IIn recent conversation Martin talks about his influences and views on the music business....

.....primarily vocals & keys now, this was not always the case, what was the route undertaken to the current combination.......

I've been playing instruments since I can remember - recorder, violin - when I was at school - then at about 12/13 began playing the drums. I'd had a good grounding at actually reading music, playing classical pieces etc.... but the drums seemed much more exciting. The drum fascination didn't last too long before I was drawn to the saxophone - mainly due to Lee Thompson from Madness - having a good understanding of the fingering, from playing the recorder, I picked it up rather quickly and carried this on through college whilst doing a degree in Jazz and Rock music in Newcastle - that's where Trace and I met by the way. During this time, probably at about 16, I started writing songs. I decided that in order to write I needed some sort of chord based instrument to assist me hence the piano lessons - then naturally from that I started singing the songs - hence the singing lessons.

So, it was all just a natural progression really - as the need arose I learnt a new instrument to fit the bill at the time. I don't get to play the sax too much these days - not as much as I'd like - but now and again I'll get to give it a blow.

......you mentioned Madness briefly. Are they a big influence? Who else did you grow up listening to?........

Are they...... probably the most influential band in my life. I was a fan right from the beginning, the days of 'The Prince', etc..... It was probably down to Lee Thompson (Madness sax player) that I actually took up the sax. Their songs are just so fresh and original ......and I think, hope, we capture a certain amount of that in our material. Another thing that drew me to them in the early days was their sense of having fun within the music, another trait I hope we've stolen from them.....lol......

......the other major influence has to be Billy Joel - check out our links for Billy & Madness - if there was one singer songwriter I had to put at the top of the tree, he would be it. You think of the great songwriting partnerships, Lennon & McCartney, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Richards & Jagger, Bacharach & David - and then look at Billy - this guy does it all on his own, lyrics and music. He combines really interesting thought provoking lyrics with tuneful melodies and manages to produce a masterpiece everytime. I got into Billy about the same time as Madness - 1980 - and I think my songwriting has developed the two different styles into something that we can distinguish as being a 'Traces of Red' song. Theres a track on the EP - 'People Just Don't Care' - that was inspired by a Billy track called 'Big Man On Mulberry Street' - loads of big band stabs - I think Trace and I recorded about 6 sax lines for that. The whole EP is so diverse though. The first track - 'Just One Of Those Days' - is typical Madness, we've recorded a much rockier version since this one. 'Best Things' is very clubby. Then 'New Worlds' enters into the realms of guitar pop. Finally, 'Close To Me', which is a standard pop song with simple lyrics, a simple memorable melody and a great trumpet solo by Julie Smith.

I grew up listening to such a wide variety of material.... The Bee Gees, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Joe Jackson, Elton John, Wings, all the Ska stuff like The Specials, Selecter, The Beat - there's a lot of good stuff out there that's just been forgotten about - all these artistes did some great material. Prince on his day is phenomenal. Joe Jackson did some great albums in the late 70's, early 80's - and Springsteens 'River' and 'Born In The USA' period was fantastic. My brother introduced me to the likes of David Sanborn - the best alto sax player ever - if you haven't heard him check out the link. Then you've got 'Tower of Power' - probably the funkiest band in the world - ever. Brilliant rhythm section and 5 piece horn section - soul/rhythm & blues at its best. And of course in a similar vein, 'The Blues Brothers'. If you ever get the chance to see 'The Original Blues Brothers Band', go - its just like being in the film. Its most of the band from the film - the Booker T & the MGs guys on rhythm - Blue Lou & Mr. Fabulous on brass - brilliant. And don't forget the godfather - James Brown.

Presently I'm listening to Alanis Morissette - the last albums a bit difficult to get into but Jagged Little Pill is a classic. So deep but ever so accessible.

From a songwriting point of view the market seems a bit stale at the moment. No doubt there is something round the corner - but you'll always get a certain amount of gems emerging from the rubbish that's around - it's a bit like searching for a genuine antique at an auction.

......how do you feel about the new single, 'Growing Up'?.....

Really pleased with it. It seemed to take for ages to put together but I think we've ended up with a track that will ride the tests of time. The topic is of course growing up, so any generation will be able to associate with it. The actual lyric content is topical for this day and age and slightly controversial, but it's all meant in good fun. There's a few lines that make you sit down and think about the state of the world, but overall its just taking a light hearted look on life. I thought the second track, 'Find A Reason', came out great - just how I imagined it. James (guitarist) did a great job on both tracks - he really brought a lot to the songs and helped them come to life. The Jupiter Collision remix really caught us by surprise. There we were having a real laugh with the song and suddenly they come back with this really dark version that totally contrasted with what we did. They picked up on the concept in totally the opposite way in which I was relating to the idea of growing up - they saw it from a completely different perspective - that's what remixes are all about I guess.

.........ok, quick one to finish, top 3 most influential albums?............

aaaaaghhhhhhh.......... too many to mention.........OK

Albums....

Madness - One Step Beyond (the original & the best).... Prince - Purple Rain (a bit rough at the edges but who cares).....Springsteen - Born In The USA......Suggs - The Lone Ranger.....Alanis - Jagged Little Pill (perfection).....anything by Billy Joel (the master).....The Blues Brothers Soundtrack (the best film ever made - well that and Star Wars)

.........alright I know that's more than 3 but so what............