Wendy Martinez

Wendy Martinez, co-lead singer of the sixties-inspired girl group Gloria (Howlin’ Banana Label) now presents us with her first solo album. Her first EP that was released in March 2021 in France (Le Pop Club Records/Belka) and the UK (Outré) was well received by music critics both at home and across the Channel (FIP, France Culture, France Inter, Rock & Folk, Shindig…). The self-taught artist in every sense of the word, also provides us with the illustrations, drawings and oil paintings, that define her surrealist universe. She also enjoys directing and editing her own psychedelic music videos. Since this first release, Wendy Martinez has been performing across France and Switzerland in venues with her band and as a duo and solo act. She has also gained the support of various prestigious venues in France and the Sacem (a French organisation) which led to her taking part in the Regional auditions for the Printemps de Bourges 2021 Festival and performing in the Nuits de Fourvière, Nouvelles Voix en Beaujolais Festivals.

Alongside touring, Martinez composed and recorded her first full album that will be released on March 31st, 2023. Nine visceral tracks in her French mother tongue instilled with sixties soul, the political songs of the seventies and modern pop were recorded in Chien Bleu studio in April 2022 with sound engineer Matteo Fabbri. Keyboards and organs, Gainsbourg bass, soulful drums and angelic backing vocals were recorded by a faithful team of talented musicians, featuring the likes of Kid Victrola and Josselin Hazard. The addition of violins, oboe, bassoon, and horn arrangements fulfilled Wendy’s orchestral desires. Perhaps this is the revival of an era of French singer-song writing which flirted with Anglo-Saxon classical, pop and rock? While Martinez is inspired by the French greats such as Gainsbourg, Fontaine, Ribeiro, Ferré, Bashung and Vassiliu, she also wanted to escape from these musical references weaving her own unique cosmos with her lyrics, images, sound and voice.