Walkdown Sound Joins Forces with Darin Martin Music

We are just about to go public with an announcement that I am thrilled about.  Starting in 2014 Walkdown Sound will be providing management for Darin Martin Music.

This will include things like concert booking, production, developing a touring and recording schedule and more.  Walkdown Sound has also invited me to be a part of the production team at Walkdown Sound Studio in Brooklin.
This is very exciting for me as I have reached a stage in my career where I want to pour more energy into the creative side of writing and performing and recording and less energy into trying to find gigs and working out all of the details with venues.  It will also give me the opportunity to give back by helping Walkdown to work with and develop other artists.

Meet Matthew Fretz of Walkdown Sound.  

Matthew is the owner and creator of Walkdown Sound.  The Vision statement for his company is simply "Dream, then Do".  Matthew is a husband, father, father in-law, and a dear brother of mine.  He is a very talented cat who does engineering,  music production, concert promotions, video production, commercial jingles, voice overs, writing, ...he'll even shovel your driveway for you if you need him to.
From the first time that Geoff and I met Matthew, I sensed that he was a man of God who was a creative genius and was doing his part to develop young artists.  By the 2nd concert he worked with us on, I knew that our relationship was just getting started.  Matthew also had the sense that the Big Guy upstairs had brought the two of us together.  So after recording an album at Walkdown Sound just before my East Coast Tour this past summer, I asked Matthew if he would manage Darin Martin Music and help me get to the next level.  I'm very excited that this partnership will not only benefit my music career as I still get to work with great artists like Geoff Laforet and Neil Brown, but it will also give me the opportunity to work with a fantastic group at Walkdown Sound in helping others "Dream, then Do".

Stay tuned as we get ready to launch as a team in 2014.

Follow Walkdown Sound on facebook and Twitter and stay connected:
To book a show email Matthew Fretz at walkdownsound@gmail.com.

"Christmas Time" Single

This year we wanted to put together a song for Christmas as a free give away for all of our friends.  So Matthew Fretz shared a song with us and asked if Geoff and Neil and I would take it and make it "our own".  We played around with it a bit and decided that that we found something that stayed true to the heart and vibe of the song, but had our own little flair.
On Tuesday December 10th we released our first Christmas single entitled "Christmas Time" written and produced by Matthew Fretz, recorded by Darin Martin: Vocals & Guitars, Geoff Laforet: Drums, all of the high harmonies and extra percussion, and Neil Brown: Bass, keys and BGV's.

Here is how it went down
A few weeks ago we crashed at Geoff's and played through the song a bunch of times before watching "Anchor Man" which I had never seen before.  This was in fact the first movie that Geoff and I had ever watched together.  We stayed up too late and in the morning Geoff and Neil and I headed up to Walkdown Sound in Brooklin, On where we met Matt and went to work.
The studio was tons of fun and we had a great time hanging with Matt and the Fretz fam.
After a day of tracking and some Swiss Chalet we were tired but pretty happy with the song.  The good Lord protected us on the way home as we literally watched cars and trucks go flying off the road just ahead of us due to icy conditions.
I was reminded that Geoff and Neil are more than just musical partners, but very close friends and really sweet dudes.
We truly wish you a Merry Christmas and Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.

Go to this link to get your free Download of "Christmas Time"
darinmartinmusic.com

Christmas Season

Every year on December 1st something in me changes.  It's like a light bulb goes on and I realize 2 things simultaneously, 1) It's not Summer anymore 2) It's almost Christmas.
I'm weird when it comes to Christmas because I have had a love/hate relationship with this entire season for many years and for many reasons.  As a young child it was a magical time of year where all my memories had 5 feet of fluffy white snow, 10 ft Christmas trees and family around laughing and eating for what seemed like weeks.  Growing up in a Christian home meant that we also had a big focus on Jesus' birthday and not just Jolly Old Saint Nick.
After my parents slip up when I was 8 Christmas became about a very difficult choice.  Which parent/siblings would I spend Christmas with and how much would my decision hurt my relationship with the parent I didn't choose.  It was a lose lose situation for a young boy.
For a few years my older brother and I actually went to my uncles' house and although that solved the "which parent" debate, it sure was difficult to not be with your own family for Christmas Eve and day.
When I went off to College I decided that I hated Christmas altogether.  Well at least the commercialization of the season.  Somehow the amount of love you had for someone was determined by the amount of money you spent on their Christmas gift.  I attended family gatherings and put on a smile but inside I loathed every minute of it.
Then one day something changed in me.  We started having our own family and had to decided what we would focus on and what our Christmas season would look like for us.
So we decided that Christmas would be a happy and magical time for us with a big focus on Jesus and his sacrificial giving, as well as family and the love and support that then can be for each other.  We decided that every Christmas eve we would give our girls a new pair of pajamas or as their British uncle Dom calls them "JimJams".
Then on Christmas morning they get a simple stocking and one special gift from us.
As a family we value living simply and giving generously to others and by not spending a whole bunch of money  at Christmas or wracking up our credit card bills, we are able to look for needs around us and help others.
I'm not suggesting that presents are bad and would not pass judgement on the way others celebrate Christmas.  We've just found that for our family this approach works. Now we look forward to seeing family we don't often get to see, eating great food and celebrating the birth of Christ and I've started to love Christmas again.

A Quiet Day in the Office

Today I didn't have any meetings or people waiting on me for anything.  It was a wonderful feeling.  I got to play some guitar which is a real treat for me to get a chance to do.
My dog Scarlet and I hung out in our living room all day.  I have some food in the slow cooker, some fair trade coffee, a few books and my trusty laptop and no place to be.
It has been a great chance to get a few things done and put a few things back in perspective.
This weekend is an exciting one as Geoff Laforet and I get a chance to play some shows down in his neck of the woods.  Windsor on Friday night and Kingsville on Saturday night.  Unfortunately Neil our dear friend and bass player will not be joining us but that is due to the fact that his wife could have their 3rd child at any given moment.  So we gave him the weekend off.
I love days like this, and yet I find I can't really plan for this kind of thing, it just happens when the time is right.  I hope you too have a wonderfully quiet day in your respective offices'.

A Wedding, a Funeral and a Birthday

This week has been a whirlwind of emotions for me.  Last Sunday we were informed that my wife's grandfather had passed away.  From Sunday to Thursday night, our main focus was the funeral and the travel involved to be at it.  It was a beautiful service and we got to see lots of family that we haven't seen for years.
When we arrived home on Thursday night we quickly switched gears to the Wedding that I was officiating for my cousin on  Saturday morning.
On Friday we headed for Barrie Ontario through the beautiful Fall colours and enjoyed a wonderful outdoor wedding.  The music at the wedding was split between 2 groups "The Barrel Boys" and "Au Pairs" who were both brilliant.
By the time my duties at the wedding were complete I was really to kick back and enjoy the reception and the great music and that is what I did.
On Sunday morning I woke up and celebrated my mother's 60th birthday with her over breakfast and a cupcake that we had saved for her from the wedding reception the night before.
Over all, it was a very cool week with lots of family, travel and music.  I happy now to be back at home listening to Imogen Heap and enjoying some quiet time with my dog "Scarlet".

Eagle Ride for Youth Event

When Otic Poets were asked to provide the music for this event, we thought, what's more rock 'n roll than Motorcycles? 
Liberty for youth is an organization that creates a safe place for youth to be engaged, encouraged and empowered.
So this Saturday from 2pm to 4pm we will be playing music at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum for a a great cause and we are happy to do our part and rock out!

