A New Verse in the Song.

On Friday night at "The Garrison" in Toronto  a new verse in the song of this musical journey was written.
If you have been reading this posts and following this journey for any length of time, you will know that I am a singer songwriter from Hamilton who has been touring around with my good friend and drummer Geoff Laforet and playing songs from my acoustic EP "Every Time You Smile" http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/darinmartin
After sitting down with Gord Richards of Oak Recording Studiohttp://www.thesoundofoak.com/home.html in Toronto and doing one song, I was hooked with the new Rock direction and wanted to give it a shot.
I realize that those of you who really dig the chilled out acoustic stuff may not join us on this leg of the journey.  Like my own mother for example.   I myself was wondering if it made any sense to try this new direction.  How can an artists who has been known for his acoustic story telling style, embark on this very different style and sound?  But then I thought about one of my all-time fav artists "Neil Young" and thought,  my 2 fav songs by Neil are "Harvest Moon and Alabama" which are 2 very different styles of music and both are Neil and both move my soul.
So with encouragement from Gord and Geoff, I thought "what the heck?"  Why does an artist is who trying to reach a larger audience need to box themselves into one style or category?  Dallas Green was another example I looked to.
For years, producers have been telling me that I write big Rock Anthems but play them acoustically.  Them seem to think my voice would lend itself well to big guitars and catchy hooks.  I have partly shied away from it for practical reasons.  It is expensive to record in pro studios, it is really hard to find other musicians who will journey with you and then you have all of the ego and creative differences.  But God has blessed me with some guys who really believe in me and my ability to write songs and want to get behind this whole Darin Martin Music thing.
So on Friday night Geoff Laforet sat down to his sweet new drum kit, Gord plugged into his Half Stack, Graham picked up his 5 string Stingray and I dusted off the Les Paul and plugged into a Mesa Bogie Dual Rectorfier Roadster 2/12 combo.  On Geoff's count in, we started our first Song "My Let Down" off the fourth coming EP and it got really loud.  It was such a cool experience to hear songs that I wrote on an acoustic guitar sounding so big and full.
My heart was pounding with excitement and my ears were ringing like mad.

 But I must say, I enjoyed every minute of it.  Seeing Geoff as happy as a pig in mud behind his kit, watching the Richard's brother's running all over the stage and sharing 5 brand new songs with the fine folks from Vox.
We are working very hard behind the scenes to get some key things going very soon and have hit a few road blocks, but are trusting that these doors will continue to open.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and follow us on this journey.
Look for updates and announcements coming out very soon on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Darin-Martin-Music/217569348255922 or at  http://darinmartinmusic.com/Darin_Martin_Music/home.html

Our First Show

If you have been following me for any length of time you would know that I am a singer songwriter from Hamilton who has been on a musical journey of discovery over the past number of years.
Many years ago I was the lead singer of a Christian Folk-Rock band called Silas and in that band, I knew where I fit.  I wrote some of the songs and sang the songs with the others in the band.  Usually in 3 part harmony.
But since that time I have tried to find my voice and my sound in music.  I think I have been trying to hard to find something instead of just letting it happen.
The truth is, I live the sound of the acoustic guitar and feel most comfortable at this point playing that.  However, every time I have entered a studio the producers have suggested that I have a rock voice and that I write rock anthems that would also suit a full band sound.
Hense my Unbroken Son EP which is available on itunes through my website. http://darinmartinmusic.com/Darin_Martin_Music/home.html 
Playing as a band is really a difficult task when you think about it.  You have
different personalities, and schedules to deal with.  Not to mention moody artists that change really effect the dynamics.  However, when you get the right fit and those 4 or so instruments come together to play a great song, it is magical.
Well, as you know I have been writing for a new 5 Song EP and have put together 5 great songs with a great band sound.  I am really stoked about this new sound.  It is an incredible gift to a songwriter to hear your songs sound so full and see 3 other guys passionately rocking out on a song together.
So after almost a whole week and a half off from playing our last show as an acoustic Duo,  Geoff Laforet (Drums), Graham Richards (Bass), and Gord Richards (Guitar) will be taking the stage at the Garrison on Friday March 16th to rock out these 5 new songs from the EP.
We are all super pumped to play out and see what kind of reaction we get to the new sound and new tunes.
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog and support Darin Martin Music.
Please come to our facebook page and click "LIKE"
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Darin-Martin-Music/217569348255922

