singer/songwriter/guitarist is a one-woman operation: publicist, manager, booking agent, record label owner, producer and artist.

Now based in San Francisco, she’s toured with Ani DiFranco and rocked the stage with The Cowboy Junkies, Arlo Guthrie and Luka Bloom. In a scene that is as packed with unoriginal four chord flops, Martine reaches well outside that category with a more independent perspective on music. Her music and her performance is so powerful that it demands attention. And while the Ani comparison is there, she also shares vocal qualities with Melissa Etheridge or the Indigo Girls. Musically she travels far in the folk-rock world. Some tunes will remind you of Counting Crows and others will bring in that Alanis Morissette association, with a sting of Carol King sneaking in here and there.

She also applies do-it-yourself ethics with all the work she churns out. Her first solo album, released in 1994, was completely self produced and sold over 8,000 copies in her native country—an impressive hurdle for a solo musician on the any island. In 1996 Martine started a highly admired acoustic duo called The Velvet Janes. They released four albums on Martine’s record label, Passionfruit Produce, which have sold more than 80,000 copies to date.

Martine’s hard work is gaining many fruitful returns in the US in album sales and recognition. Her latest solo cd "FLY" has been pumped up on American radio stations and is responsible for some of the demand she has been getting. That along with the 150+ shows a year she does in Australia and the US. She has toured the US many times before and with every performance, a new set of disciples latch onto her dominating and free style form of folk-rock. She’s gained international success, received awards, and sold an impressive number of albums all on her own sweat and elbow grease.

Simply put, she’s Independent by Name, Independent by Nature.

Martine will perform at Camp Betty Campout with Julie Wolf and Deb Lane.

Exclusive Interview

Special Message

Q&A
Click here to ask Martine a question, then check back here soon for her answer!

Contact
www.martinelocke.com
Martine Locke Management
P.O. Box 330052
San Francisco, CA 94133-0052
Tel: (415) 812-0574
Fax: (530) 689-5971
info@martinelocke.com