East Coast Tour 2013

Well our trip to the East Coast of Canada was amazing and left me feeling a real sense of love for the great people of our Nation.
We were invited into homes of people we barely knew, enjoyed some of the Atlantic Ocean's wonderful delicacies in kitchens and on back porches.  One thing was true everywhere we visited, we were greeted and sent off with tons of love.
On this Tour I was joined by dear friend and former Silas drummer "Jon McMurray" seen in these photos with the bald head and long gotee.  Once we arrived in Miramichi, NB we were joined by my brother in law Dan Froese who played Fiddle and guitar on the Tour.
These guys were amazing to play with and really helped to capture the more Eastern sound that I was looking for with this tour and the release of my new album "Lucky One".
On the Tour we played in Churches, a Fishing Lodge, A Bank, A Patio, A Bistro, A Farmers Market, A Kitchen and I started working on a new song in a bathroom.
We traveled to the Following Places:
Hamilton, Quebec City, Edmonston, Miramichi, Annapolis Royal, NS, Digby NS and home again putting over 4000 kms on our old van but enjoying every part of the journey.

Farmers Market in Annapolis Royal, NS

Digby Wesleyan Church, Digby NS

All in all it was a great trip and I'm so glad that we went again this year.  As a songwriter and performer, you hope and pray that your music will be well received and as I drove home from Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia to Hamilton, ON, I felt so assured that what I am doing with my life is the right thing.  

A big thank you to Jon McMurray and family for coming and spending your Summer Vacation with us.  Dan and Marissa, thank you for hosting the 2nd leg of the journey at your home and for letting us paint your new Photo Studio.

First Taste of Summer

This weekend was my first real taste of Summer.  I'm talking sunshine, swimming, bbq, questionable beverages, campfire, marshmallows, the whole 9 yards and I must say, I enjoyed it.
As Summer has finally come to join us, I am taking a bit of time to reflect on what was a great Spring for DM Music.
Having just had the opportunity to book, promote and play a weekly gig at the Stowaway Pub for a 15 week run, I have gained a great deal of experience.  I've also learned that as an artist,  especially one who worries, it is challenging to wear so many hats.  I found myself, rushing to get to the pub and working hard to make sure that when other artists arrived, everything was organized and ready.  From sound systems working, to meeting some pretty great servers, I was attempting to make it all feel very comfortable and natural.  As that was taking place my worry that no one would show up would hit and I'd start sending facebook messages and texts asking friends to come down to the pub to hang out.
As people started to roll in - and with the exception of 2 weeks they always did - I would start to think about the fact that I also had to perform.  This was challenging for me.  Especially as I always had someone playing with me and didn't always do a good job of helping them feel comfortable and ready for their show, like I did with the other guest artists.
Something that I found I really loved about the experience was building relationships.  Jason and Rachel from the Stowaway are really great people and took a risk with their brand new biz by having DM and crew in week after week.   I met so many talented artists and got to hear some great music.
The servers at the Stowaway were always amazing to me and kept my water glass constantly full.
I would not be completely honest if I told you that it was easy to get excited about doing the same thing every Saturday.

But the biggest factor in sticking at it was my dear friend "Hooper."  Every Saturday night and Monday night, a sweet red pickup truck would show up infront of my house, we'd load up gear and head down to the Stowaway and settle in for the night.  Hooper, was a fantastic friend to have with me and really should get credit for pulling these nights off every week.  Almost every week, Hooper played drums, helped host, carried gear but more than all of that, was a huge support to me.  We had many conversations at 2am when I was exhausted and ready to pack it in and I would often hear "this is going to pick up, just stick with it" and it was just enough to keep me going.  A huge thanks to my dear friend Hooper for taking this journey with me.
With Summer finally here, it is time that Hooper and I take a Saturday night and head out on his boat with some fishing rods, snacks and bug spray to get a real taste of Summer.