CBC Radio

On September 23rd 2011 Geoff Laforet and I released a 5 song Indie Acoustic EP called "Every Time You Smile" and began to play those songs in restaurants, churches and lots of house concerts.  We have been trying to promote our music and build Darin Martin Music into something that reaches more people.
When I write a songs, I always go through a range of emotions from feeling like "I think I might have something here" to "This song stinks and I should never play it for anyone."
The night before my last recording day in August at the 2nd Record Studio with Engineer and producer Deni Gauthier, I sat down with my mom and wrote a song called "Waiting For You" which came together quickly and really excited me.
So when my sister informed me that CBC was having a love song contest for Valintine's day, I sent "Waiting For You" in.  After I hit send, I stopped thinking about the song and the contest and kept focusing on all of the gigs that Geoff and Graham and I had coming.  Including the one this photo at the Hershey Centre on Sunday February 12th for Faith and Family Day.  At the end of the OHL game we were asked to join Mike Gartner and Mark Osbourne at Centre Ice to sing an original song.
It is always hard to decide which song to sing but for the nature of this event I felt that "Nowhere To Hide"(Another song from our EP) had a similar message to what the event was about.  So we sang the song and were feeling super excited about all of the opportunities that we have had to play the songs publicly and meet so many cool people.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N-CmhQnIr0&lc=0JMNpBPlTt2U9TjdCMfLpbTtsVVd7EBtj7VAz7uDzvA&context=C3c25e8eADOEgsToPDskJlyTsrj46Jp62kFYvsu2JG
Directly following the event I went home and crashed until Tuesday as I had been fighting a cold all week and was trying to hold it together for our 4 weekend shows.
On Tuesday (Valentine's Day) I finally left my house for the first time since Sunday to buy sloppy joe ingredients to make for my family for Valentine's dinner.
At around 4:10pm I started making supper and got a phone call from my mother who was crying on the other end and said..."Did you hear it?"  to which I answered, "hear what mom?"  She said, "You got second place in the Love Songs contest and they played your song on CBC radio."  I immediately got chills and started thinking about writing that song (with my mom) and playing it for a whole bunch of people and now having it played on the radio.  I didn't actually get to hear it but that fact that so many others did, is really exciting.
It really doesn't mean too much, except that a whole bunch of people listened to CBC on Tuesday and heard my song.  The producer of the show "Here and Now" emailed me directly to tell me that she and the other staff having been humming my song all day and they can't get it out of their heads.  It also means that CBC now has a copy of it and if enough people start requesting to hear it again, it could really help us as a band to reach a whole bunch of new listeners.
This is getting long so I am going to sign off for now.  Thanks for reading this and all of your support.
Darin

Leap Of Faith?

Could it be considered a leap of faith or just simply foolish for Geoff Laforet and I to take a big step in this musical endeavour to start something brand new and very fresh?
Today we walked into Oak Recording studio equipped with strong coffee (fair trade) some pads of paper and my laptop, sat down with long time friend and killer producer/engineer Gord Richards and started preproduction for a 5 song EP.
At this point we don't know what we are calling it, we don't know where the money is going to come from and we don't really know what is going to happen with this record when it is finished.  But we had already recorded one of the tracks with Gord and have heard what he is capable of and felt that it is worth the leap of faith.
There are only a few people who have heard the new track and so far the reaction has been a dropped jaw and a stunned look.  I have heard comments like "wow, this sounds like the radio" "I can't believe how big this sounds" and one of the little girls from the family we live with said "are you going to be famous?"  I laughed at that one.
If you know me, you know that I am not one to brag about my music, but I am absolutely amazed at how Gord has already been able to take our songs and help us build them with a really big sound that blows Geoff and I away every time we hear the track.
We are both very excited to make this record together and Gord is equally as excited to produce it.
We are going to work very hard to make a great record as quickly as possible and get it out to you.  Please keep checking in to this blog, follow us on twitter and facebook and help us spread the word that the Darin Martin Band is coming soon to a music player near you.
Peace, Darin

