Martha (band)

{{Short description|English rock band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Use British English|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Martha | image = Martha_band.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = Martha at the Dome in Tufnell Park, London, in 2016 | origin = [[Pity Me]], [[County Durham]], England | genre = {{hlist|[[Indie pop]]|[[pop punk]]|[[power pop]]}} | label = {{hlist|[[Fortuna Pop!]]|[[Odd Box Records|Odd Box]]|Discount Horse|[[Salinas Records]]|[[Dirtnap Records]]|[[Big Scary Monsters Recording Company|Big Scary Monsters]]|[[Specialist Subject Records]]}} | website = {{URL|https://martha-punx.com/}} | current_members = *JC Cairns *Daniel Ellis *Naomi Griffin *Nathan Stephens-Griffin }}

'''Martha''' are a [[rock music|rock]] band from [[Pity Me]], a village in [[County Durham]] in the North East of [[England]].<ref name="NPR - 09 October 2014 - The Pop-Punks Of Anarchy">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2014/10/09/340115612/the-pop-punks-of-anarchy|title=The Pop-Punks Of Anarchy|last=Hart|first=Otis |date=9 October 2014|work=[[NPR]]|accessdate=13 October 2014}}</ref> After [[single (music)|single]]s on their own Discount Horse label and [[Odd Box Records]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beardedmagazine.com/index.php/features/article/bearded-label-love-discount-horse|title=Bearded Label Love: Discount Horse|last=Clark|first=Peter|date=28 January 2011|website=Bearded Magazine|access-date=}}</ref> their debut album ''Courting Strong'', was released on [[Fortuna Pop!]] and [[Salinas Records]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/courting-strong-mw0002662685|title=Courting Strong - Martha - Reviews|last=Thomas|first=Fred|date=|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18536/reviews/4148489|title=Album Review: Martha - Courting Strong|last=Brown|first=Paul|date=20 November 2014|website=Drowned in Sound|access-date=|archive-date=22 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222031335/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18536/reviews/4148489|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/martha-courting-strong|title=Martha - Courting Strong - Albums - musicOMH|last=Clarke|first=Helen|date=26 May 2014|website=Musicomh.com|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/music-reviews/courting-strong-by-martha-album/17183|title=Courting Strong by Martha (Album)|last=Girling|first=Damien|date=6 June 2014|website=Songwriting Magazine|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/martha-courting-strong-140|title=Martha - Courting Strong|website=Thefourohfive.com|access-date=2 January 2015|archive-date=2 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102160340/http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/martha-courting-strong-140|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 2022 they have released four full-length albums on cult UK and US based independent record labels.

They have described themselves as [[queer]], [[vegan]] and [[anarchist]].<ref name="NPR - 09 October 2014 - The Pop-Punks Of Anarchy"/> They have no designated frontperson and all contribute vocals.<ref name="NPR - 09 October 2014 - The Pop-Punks Of Anarchy"/> Two members of Martha previously founded (and still play in) the band ONSIND, and another led the band No Ditching.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indietracks.co.uk/indietracks-interview-13-onsind/|title=Indietracks interview #13: ONSIND|website=Indietracks.co.uk|access-date=2 January 2015|archive-date=2 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102160438/http://www.indietracks.co.uk/indietracks-interview-13-onsind/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/da/article/premiere-no-ditching-dickhead/|title=Premiere: No Ditching - "Dickhead"|date=7 May 2015 |publisher=[[Noisey]]}}</ref> Multiple members of Martha have also played in the group Fortitude Valley.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fortitude Valley |url=https://www.fortitudevalley.co.uk/ |access-date=March 1, 2024}}</ref>

