photos by Gina Ziegler
“…a gorgeous and haunting piece that finds Mariel looping her own voice in stunning harmony with itself…” – Treble
Treble is hosting the exclusive premiere of an artistic new video for “Axolotl,” by eclectic New Jersey vocalist MARTIN HOWTH. The track is found on the artist’s new album, Distant Dissonance, out now on Nefarious Industries.
MARTIN HOWTH is the solo project of jazz vocalist Audra Mariel based in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. The music has been described as ethereal, even meditative, but also features catchy hooks and thoughtful lyrics. Using a loop station housed in a signature green suitcase, MARTIN HOWTH loops and layers vocals to weave harmonic and lyrical tapestries. All loops are generated live without the use of pre-recorded tracks nor digital effects, other than the looping effect itself; varied sound is achieved solely through using and exploring the voice as an instrument. Surrounded by several singles and collaborations, MARTIN HOWTH’s The Wayward Warbler debut EP was released in 2018, and now the expansive debut full-length Distant Dissonance arrives.
A collection of live takes recorded in various historic spaces, each song on Distant Dissonance was recorded in a different New Jersey location on either the Georgian Court University campus (the former Gould Estate) in Lakewood, or in the Historic Strauss Mansion Museum in Atlantic Highlands. Because MARTIN HOWTH is a project where vocals are always looped live in performance, recording live takes in unique spaces were an interesting way to create a record with the intent to achieve an authenticity that might be lost on a tracked studio recording.
Distant Dissonance was recorded by MARTIN HOWTH and Alex Jackson and mixed and mastered by Michael Flannery (Jumping Giant), and the cover art features a collage by Corrine Henn with additional artwork by Daimon Santamaria. While difficult to pinpoint its exact genre or style, fans of Björk, Fiona Apple, Tune Yards, Dirty Projectors, Alous Harding, and The Dead Singer should not miss out on this album.
The new video for “Axolotl” was filmed by Marci Mazzarotto and Alex Jackson at Georgian Court University, directed and edited by Marci Mazzarotto. The artist reveals, “‘Axolotl’ is a song about loss and regrowth. It was inspired partially by Frida Kahlo’s assertion that, ‘There have been two great accidents in my life. One was the trolley, and the other was Diego. Diego was by far the worst.’ The song references my own experiences with loss resulting from a health condition and the physical limitations of my body, and with the upheaval caused by love lost. I often dance in my dreams; the first line of the song alludes to one such dream, and it flows from there. This song is part of an album of music that was recorded in various historic spaces, each song in a different space. Axolotl was appropriately recorded in a ballroom on the former Gould Estate at Georgian Court University. It ends with a waltz.”
Treble calls “Axolotl,” “…a gorgeous and haunting piece that finds Mariel looping her own voice in stunning harmony with itself, paired with a visual filmed at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey. The Marci Mazzarotto-directed clip also features an extended version of the song with a longer intro, showcasing the historic location.”
Watch MARTIN HOWTH’s ” Axolotl” video first at Treble RIGHT HERE.
Distant Dissonance is out now on 2xLP cut at 45RPM and digitally through Nefarious Industries HERE.
MARTIN HOWTH continues booking local live events supporting the album, with plans of playing outside of the area over the months ahead coming together.
MARTIN HOWTH Live:
5/18/2024 Rahway Library – Rahway, NJ w/ Boy vs. Ghost
6/15/2024 Asbury Underground @ Art 629 Gallery – Asbury Park, NJ
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