The Gap

There seems to be a big gap between starving artists who want a "pro" sounding record and a professional studio who needs to make its money somehow.
I have some close friends who have managed to build up their own studio gear and produce their own records without spending tons of money and they've been releasing great records.  Check out Scott Orr Music http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/scott-orr/id136035051and Deni Gauthier http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/worlds-apart-single/id429011531.  But for those of us who don't have the gear or sick skills required to produce our own records, the gap remains as wide as the Grand Canyon.
I have spent a ton of time this year thinking about how to bridge that gap but it is very difficult.  If only every musician had a close friend with a ton of money and a big heart to see us succeed.  It seem as though if you don't have a major record label fronting the money for you to put out great sounding stuff, you're screwed.
But what if there was a way?  What if a great producer working at a great studio (who still needed to get paid) but decided to not charge you an arm and a leg to make a great sounding record would get behind the project.  And what if there was a company or group of people who believed in a musician got behind that musician and helped him/her get to the next level?
Well, I think we have found a way.  After months of wracking my brain and almost giving up, I have been introduced to something that could help me and many other musicians in my position.
As soon as this comes together I will write the rest of the story.
Thanks so much for your support.
Darin

New in 2012 - The Darin Martin Band

While I am trying to keep my blog posts focused on personal stuff that relates to my life as a musician, I wanted to take this chance to introduce the guys who have been making up the "Darin Martin Band."

As many of you know Geoff Laforet formerly of (Thousand Foot Krutch) and I met a year and half ago and started a friendship that has become very strong.  We joke that we have played so many shows together but have never even gone to watch a movie or spent much time just hanging out.  Geoff is an amazing guy and I have a whole lot of love and a ton of respect for this man.  We are working very hard at this music thing and our hope is that we can find more time to just hang together.



Gord Richards
(Aka G-Rock) has been in my life since I started being a youth pastor.
Gord is an incredibly talented musician and performer but what many people don't know yet, is that G-Rock is an amazing engineer and producer and is producing my new album set to release in the Spring of 2012.
G-Rock was a student in my youth ministry but quickly became a very close friend of mine and someone that I love very much.  As far as playing with me goes, because he is very busy with his own budding career, he will come and go based on his availability and for that I am grateful.
It should be said (incase G-Rock read this) that Gord has been one of the biggest reasons why I have decided to go after this dream to play music.  He has always encouraged me as a song writer and has always done everything he can to help make this happen for me.

Graham Richards (kid brother to Gord) was about 12 when I met him.  He has a brilliant mind and is quite possibly the easiest guy in the world to work with.  He is organized and disciplined which works very well.  I often give him chord charts for songs I have been working on.  After he trys to get through a song using my charts, he laughs and re-writes them with the actual chords I am playing.
Graham is an amazing musician and compliments my style, personality and struggle with administration beautifully.
He too is incredibly supportive and a huge encourager for Darin Martin Music and I am trilled to have him playing with me.









So there you have a little glimpse into who these guys in our new pictures are and how the come to play with me.
As the DMB develops and schedules allow for it, these guys will be joining Geoff and I for gigs that allow it.
We may also be looking to fill in some different pieces from time to time.
Please keep following us as this develops and I will keep you posted.

Playing for a great cause

Today as I was thinking about our upcoming show on Saturday I was encouraged to watch a few videos that explained what "Light Patrol" is and what they do for at risk youth in Toronto.
After watching the videos I quickly realized that our concert on Saturday is about something much bigger than I would have imagined.  I suddenly felt a strong sense of privilege and responsibility to do everything we can as a band to help support this organization/ministry that is doing amazing things for young people.
Please take a few mins and watch these videos.

If you have watched these videos and want to respond in some way, please come out to the concert on Saturday and hear first hand as a few students who have been impacted by Light Patrol share their stories.
There is no charge for the concert and it is going to be a powerful night.
7pm at Westmount Park Church.
1483 Royal York Rd
Toronto
Ontario M9P 3B3