They have variously cited [[The Housemartins]], [[Motown]], [[Billy Bragg]], [[The Thermals]], [[Ted Leo]], [[power pop]], [[The Replacements (band)|The Replacements]], [[Heart (band)|Heart]], [[The Marked Men]], [[Big Star]], [[Masshysteri]], and [[The Exploding Hearts]] as influences.<ref name="NPR - 09 October 2014 - The Pop-Punks Of Anarchy"/><ref name = "Scene Better Days - 28 October 2015 - Martha: Pop is Important. We Love it.">{{cite web|url=https://scenebetterdays.com/2015/10/28/martha-pop-is-important-we-love-it/|title=Martha: Pop is Important. We Love it.|date=28 October 2015|website=Scenebetterdays.com}}</ref><ref name = "But I Like You PR - Blisters In The Pit Of My Heart - Fortuna POP! - 8 July">{{cite web|url=http://www.butilikeyou.co.uk/#!martha/c255|title=Martha: Blisters In The Pit Of My Heart - Fortuna POP! - 8 July|access-date=24 August 2016|website=Butilikeyou.co.uk|archive-date=9 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809134518/http://www.butilikeyou.co.uk/#!martha/c255|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History== Martha formed in the village of [[Pity Me]], a suburb of [[Durham, England|Durham]] in the [[North East of England]]. Formed by J.C. Cairns (guitar/vocals), Daniel Ellis (guitar/vocals), Naomi Griffin (bass/vocals), and Nathan Stephens-Griffin (drums/vocals) in the early 2010s, they released their self-titled debut EP in February 2012.<ref name="Allmusic Bio">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/martha-mn0003262884/biography|title=Martha Biography|last=Sendra|first=Tim|website=[[Allmusic]]|access-date=17 April 2018}}</ref>

They have described themselves as [[queer]], [[vegan]] and [[anarchist]].<ref name="NPR - 09 October 2014 - The Pop-Punks Of Anarchy"/> This originally included [[straight edge]], as the band were all sober upon forming, and felt it was a funny thing to include in their description as their sound does not match the usual hardcore of bands that identify that way. The band have said in interviews that they are now no longer all sober.<ref name="Emo Dad">{{cite podcast |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Yfq0xulAKgdxuczW9F2tQ?si=23e0dec7d5a44598 |title=Emo Dad Talks to Martha|publisher=Emo Dad Podcast|host=Spotify |date=1 May 2023|time=1:00:50 |access-date=2 May 2023}}</ref>

A year later they released the ''"Sycamore"''/''"Lost Without You"'' single on their own Discount Horse label. The band played [[Indietracks]] festival for the first time in 2013. After releasing a split single with American artist Spoonboy (David Combs of [[The Max Levine Ensemble]]) Martha headed to the studio with MJ of [[Hookworms (band)|Hookworms]] to record their first album.<ref name="Allmusic Bio"/>

''Courting Strong'' was released by [[Fortuna Pop!]] in the U.K. and [[Salinas Records]] in the U.S. They followed it with more split singles with American bands Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez and [[Radiator Hospital]], a repeat visit to Indietracks and an appearance at [[Glastonbury Festival]].<ref name="Allmusic Bio"/>

Their next album ''[[Blisters in the Pit of My Heart]]'', also produced by MJ, was issued in mid-2016 by [[Dirtnap Records]] in the U.S. and [[Fortuna Pop!]] once again in the U.K.<ref name="Allmusic Bio"/>

They toured the UK with [[Radiator Hospital]]<ref name="Martha And Radiator Hospital To Combine For UK Tour - Stereoboard - 20 August">{{cite news|url=http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/193336/9|title=Martha And Radiator Hospital To Combine For UK Tour|last=Baines|first=Huw |date=20 August 2015|website=Stereoboard.com|accessdate=17 April 2017}}</ref> in late 2015, and played a tour of the UK and Ireland with [[Joyce Manor]] in July 2017.<ref name="Martha And Radiator Hospital To Combine For UK Tour - DIY Magazine - 12 April">{{cite news|url=http://diymag.com/2017/04/12/joyce-manor-martha-tour-uk-together-july-2017|title=Joyce Manor and Martha are touring the UK and Ireland together!|date=12 April 2017|work=[[DIY (magazine)|DIY]]|accessdate=17 April 2017}}</ref>

In mid to late April and early May 2018 they, along with [[Bad Moves]] of [[Washington, D.C.]], supported [[Jeff Rosenstock]] for the [[Northeastern United States|Northeastern]] and [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] leg of his US tour.