So Thankful

As I sat down to my desk in my bedroom this afternoon I couldn't actually see the desk due to the collection of items that have collected themselves there.  It reminded me that I need to stop for a second and collect my thoughts.
Part of the reason why it is so messy is due to the fact that although I have a deep desire to be a tidy/well organized person, I am in fact not that guy.  But it is also due to the fact that I have literally been out every night for the past few weeks doing music.  When I am home, it is to sleep or to grab a different guitar and box of gear.  This stretch of music has reminded me that it is hard work to do music full-time.  It is tiring to be out late every night and be up at 7am getting my kids ready for school, but I am so thankful for the opportunities.
As we (Otic Poets) prepare for the iTunes release of our brand new record "Frontiers" on Tuesday June 4th, 2013 I am reminded of the last year of my life.  In this year I have had the opportunity to play in so many different situations and I am so blessed to have had them.  I'm also reminded of this as we have the opportunity this week to open for Jon Bryant who is making a huge musical splash with his music.
Playing music feels very right for me.  It is something I have wanted to do since starting my band "Silas" back in the late 90's.  Now I get to play music everyday.  It's such an amazing gift.
So I will let you know how the show goes this week in Whitby.  Or perhaps I will see you there.
 

The Velo Stage

I have had the opportunity to play in many locations in my career as a musician, but this morning may have been the coolest yet...

A few months ago my friend Reuben told me about an idea that he had to build a stage that would go behind his bike.  He asked if I would be willing to play while he rides around town and It thought it was kind of a crazy idea.  Crazy enough for me to jump in with both feet.  So this morning we joined "Ride to Work" day and traveled around on the streets of Hamilton playing a mix of original and cover music.  By mid morning we were on the front page of the Hamilton Spectator's web site. thespec.com  It was truly a sweet experience and created quite a buzz for both the limitless abilities of bicycles and Darin Martin Music.  Be on the look out for other artist who might play the Velo Stage on a street near you. To read more about this event go to. http://raisethehammer.org/article/1864

Darinmartinmusic.com is Under Construction

Hello friends,
There are lots of very cool and exciting things happening right now with DMM.  Just wanted to let you know that the website darinmartinmusic.com is currently being totally redesigned by a professional designer and will be live very soon.
I also wanted to let you know that I am actively writing for a new Album.
I had been using this blog for promoting Acoustic Saturdays but to create less confusion, we have made acousticsaturdays.blogspot.ca the new home for all things "Acoustic Saturdays".
I will post a new blog again very soon.

Introducing "Acoustic Saturdays" Blog

In trying to streamline information, we are doing some minor construction and making acousticsaturdays.blogspot.ca the hub for all of the information on our upcoming gigs and artist features.  Please subscribe to that blog and get up-to-date information on all of the happenings.

Saturday May 11th

Rachael Bawn grew up in the small town of Hopeville, ON., the second youngest of 6 girls. Her musical roots stemmed from having been surrounded by the bluegrass music her uncle's would play, along with exposure to her older sisters' musical preferences, which included: No Doubt, Alanis Morissette, Whitney, Mariah and Madonna. These influences have given Rachael a wide appreciation for all types of music. Her love of song began at the age of 2. At 4 years old she gave her first stage performance in a church talent show, and at 13 years she started writing her own lyrics and melodies. At the age of 14 she joined a choir which performed in local towns, giving her the backbone and experience to perform in front of an audience. After gradutaing highschool , Rachael moved to the Greater Toronto Area with the hopes of pursuing a career as a musical artist. It was during this time that she met and teamed up with music producer Ron Allen. After writing and recording for over 2 years, Rachael is working on getting her music out into the world.

"Wade Hunt is currently a student and songwriter working out of the Niagara Region. Nomadic trajectories of the War Machine is what most influences his writing (2013)"

Darin Martin
“From the moment you hear Darin speak on the mic, you are captivated by his quiet and sincere tone. This is only amplified once his brilliant guitar and powerful vocals are added. Darin has played many times at the Freeway and each time we are excited to have him back on the stage! ”

Miranda Ciarroni - Music Coordinator @ the Freeway

"Engaging and personable; Darin Martin's live performance moves you and his music stays with you long after the moment passes. Just between me and my headphones, this is one artist I want to keep on repeat."

Rebecca Doll - Heart of The Hammer Cafe

darinmartinmusic.com  

facebook.com/darinmartin

Saturday April 20th

Performers for Saturday April 20th
Jordan Fox
Mary Simon
Darin Martin

Jordan Fox is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Hamilton, Ontario.  He began at a young age as a student of the clarinet and piano but has since moved on to a variety of folk instruments (guitar, ukulele, mandolin, banjo) and anything else that makes noise.  Jordan belongs to the Rarebird Records label and can be found performing solo or supporting various local artists.  

You can find information at www.rarebirdrecords.ca or free music at http://www.noisetrade.com/jordanfox.

Invite Mary Simon over for one night and her storytelling will make you cry, make you dance and will sing you to sleep.  With a certain je ne c'est quois of lyrical sensibility, melodious composition and timeless storytelling, you will want to invite her back, or better yet never have her leave.

Mary Simon's formula is simple, time-tested.  With four albums behind her, the Hamilton singer/songwriter's powerful voice and vision have contributed to years of touring and creative explorations.  Join her for the ride at www.marysimon.com

Darin Martin

“From the moment you hear Darin speak on the mic, you are captivated by his quiet and sincere tone. This is only amplified once his brilliant guitar and powerful vocals are added. Darin has played many times at the Freeway and each time we are excited to have him back on the stage! ”

Miranda Ciarroni - Music Coordinator @ the Freeway

"Engaging and personable; Darin Martin's live performance moves you and his music stays with you long after the moment passes. Just between me and my headphones, this is one artist I want to keep on repeat."

Rebecca Doll - Heart of The Hammer Cafe

darinmartinmusic.com  

facebook.com/darinmartin

Saturday April 13th

Artist Line Up This Week
Heather Janssen
Liam Kinnon
Darin Martin & Geoff Laforet

Heather Janssen

Heather Janssen is an artist from Hamilton, Ontario. She is known for her acoustic covers on YouTube, tackling artists ranging from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis to Justin Bieber. However, her most popular video on YouTube is an original song. Heather’s songwriting skills can be heard on self-penned compositions like “My Mind’s Made Up” and “Checkers,” the latter of which has nearly 300,000 hits. Heather’s acoustic mix of jazz and pop draws comparisons to some of the greatest female singer-songwriters of our time. Studio versions of both her cover songs and original material can be found on iTunes. For more on Heather, please visit:

www.facebook.com/heatherjanssenmusic

www.youtube.com/heatherjanssen

www.twitter.com/heatherjanssen

Liam Kinnon is a singer/songwriter and guitarist from Toronto. He has been writing songs since he was 4 years old. He has been playing guitar, bass, and piano in clubs, bars, and churches with various bands and as a solo performer.  ”Working out a combination of covers and original songs as a single acoustic performer can be a challenge” he says, “but getting in front of people with this material is worth the risks.”

Having recently completed a successful tour opening for Don Amero on the East Coast and regular performances in Toronto Liam is continuing to write, record, and play his music wherever he can.

Darin Martin & Geoff Laforet

This duo has been rocking out together for almost 3 years and has played pubs, restaurants,  weddings, birthday parties, backyard parties, even colouring recitals.
Their tight harmonies and upbeat acoustic vibe is very infectious and engaging.
When they are not playing acoustic guitars and hand drums, they are rocking it in their band "Otic Poets" whose brand new EP "Frontiers" will be
available very soon.

darinmartinmusic.com

Saturday April 6th - Our KICK-OFF event

Finer Details:
9:30pm music will start
Pay what you can to help support the artists
Artists will alternate 30 min sets.

Featured Artists:

Myles Gardner
Marie Avery
Darin Martin

Below is a bio and some links for each of the artists.  Please check them out, buy their merch and come out and support them at the show on the 6th.

Marie Avery may have appeared out of nowhere.
Originally from Northern Ontario, her journey to find herself and her musical identity has taken her across Canada and back again, finally settling in Hamilton, Ontario in 2008.

Her own music has been taking shape since she was a teen, but publicly Marie's been busy behind the scenes, lending her vocal and keyboard skills to Hamilton bands (The Foreign Films and Dark Mean) and organizing performance events that showcase her other talents.


