It’s not often that a vulnerable voice can make bitterness and venomous sadness sound so delectable. Forcing lyrics of materialistic greed to juxtapose with pure gentleness while creating a concoction of warmth and coolness – it’s a rare occurrence. Concerned with the idea of obsession and crippling want gripping our generation, North Yorkshire’s Billie Marten has laid down new single, ‘Milk & Honey’, in protest.
Premiered as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record via her Radio 1 show earlier this week, ‘Milk & Honey’ is the beautiful follow up to the BBC 6 Music and Radio X playlisted, ‘Bird’. Keeping with the same trustful sound which first propelled her into the eyes of the music industry, ‘MIlk & Honey’ is a frustrated ode to the intense and selfish desire for more, more, more.
In her own words, the sixteen year old Marten says ‘Milk & Honey’ is: “a song about the greed of people, the thoughts that we’re all sort of stuck in this consumerist frame of mind”. Wise beyond her years, it’s no wonder the Ripton teenager has found herself gracing the BBC Sound of 2016 poll, and is gaining so much critical acclaim across the board.
Projecting a silky smooth vocal over mellow guitar riffs and a bold trumpet, ‘Milk & Honey’ is Martens paramount track to date. The resentment laced throughout the single, most prominent in lyrics such as “You live for overkill/you’re ungrateful still”, simply sends shivers of understanding. We feel the realisation of what Marten is hauntingly promoting, we know the damage this overwhelming greed is causing. She makes the listener want to change. Another rare occurrence.
Touching our hearts and attempting to alter our mindframes, Billie Marten has struck gold with ‘Milk & Honey’, available to digitally download now via Chess Club Records and RCA. If you’re after something a bit more personal though, the track will be available on 7″ vinyl come June 10th.
Catch the lady in action this summer at one of her already-announced festival dates.
July:
1st – Blissfields, Winchester
2nd – Barn on the Farm Festival, Gloucester
16th – Latitude Festival, Suffolk
17th – Citadel Festival, London
24th – Secret Garden Party, Huntingdon
29th – Standon Calling, Herts
30th – Camp Bestival, Dorset
31st – Leopallooza Festival, Cornwall
September:
10th – Bestival, Isle of Wight
@ell44h
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ELLA LOUISE SCOTT 