Interview: Billie Marten on Her Ensemble and going Down Under

December 4, 2024

Acclaimed British singer-songwriter Billie Marten – born Isabella Sophie Tweddle – is set to tour Australia and New Zealand for the very first time soon. Bobby Townsend asks her about it:

First of all I wanted to say congratulations on your recent show at London’s Barbican with free-form string group Her Ensemble. I was lucky enough to be there and it was such a beautiful gig. What are your abiding memories from the night?

Well thank you very much! It was really quite something. Something I wish I could’ve held onto longer but, those sorts of nights always go abominably fast. Thank you for coming, thank you for being there!

I was more nervous than I’d been in a long time, so after I sang the first song (Bird) I remember looking up and realising what it was we were doing, and how large it was, and how many of you there were, and how much we couldn’t mess up. I feel like there was a lovely palpable sense of slight fear from all of us on stage which was strangely comforting.

How did the idea for the Barbican show come about, and how did you set about turning it into a reality? It must have involved a lot of hard work and a lot of hours…

It was very simply one phone call that I got from Ellie [Consta, violinist and founder of Her Ensemble], who asked me, “did I want to play the Barbican with Her Ensemble?” and I very much said yes. Ellie’s done, and does, a huge amount of work. I’d say a year in the making all boiled down to just over an hour. An extraordinary feat!

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Do you have plans to do any more live shows with Her Ensemble?

I would love to. It’s an extraordinary feeling getting to play with that many talented musicians all on one stage. We may take the show around!

You’re about to tour Australia and New Zealand for the first time! What are you most looking forward to?

I’m *really* looking forward to that. I’ve not so much as dipped a toe in the waters of that world so everything will be new to me; a real assault on the senses, especially given I’ll be coming straight from family Christmas and 2 or 3 degrees. I’m most looking forward to seeing New Zealand for the first time, and really sinking myself into the indigenous culture.

It’s a long old flight from the UK! Do you fly well? How are you going to spend your 24 hours on a plane?

I have spent what feels like half my life on planes, especially in the last couple of years, so I’ve somewhat perfected what one can achieve in economy class. I like to do this trick with my bag and tie it around the seat tray, then it’s a nice hold for my feet so I don’t get back ache. That’s my top tip. Also sweets, always bring sweets on a flight. I intend to watch the LOTR [Lord of the Rings] extended series, of course.

Last time we spoke was when Flora Fauna was coming out. Since then you’ve released the brilliant album, Drop Cherries. Is there another album in the works now?

I suppose always, which is a strange realisation that there’s never _not_ an album!

Tell us about your latest single, Crown…

Well I love it very much and it’s the first slice of my time spent in NYC this summer with the formidable Phil Weinrobe. He’s a special maker and capturer of music and it’s just such a joy to create with him. Crown sounds like a bouncy ball to me.

What are your plans for 2025, after you’ve been Down Under?

Very much getting over the beauty of that trip, I imagine. Also writing. Nesting. Getting ready to tour again.

Can you give us your recommendations from 2024? What have you been watching/listening to/reading?

Watching – I’ve been re-watching The Sopranos, so my walks around London are hallucinating New Jersey mafia scenes. So so good. I have a thing for vulnerable yet powerful male characters.

Listening – my friend Clara Mann is about to release the most beautiful and well made record. Check out her first few singles. There’s also an ABBA song (old) that I never knew about that I’m obsessed with called If It Wasn’t For The Nights. The chorus is HEARTBREAKING.

Reading – I’m soon to post my annual end of year book list, in the least pretentious way possible because it’s just random stuff I’ve read over the year. But a favourite from there would be Horse of Selene by Juanita Casey. A really beautiful Irish story and a great take on raw feminine strength and horses and the wildness of a landscape.

And finally… last time we spoke you said you’d got really into Line of Duty! Did you end up finishing the whole series and if so, what did you think of the finale? It was quite divisive…

Ha yes! I certainly did. And I remember feeling a little let down with the drama of it all, but, wow what a show along with Happy Valley!

Billie Marten Aus and NZ Tour Dates: