James and Tom Martin
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James David Martin and Thomas Richard Martin (twins born December 2, 1977 in York, UK), are English musicians and songwriters. Thomas (Tom) plays guitar and James plays keyboards. As well as playing in several bands, they have co-written songs which have charted for other recording artists such as Do and Khymera
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[edit] Musical career
Identical twins Tom and James started learning the guitar at 15 after playing truant from school and watching Van Halen videos on MTV. Fascinated by Pop Culture and the escape from real life, an obsession with music began. With Tom favouring the guitar, James took up the keyboard as it would be more ideal for a band situation.
[edit] Sugartown
"Sugartown" was the first real band the twins put together. It was named after the large number of chocolate factories in York at that time. (i.e Nestle, Terrys, Cravens) In 1998 the initial line up included ex Big Guns guitarist, Phil O'Dea and Betty Curse drummer, Chris Prendergast. Two E.Ps were recorded, S/T and 4TUNE, both of which received great reviews. The band were offered a record deal with German record label AOR Heaven, but negotiations collapsed and the band disbanded shortly afterwards.
Having also worked as postmen and bingo callers, at the turn of the millennium James and Tom re-formed Sugartown with new members, and with a new, poppier sound. They recorded a new EP titled "The Next Big Thing". The band gained management in America and were showcased and filtered through Universal. Again, with no joy, the band disbanded.
In April 2001 the band recorded a 3 track CD with a new vocalist, singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin. They would sometimes play under alias names, mainly "Luxury" and played strongly in the York/Harrogate area, performing cover songs along with original material. Among the high points in this era was an opening appearance at Party in the Park,Temple Newsham Leeds.
In 2003 Griffin left the band to enter BBC'S Fame Academy and came runner up to Alex Parks.
Kryah
In 2004 the twins assembled a new band named Kryah with long term friend Pete Lauda, Nottingham drummer Daniel Chantrey and Birmingham vocalist Scott Dean. The band toured the country through 2004/05 with a high point playing The London Astoria. A 3 track EP was recorded, (March 15th / Going blind / No warning) at the Dairy Studios in Brixton and mastered at Abbey Road. The EP was co-produced by Ian Brown songwriter Marc Lane. The band broke up in 2006 with vocalist Scott Dean leaving to pursue a solo career.
Shortly after the demise of Kryah, Tom and James hooked up again in 2006 with Alistair Griffin,as the founding members of Alistair's new band "Albion",( both leaving after the initial few months to form The Station Club), and also began writing songs for his follow up album to 2004'S "Bring It On". Some of these songs featured with the second line-up of "Albion" until "Albion" Split in 2007.
[edit] The Station Club
In September 2006 The Station Club was formed. The band was originally a 3 piece and featured singer/songwriter Mike Wilson, Adam Swales on drums, Tom on bass and James on keys. In June 2007 Adam left the band and was quickly replaced by ex-Kryah drummer Daniel Chantrey. The style is Electropop/Rock akin to The Killers, U2 and New Order. The band performed their first gig on the 16th of March 2007 at Fibbers in York. The Station Club are currently writing and recording their debut album.
[edit] Songwriting
During 2002 the twins formed a prolific songwriting team with Alistair Griffin. Writing and producing for Dutch dance star "Do",(Dominique van Hulst), the most notable collaboration was a ballad called Angel By My Side which featured on her 2004 album "Do" which reached #3 spot in the Netherlands album charts. The single charted top 10 in The Dutch National Chart and also featured as the title track for Joan Collins film "Ellis in Glamourland". At present James,Tom and Alistair are in the process of writing new material together.
To date the twins have had nearly 40 of their songs recorded by rock acts around the world including covers by House of Lords, Danger Danger vocalist Ted Poley, Tommy Funderburk and have just written all the songs on the 3rd album from Euro rockers Khymera,entitled The Greatest Wonder, due for release at the end of February 2008.
[edit] Songs written by James and Tom Martin
- For Khymera's 2nd album,A New Promise
- Alone
- Let It Burn
- All That I Have
- Tomorrow Never comes
- Fields Of Fire
- Give In to The World
- All Is Gone
- For Khymera's 3rd album,The Greatest Wonder
- Ablaze (intro)
- Beautiful Life
- Borderline
- Burn Out
- Since You Went Away
- Love Had Come And Gone
- No Sacrifice
- The Greatest Wonder
- Fight For Yesterday
- If I Can't Be
- Love Will Find You
- Stay Forever
- The Other Side
- Tommy Funderburk's album, Anything for You
- To Say You Love Me
- House of Lords 5th album, World Upside Down
- Million Miles
- Ghost Of Time
- Tracks written or co-written for Ted Poley's album, Smile
- If I Cant Change Your Heart
- Going Blind
- Waiting Line
- Where It Ends
They have also co-written the Bel's Boys song called Reaching Out with Liverpudlian songwriting duo, Chris and Tony Griffiths (ex Britpop band The Real People) and Alistair Griffin.The song features on their debut album People Lets Go released April 24th 2007 under Universal.
They came runner up in Song Of The Year on Melodic Rock's Melrock Awards 2006 [1] with 'Million Miles" written for House of Lords.
[edit] References and external links
- Interview, 2005 at Hard Rock House.com
- Kryah official Myspace
- Ted Poley.com
- Station Club official Myspace
- House of Lords
- Genius Rock Opera & Liverani latest news:30.09.2005
- Frontiers Review Khymera - A New Promise (2005)
- Melodic.Net Review - Khymera
- Kryah CD Review
- Overplay Kryah Cd Review
- Blabbermouth.net/Khymera review
- Frontiers Announcement/Ted Poley New Release
- Melodic Rock showcase-Ted Poley
- Melodic Rock News and Reviews,Thursday 29th Novemeber 2007
- Khymera Official My Space
- Frontiers Review - Khymera
