Billie Marten
Billie Marten | |
|---|---|
 Billie Marten performing in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Isabella Sophie Tweddle |
| Born | 27 May 1999 Ripon, England |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | www.billiemarten.com |
Isabella Sophie Tweddle (born 27 May 1999), who performs under the stage name Billie Marten, is a singer-songwriter and musician from Ripon in North Yorkshire. She first came to prominence at the age of twelve when a video on YouTube of her singing attracted thousands of views. She released her first EP at the age of fifteen in 2014, and her second EP a year later. At the end of 2015 she was nominated for the BBC Sound of 2016 award.
Early life
Isabella (or "Billie") Tweddle was born 27 May 1999 in Ripon in North Yorkshire.[1][2][3] She began playing guitar and singing when she was seven or eight,[4][5] and started writing songs soon afterwards.[6] By the age of nine she had her own YouTube channel on which she posted covers of pop songs, mostly for the benefit of her grandparents who live in France.[6] When she was twelve she performed some music sessions for a local YouTube channel called Ont' Sofa.[7] Among the songs she performed was a cover version of Lucy Rose's "Middle of the Bed", which quickly received thousands of views.[7] In a later interview Marten said "I didn’t understand how quickly it could spread. I was super young and it was crazy."[8] She was educated at Ripon Grammar School.[9]
Music career
In May 2014, just before her fifteenth birthday, Billie Marten released the single "Ribbon" via Burberry's curation program.[10][11] She wrote the single with Fiona Bevan the previous year.[5] According to Marten, one theme of "Ribbon" is "the elusiveness of the city, and how quickly you can lose something amongst the people and tube stations."[5] In June 2014 she released her debut EP Ribbon.[12] In August 2014 Marten played the BBC Introducing stage at the Reading Festival.[13] She described her music in December 2014 as "a mix between acoustic and quite folky and a little indie."[14]
In January 2015 Billie Marten signed to Chess Club Records, a division of Sony Music and their RCA Records recording label.[15][16] She released the single "Heavy Weather" in April 2015 which premiered on Huw Stephens' BBC Radio 1 show.[11] A 7" vinyl version of "Heavy Weather" was released in May with her cover version of Royal Blood's "Out of the Black" on the B-side.[11] She released the single "Bird" in September 2015.[17] She wrote the song with Olivia Broadfield, and according to Marten, the song is about "how words can truly affect people, not always for the right reasons".[6] She toured for the first time in October 2015 as the supporting act for Lucy Rose.[9] Marten released her second EP As Long As in November 2015.[16]
In November 2015 she was nominated for the BBC Sound of 2016.[13][18]
Personal life
Marten likes alpacas and has expressed a wish "to buy an alpaca".[19] She has said "I have this weird obsession with alpacas, I can’t explain it. I think they’re beautiful and I love them".[8]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Writing of Blues and Yellows |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Ribbon[20] |
|
| As Long As[17] |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | "Ribbon" | Ribbon |
| 2015 | "Heavy Weather" | Writing of Blues and Yellows |
| "Out of the Black" | ||
| "Bird" | ||
| "As Long As" | As Long As | |
| 2016 | "Milk & Honey" | Writing of Blues and Yellows |
| "La Lune" | ||
| "Lionhearted" | ||
| "Live" |
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Ribbon" | 2014 | – | [21] |
| "Heavy Weather" | 2015 | Daniel Broadley | [22] |
| "Bird" | Franklyn Banks | [16] | |
| Milk & Honey | 2016 | Rob Brandon | [23] |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Organisation | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | BBC | Sound of...2016[18] | Nominated |
References
- ^ "Tweddle - England & Wales Births 1837-2006". Genes Reunited. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ "Billie Marten". rateyourmusic.com. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ "WILD Profile: Billie Marten". The WILD. 18 August 2014.
- ^ "The sky's the limit". Ripon Grammar School. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "Joie Featured Artist: Billie Marten". Joie. 18 July 2014.
- ^ a b c "Billie Marten (Acoustic)". Rough Trade Events. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
- ^ a b "Interview with…Billie Marten". Bitter Sweet Symphonies. 26 October 2015.
- ^ a b "Interview: Billie Marten". Source Magazine. 19 October 2015.
- ^ a b "Billie Marten looks set for stardom". The Northern Echo. 2 November 2015.
- ^ "Premiere: Billie Marten – Ribbon". Hunger TV. 16 May 2014.
- ^ a b c "Billie Marten – "Heavy Weather" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. 6 April 2015.
- ^ "Billie Marten - New Music "Introducing"". Just Music I Like. 16 June 2014.
- ^ a b "BBC Music Sound Of, 2016 - Billie Marten". BBC Music. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ "Sound Scout: Meet Billie Marten, the Songbird That's About to Soar Straight to the Top". Teen Vogue. 5 December 2014.
- ^ "Signing: Billie Marten". Chess Club Records. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "Billie Marten – "Bird" Video". Stereogum. 14 October 2015.
- ^ a b "Billie Marten shares enchanting new single "Bird" ahead of new EP". The Line of Best Fit. 23 September 2015.
- ^ a b "BBC Sound of 2016 longlist announced". The Telegraph. 30 November 2016.
- ^ "Interview: 2016 Must-Know - BILLIE MARTEN". Coup De Main Magazine. 20 December 2015.
- ^ "Ribbon (2014)". 7digital. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ^ "Billie Marten Ribbon". NYLON. 23 June 2014.
- ^ "Watch Billie Marten's brand new video for 'Heavy Weather'". The 405. 15 May 2015.
- ^ "Premiere: Milk & Honey by Billie Marten". VMA. 20 May 2016.
External links
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