It's in Marie's nature to take things slowly.  To let the dust of her emotional ruins settle before embarking on any major journey.  After two years of working intermittently in the studio on her debut EP, "The Fire", Marie has emerged with a hard-won collection of 5 songs.  The songs and arrangements, built around her own piano and vocals, are at once humble and dramatic, subtle but elaborate.

There were real stakes involved in the making of "The Fire".  To enter a studio, and lay down her most personal compositions, has always been a terrifying thought for Avery.
At some point you can't hide behind your thoughts without being crushed by them, and with Marie Avery's debut EP she juxtaposes venerability with a strength of purpose and vision to create a work of whimsy, magic, and raw nerves.  Always smoldering under the surface.  "The Fire" is about the drive that moves us forward in our own journey, in our own search for freedom.

www.marieaverymusic.com
marieaverymusic@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/marieavery


_______________________________________________________________________

Myles Gardner is a loop based folk rocker with a linear, texture-driven songwriting style. If Myles could be any part of a summer vacation, he would be the drive home.

_____________________________________________________________________

Darin Martin is a singer songwriter from Hamilton Ontario.  He has been writing songs and performing for many years but he decided to pursue  music full-time in the end of 2011 with the release of his 2nd acoustic album "Every Time You Smile".

"My hope is that people everywhere will hear my songs and be able to connect with them in a personal way.  My songs are from the heart.  I write about real experiences that I encounter or observe from people around me."

Darin has seen some success with album sales and his song "Waiting For You" was featured on CBC Radio 2 where it placed 2nd in a Valentine's Day love song contest in 2012.

Darin is in a brand new Hamilton Rock band called "Otic Poets" who are just about to release their debut EP. 

www.darinmartinmusic.com 

www.facebook.com/darinmartinmusic

Introducing Acoustic Saturdays

There is a brand new Pub in town called the Stowaway Pub and Eatery at 255 James St. N Hamilton, ON and it is about to become the coolest venue in town for an intimate music experience.  With it's Funky Medieval Nautical atmosphere,  amazing food and brand new stage, it is the perfect venue to host "Acoustic Saturdays".
Starting on Saturday April 6th Darin Martin Music will be presenting acoustic concerts every Saturday night starting at 9:30pm.
I have a huge passion for local business and grass roots musicians who are trying to find their way in the sea of musical waves.  My hope with this concert series, is to blend a great venue with great music and support a local business in our efforts.
We have an amazing line up of Artists already coming together for the month of April and will be posting info for who is playing when on this blog, the Stowaway Pub facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TheStowawayPubEatery and at http://jhazzard.wix.com/thestowaway#!facilities/c66t
Please help us spread the word and come out on Saturday April 6th to experience this event for yourself.

Great Ways To Hear Great Music for Free

This is by no means a sales pitch.  I simply wanted to share a few things with my friends incase you didn't already know about a few of these.   Over the Holidays we had some friends over to watch a movie and we started talking about listening to music online.  They had not heard about "Jango" http://www.jango.com/ which is free music online.  It's cool because you can put in an artist or style you like and it will play that artist as well as others who have a similar vibe.  I use it all the time when I am tired of my own music and want to hear a specific artist.   I am working on getting my music up on Jango soon too.
Another cool resource is http://noisetrade.com/ .  Noisetrade is music that artist put up themselves to help generate a wider fan base.  It helps them by the great exposure to literally everyone who has access to the internet.  The idea is, if I posted my music up there for free (for a limited time) you my download it for free or for a tip, then you might go back and by my past album or hopefully keep tracking with my music and buy future records.
I have gotten a ton of great music from this site and been introduced to so many great artists that I may have never heard about.  All you need to do is subscribe to their email list and they send you regular emails about artists who have posted their music.  There is no catch with this one.  I have gotten a bunch of music and not paid for it, but because I am also looking to get my songs on Noisetrade, I know how it works from the artists' perspective and the tremendous benefit it has for us as well.
I just got this record by Ari Hest whom I had never heard of and am listening to it even as I type.
Thanks for following and your tremendous support.