Martin Sexton Interview
We had the opportunity to connect with the wonderful Martin Sexton before his upcoming show on the 18th at Seattle’s Neptune theater. Enjoy the interview below and grab tickets for his live performance!
Where are you located at the moment?
Currently in Los Angeles on tour heading north.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
As a child I wanted to be a musician and singer and guitarist — a guy who plays in front of adoring fans every night.
What music influenced your childhood?
The music that influenced me most was probably Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles… all that classic stuff with a side of singer songwriters later on.
When did you start playing? Writing?
I started playing at 13 and the writing came a bit later in the teens.
When did you decide you wanted to pursue music as a career?
I knew I wanted to make a career of it early on and, not having other options in life, it wasn’t a hard decision to make. I’ve been very blessed with this work and the fans for going on three decades now. Blessed for sure.
How does the writing process work for you?
I usually whip up a batch of songs when it’s time to make a record using the ideas that I saved along the way to write them. I tend to write on an ‘as needed’ basis as opposed to a more fluid diary-like approach.
What inspired your new EP 2020 Vision?
2020 Vision is basically a scrapbook of the pandemic for me. What is truly important came into laser focus and I wanted to write and sing about it.
How did the collaboration with John Mayer begin?
I first met John Mayer as a young guy trying to make it music at one of my shows back around 2000. Through the years he’s been very cool with shout outs and gig opportunities etc. while recording “Calling On America” the solo section just screamed out for a classic Mayer guitar solo so I gave him a shout and he said hell yeah! Such an honor to have such a truly great artist on the record and showing support through the decades.
Did you find it easy writing during the pandemic?
The WRITING through the pandemic came quite naturally as there wasn’t much else to do besides wax the floors with my wife, cut each other‘s hair, or clean out the closet etc. And finally getting around to building a treehouse with my son that was a real golden nugget of the whole thing.
How did you connect with fans?
There was a reinvention of ways to connect with fans through this whole thing which is another silver lining. Live streams and zoom concerts became a thing. It actually turned out to be a rewarding and meaningful connection. It’s another tool we can all use now moving forward.
How is touring again? Did you notice any big changes in fan behavior?
It’s so great to be touring again. Although the numbers haven’t quite come back yet, the love and the excitement and appreciation is there in spades. So good to be back on the horse.
What do you want people attending your shows to take away from the experience?
What I want people to take away from the experience of my show is a sense of unity and hope. As well as having a good time and being entertained, I always want my music and performances to be a vehicle of optimism, positivity, and change for the better.
What did you miss the most about playing live?
What I missed most about playing live was the human connection of the fans and the crews backstage as well as people you meet on the road; waitresses, hotel clerks etc. I missed the people.
What is one thing you brought with you on tour that you absolutely needed to remind you of home?
The thing I brought with me on tour to remind me of home would be my grandfather’s banjo. It’s a 1929 Gibson tenor. So much family history in drum head and four strings…
Do you write while on the road or prefer to be in a more private setting?
I write ideas on the road. I’ll kick beats out on the steering wheel on the highway or sing a melody or a phrase over and over that sounds groovy and then I’ll record it for later.
Plans for the spring?
My plans for the spring would be more touring behind 2020 Vision all over North America and spending lots of quality time with my family between the dates.
What music are you listening to now?
Not listening to anything too specific these days as far as music goes.
Hobbies outside of music?
In my off time I enjoy collecting all kinds of kitschy Americana stuff. I’ll usually return home from a tour with all kinds of things in the trailer or on the roof. All doors, windows, statuaries, even kitchen tables much to my wife’s chagrin. I’m definitely a singing picker.