Welcome to Issue 4!
One of the best things about having a music project such as Signal Source Unknown is discovering other interesting music artists along the way. In the last issue Glass Pavilion explained why he has learned to make guitar music without guitars. In this issue there is an interview with up and coming singer-songwriter Martin Mullady. This week also sees the release of a new Glass Pavilion track and the latest track from Signal Source Unknown. Thanks for all the support for this project so far.
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Interview: Martin Mullady - Little Changes
Can you tell the readers a bit about yourself and your music?
'Hello! I'm Martin and I'm a musician from Clackmannanshire in Scotland. I've been playing guitar since I was old enough to hold one and I've had a love and passion for music my entire life. I grew up playing guitar in lots of different bands and played music with lots of different people which has really influenced the way I approach music recording and songwriting. My music is really an expression of my influences and inspirations coupled with what I hear in my head. It's an outlet for all the noise, if I'm entirely honest.
What are your ambitions for the remainder of 2022 and beyond?
2022 has really been a great year for me so far as I've been able to release music that I've been working on for years. Almost all of these songs have lived on a hard drive for some part of the last 10 years until I decided to re-record them and release them this year. My intention really is just to continue releasing new music and play live as much as possible. I do it because I love it and I don't know what else I would do in its place. The fact that I can release music and people connect with it, identify with it and want to come and see it live and enjoy it as much as I do is really an honour and a privileged position to be in. It's not lost on me.
Tell us a bit about your recording process and the sounds/instruments you use.
The recording process, if I'm honest, is something that I've grown to love over the years. I used to hate sitting around in the studio waiting for your turn to play your part but as I've become more involved with the recording process I understand now the art that goes into it. My home studio is a humble one but it's one I've become intimately familiar with which allows me to experiment with different sounds and techniques with no pressure. I recorded using Cubase 11 which everyone has told me is a dance program that couldn't be further from the truth. My process for writing, arranging, producing and recording a song really starts with the demo. I often get an idea in my head enough to work with it anyway and then sit down in the studio, lay down the basic parts and develop the song from there. Once I'm happy with the song I'll then re-record the entire thing with a particular vision and direction in mind for the final product. Because I like simplicity, I usually find that one of my Les Paul’s into a Marshall, pretty much captures my guitar sound. I hate the sound of my own voice so vocals are always a tricky part but I'm getting there.
Your latest release is Little Changes. Can you tell us how the track came together and how you recorded it?
Little Changes is the third single to be released this year. As with the last two singles Little Changes was recorded in my own studio and believe it or not it was the result of a slide guitar practice session. By the way, I still can't play slide guitar. The idea was born and as I usually do I experimented with different ideas and different sounds layering up each instrument as I went, finally adding the vocals and finishing off the production. It's one of those songs that you hear people talking about that come together really quickly. They don't happen all too often so you need to take advantage of the inspiration or whatever you want to call it when it's there.
Is there a story behind the track?
The song is a retrospective look back to my younger years thinking about all the people I knew and stories I heard growing up. The entire basis for the song comes from a chance encounter I had with an old friend who was heading down a dark path in his life. I bumped into them, having not seen them for years and almost didn't recognise them. That journey from where they were to where they are now is a concept that really intrigued me so I asked what did you do to which they replied I just made little changes and got there one step at a time. That concept really interested me so I've explored it in this song. One thing I have learnt from sharing the song with people and hearing their stories and how they connect with it is that the concept of making little changes and doing things one step at a time is something we could all learn from and apply in our own lives to whatever purpose or dreams you have.
There’s a great video for Little Changes. Can you tell us how this came together?
Yes there is indeed, thank you very much for your kind words. There is a funny story behind the video and one I probably wouldn't have expected. I have produced and edited my previous two music videos which were kindly recorded by my better half Nikki and they are available on YouTube. The interesting part came when Stuart Alexander, an incredible music video director from Glasgow, came across them and reached out. We got to chat about ideas and Vision for future projects and I sent him the releases for the rest of 2022. We had a chat about what our ideas were for the songs and the video and we decided to give it a go. Having Stuart on board was an incredible experience and to watch him work and see the passion and vision he has for his projects was brilliant.
Martin Mullady - Little Changes (Official Video)
Who would you like to go on tour with?
I would go on tour with anyone! I just love playing live and jump at every opportunity to do it. On a more serious note, I'd love to tour with a more experienced band to learn how they have managed to make it this far in their career and still love it. I recently watched an interview with Kelly Jones of The Stereophonics and in it he spoke about the importance of touring with David Bowie and learning from him. I think you can prepare to the best of your ability but there will always be little moments of magic that you can only learn through experience.
If you could record your music in any studio with any producer, where would it be and who with?
That is a really difficult question to answer but at the minute I would be torn between Marshall Bird and Steve Bush who recorded the first three Stereophonics albums and and the Legendary Butch Vig. If I had to choose a venue that would probably be Mono Valley just due to the musical history of the place and incredible sound. As for who I’d do it with, that would have to be by the insanely talented guys I have on board for this project. Christie is a drummer with the hardest hitting left hand of anyone, ever, and Liam just continues to amaze me with the way he approaches each song and and the way he brings it to life. Having those two involved has really taken the whole thing to another level.
Is there another artist you’d like to give a mention to for our readers to check out?
There are lots of great bands around the Clackmannanshire and Stirling area, but two of the most exciting at the moment are my good pals in Deltamanic and Tonto. Both are incredible bands, just normal guys going for it and doing what they love.They are both on the bill for the hometown show in November at the Oakwood in Sauchie.
What’s next for Martin Mullady?
There are lots of plans in the pipeline at the minute including more new music and new videos and I'm especially excited about the upcoming live shows. We have Nice n' Sleazy in Glasgow in August, Vibration festival in September, and a hometown gig at the Oakwood in November. Following on from these shows I hope to get the diary busy for next year and do some more festivals and some tours to go alongside another busy year of music releases.
For more information on Martin Mullady see the links below
Quote of the issue
Upcoming Releases - June/July 2022
17th June - Signal Source Unknown - Such is Light
17th June - The Glass Pavilion - September
1st July - Westheart - The Night Lights