THE MUSIC OF MITCHELL MARTIN.
written by Leah Rando.
es around notes, chords and beats; all of which we can hear and feel, yet cannot see.
Some people are born with an innate love of music and have the natural ability to present this skill through movement and dance, playing an instrument or adding words and meaning to notes, becoming a work of art that adds to that universal language. Meet Mitchell Martin, a 20 year old with a passion and talent for his music, that some say, is beyond his years. I feel compelled to write this article as a mother of a 20 year old son, who is also musically talented, as this is the next generation leading us into the future with new ways of thinking about and approaching not only music, but life in general.
Mitchell, local to Bunbury, but currently studying Music at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts( WAAPA), in Perth, was first exposed to music through his primary school choir and school musicals, however, the real passion was discovered during Year 9 at Bunbury Catholic College when he decided to learn the guitar. usic has the inexplicable ability to attach itself to places, time and experiences in our lives, reminding us of an event and the emotions relating to that experience. Music is a universal language and as human beings we attach meaning to our experienccompile, the album was released on March 26, 2017, his 20th birthday. Mitchell’ s maturity and insight as a young musician, is reflected in our conversation. I asked him some questions about his life and passion and this is what he shared with me.
WHO ARE YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES? My main musical influence for me was Ed Sheeran. Until I entered high school I was not a big music listener. I didn’ t have any favourite artists and just listened to whatever was on the radio. Once I started singing, I began to pay more attention to music, which was around this time when Ed Sheeran’ s songs began to reach the Australian Top 40 charts. After paying more attention to lyrics, especially by the A Team, I was inspired to focus more intently on my writing.
WHY DO YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO? I love playing the guitar, singing and performing to people who come to an event to listen to me. Whether an intimate group or a 30, 000 crowd at a stadium. Being able to perform and do it as my job makes me extremely satisfied. I also loved the teaching aspect. Passing on my skills and seeing the results is a truly satisfying experience.
ASPIRATIONS AND AMBITIONS AS AN ARTIST? Being able to perform around the world at venues where people come to watch me is the dream. I would also like to continue writing and producing better quality songs until eventually making it into the commercial charts. also be something I would like to do.
DO YOU PLAY OTHER INSTRUMENTS? Guitar and vocals are my main instruments; however, I also play a bit of bass, keys and drums. When I perform live I use a loop station to loop drums, bass and keys through a keyboard / synth and I also loop my guitar and vocals to create a full sound which is why I can play the basics of these instruments. I am not formally trained in piano or bass and have only had a few drum lessons. I would love to learn more and get better at these instruments.
FAMILY SUPPORT. LIFE GROWING UP. WHEN DID YOU REALISE THAT YOU HAD A GIFT FOR MUSIC? I always had a lot of family support with whatever I did. I didn’ t realise that I had much of a gift for music until a lot later than most. I always knew that I could sing Ok, however, it was never a serious thing for me and I never practised. Once in high school, my parents really wanted me to get all I could out of the extra-curricular activities and they suggested learning an instrument, which is when I began learning the guitar. I picked up the guitar quicker than anything else I had tried and it was then I really found my passion for music.
IN 10 YEARS TIME ….. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING? I would like to be travelling around and performing my original songs. I would also hope to have a family by this time and have finished my degrees, so that when I am not travelling and performing I will be able to teach.
I remember sitting in the auditorium listening to Mitchell at a school presentation noting that“ this boy has talent”, to later see him perform at my friend’ s wedding in the trio, True North. So, at the time of his Year 12 graduation, the artist was truly emerging, with at least 5 years’ experience learning and teaching the guitar, taking vocal lessons and writing original songs. He was invited back to the school after his graduating year to teach guitar at the college.
Applying to WAAPA after gaining the teaching experience, Mitchell was accepted on the day of his audition and elected to move to Perth the following year to further his music career, where he then released his debut album,“ Into The Light”. Taking three years to
YOUR STUDIES AT WAAPA – WHAT ARE YOU WORKING TOWARDS? At WAAPA I am learning about performing, writing and recording as well as improving at my instruments and collaborating in bands. I have been working towards becoming a stronger lead and electric guitarist. I have been fortunate to develop skills with the bass guitar. Currently I am working on playing my original songs with support bands, which is a good experience because I am used to performing solo with my loop station. Becoming a versatile performer is important.
I am also considering an education course after finishing my current studies so I can teach music at high schools in the future. Lecturing at WAAPA would
Individual Photos by Danii Harry Photography
Live Event Photos by Linda Dunjey Photography