You won’t find Shay Martin Lovette far from a body of water. His love for his North Carolina roots is clear on his gentle folk songs, brimming with a clarity and tenderness that seems to be infused into the landscape. Martin Lovette’s new song “Lionhearted Woman” finds the singer-songwriter mining the past for that sweetness, even amidst disappointment.
“A melancholy tune where the character is reflecting on a fearless woman they once knew and is dancing through bittersweet memories and dreams,” Martin Lovette writes about the song. “Everything came together with the band on this one! I absolutely love the rhythm section (Alex on Bass and Yan on Drums, and Joseph on the trusty Rhythm Ace Drum Machine. Ryan’s crying pedal steel and Alexa’s stunning forlorn harmony vocals make this song one of my favorite on the EP. Can’t forget Joseph’s patented rubber bridge guitar part, so cool!!”
In our interview, Martin Lovette describes his approach to his craft and life as a musician.
Does your album have an overarching theme?
The True As They Come EP wasn’t intended to have an overarching theme, but you know what they say about hindsight! After finishing up tracking it became clear my obsession with bodies of water translated into the songs. The characters in the songs regularly wind up by rivers, waterfalls, or lakes. One of the songs leans on a metaphor of a flood sweeping someone away to the next chapter in life.
Do you start off with the music or lyrics first? Why?
Both. I enjoy the experimentation phase of writing on guitar, so I normally rely on the guitar to map the song while writing simultaneously. I find that being present with the instrument allows me to make better decisions in real-time without overthinking each lyric. Then I will give the song space and return to it the next morning to tweak/edit. Sometimes the editing phase can take days or months.
Name a perfect song and tell us why you feel that way.
“Far From Me” by John Prine. It’s a powerful story song about a relationship that’s coming to an end. John writes with such poignancy and humor that you feel what the character feels. His writing also paints such a detailed picture that you can see the characters in your mind and almost feel like you know them.
Tell us about your favorite show you’ve ever played.
My favorite show has to be capping off the album release tour for my album Scatter & Gather in 2022 by performing on the esteemed Watson Stage in Wilkesboro, NC where I grew up. I’ve seen so many of my heroes perform on that stage that it was truly a surreal moment for me.
What’s the best way a fan can support you?
By far, the best way a fan can support me is by sharing my music with their friends/family/neighbors, etc and buying tickets to shows. Every new fan goes a long way for artists like me working to grow their base.
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