On 17 April 2018 Martha, filling in last minute for [[Yo La Tengo]], were the guest band on an episode of [[The Chris Gethard Show]] on [[truTV]].<ref name="AC boringmaureen">{{cite tweet |user=ChrisGethard |author=Chris Gethard|number=986330256427626497|url=https://twitter.com/ChrisGethard/status/986330256427626497|title=Yo La Tengo can't do The @GethardShow tonight. Luckily DIY heroes @MarthaDIY are scrambling up from Washington DC to play our show on last minute notice. They're saving our asses. AND their album is one of my favorites. Good, kind, talented people I'm excited for you to hear.|date=17 April 2018|accessdate=24 April 2018}}</ref>

On 13 December 2018 the band released single ''"Heart Is Healing"''; announcing they had signed to [[Big Scary Monsters Recording Company|Big Scary Monsters]] in the UK and EU and had a new album following soon.<ref name="Clash Heart Is Healing">{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/listen-martha-heart-is-healing|title=Listen: Martha - 'Heart Is Healing'|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=13 December 2018|accessdate=28 January 2019|website=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]}}</ref> On 28 January 2019 the band unveiled title track ''"Love Keeps Kicking"'' as a single.<ref name="Stereogum Love Keeps Kicking">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2029963/martha-love-keeps-kicking/video/|title=Martha – "Love Keeps Kicking"|last=Rettig|first=James|date=28 January 2019|accessdate=28 January 2019|website=[[Stereogum]]}}</ref> The video for which was the second directed for the band by friends Ben Epstein and David Combs of [[The Max Levine Ensemble]].<ref name="Stereogum Love Keeps Kicking"/> The band's third album, ''[[Love Keeps Kicking]]'', was released on 5 April 2019.

On 28 October 2022 the band released their fourth full-length album ''Please Don't Take Me Back'' on [[Specialist Subject Records]] in the UK and Dirtnap Records in the US. It was their first album to be released by Specialist Subject, although they had put out a 7" single with them prior. It's also the band's first album to be recorded with Phil Booth at JT Soar in Nottingham, however three tracks from their 2014 split with Spoonboy had been recorded there previously.<ref name="Upset - PDTMB"/><ref name="Under the Radar">{{cite web|url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/please_dont_take_me_back_martha|title=Martha Please Don't Take Me Back|date=28 October 2022|accessdate=31 October 2022|website=Under The Radar Mag}}</ref><ref name="Clash Please Don't">{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/martha-please-dont-take-me-back/|title=Martha – Please Don't Take Me Back|date=26 October 2022|accessdate=31 October 2022|website=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]}}</ref>

In 2023, they went on The Darkest Timeline Disco Tour Part 2 to Hull, Norwich, Birmingham, Sheffield, and Newport.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2023 |title=Martha the darkest Timeline Disco Tour Part 2 announcement post |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnb5y_utwe7/?hl=en |access-date=February 19, 2024 |website=Martha Band Instagram Post}}</ref> In June 2023, they appeared at the Booze Cruise Festival.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2023 |title=Booze Cruise announcement post |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CpdAVGGt0Ob/?hl=en&img_index=1 |access-date=February 19, 2024}}</ref>

In 2025, they released ''Standing Where it All Began,'' a compilation of early singles and rarities released since the formation of the band, and toured the UK alongside [[Cheekface]] and [[Fresh (band)|Fresh]].<ref name="CheekPunk">{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Em |date=25 February 2025 |title=Cheekface release “Living Lo-Fi” video, announce UK co-headlining tour with Martha |url=https://www.punknews.org/article/84942/tours-cheekface-release-living-lo-fi-video-announce-uk-co-headlining-tour-with-martha |access-date=22 July 2025 |website=Punknews.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Standing Where It All Began - Singles and B-Sides: 2012-2025, by Martha |url=https://marthadiy.bandcamp.com/album/standing-where-it-all-began-singles-and-b-sides-2012-2025 |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=Martha |language=en}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Albums=== *''Courting Strong'' – [[Fortuna Pop!]] (UK) / [[Salinas Records|Salinas]] (US), 12" LP, CD, MP3 (2014) *''[[Blisters in the Pit of My Heart]]'' – Fortuna Pop! (UK) / [[Dirtnap Records|Dirtnap]] (US), 12" LP, CD, MP3 (2016)<ref name="Martha Discogs Artist Page">{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2926840-Martha-13|title=Martha Discogs Artist Page|website=Discogs.com}}</ref> *''[[Love Keeps Kicking]]'' – [[Big Scary Monsters Recording Company|Big Scary Monsters]] (UK/EU) / Dirtnap (US), 12" LP, CD, MP3 (2019)<ref name="Stereogum Love Keeps Kicking"/> *''Please Don't Take Me Back'' – [[Specialist Subject Records|Specialist Subject]] (UK/EU) / Dirtnap (US), 12" LP, CD, Cassette, MP3 (2022)<ref name="Upset - PDTMB">{{cite web|url=https://www.upsetmagazine.com/news/martha-album-please-dont-take-me-back|title=Martha have announced a new album, 'Please Don't Take Me Back'|date=16 August 2022|accessdate=16 August 2022|website=Upset Magazine}}</ref>

===Compilations=== *''Standing Where It All Began (Singles and B-sides 2012-2025)'' - Specialist Subject, 12" LP, MP3 (2025)

===Extended plays=== *''Martha'' [[Extended play|EP]] – Discount Horse/Win Htein/[[Odd Box Records|Odd Box]], Cassette, MP3 (2012) and [[Tuff Enuff Records|Tuff Enuff]] reissue, 7", MP3 (2015)<ref name="Martha Discogs Artist Page"/>

===Singles=== *"Sycamore"/"Lost Without You" – Discount Horse, 7", MP3 (2013)<ref name="Martha Discogs Artist Page"/> *"The Winter Fuel Allowance Ineligibility Blues"/"Fix My Brain" ([[The Marked Men]] cover) - Fortuna Pop!, 7", MP3 (2017) *"Heart is Healing" – Big Scary Monsters (UK/EU) / Dirtnap (US), MP3 (2018)<ref name="Clash Heart Is Healing"/> *"Love Keeps Kicking" – Big Scary Monsters (UK/EU) / Dirtnap (US), MP3 (2019)<ref name="Stereogum Love Keeps Kicking"/> *"Into This" – Big Scary Monsters (UK/EU) / Dirtnap (US), MP3 (2019) *"Please Don't Take Me Back"/"My Heart is a Drummer" ([[Allo Darlin']] cover) – Specialist Subject, 7", MP3 (2022) *"Beat Perpetual"/"Dreaming Out Loud" ([[Tenement (band)|Tenement]] cover) - Dirtnap, 7", MP3 (2022) *"Hope Gets Harder" - Specialist Subject/Dirtnap, MP3 (2022) *"A Praise Chorus"/"Crush" ([[Jimmy Eat World]] covers) - Big Scary Monsters, 7", MP3 (2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=Is Tomorrow Just A Day Like All The Rest |url=https://bsmrocks.bandcamp.com/album/is-tomorrow-just-a-day-like-all-the-rest |website=Bandcamp |publisher=BSM Rocks |access-date=February 29, 2024}}</ref>

===Split releases=== *Split EP with Spoonboy – Nervous Nelly, 7", MP3 (2014) *Split EP with [[Radiator Hospital]] – [[Specialist Subject Records|Specialist Subject]], 7", MP3 (2015) *Split EP with Benny the Jet Rodriguez – Drunken Sailor, 7", MP3 (2015)<ref name="Martha Discogs Artist Page"/>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[https://martha-punx.com/ Official website] *[https://marthadiy.bandcamp.com/ Martha] discography at [[Bandcamp]] *[https://discounthorse.bandcamp.com/ Discount Horse Records]

[[Category:Underground punk scene in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:English indie pop groups]] [[Category:English pop punk groups]] [[Category:Straight edge groups]] [[Category:Queercore groups]] [[Category:Musical groups from County Durham]] [[Category:Specialist Subject Records artists]] [[Category:Big Scary Monsters Recording Company artists]]