BILLIE Marten might have started into what she calls “the music thing” by learning Damien Rice songs on guitar, but it's Lucy Rose she has to thank for her start in the music business.
“When I was 12 she was my main thing and I covered her song Middle of the Bed and put it online, like an idiot, so that was really the start of all things music for me,” says Marten, who is now 16. “And now I’m supporting her on tour, which is so weird.”
The teenage singer-songwriter, from Ripon in North Yorkshire, really is a formidable talent – as you can tell by one listen to new single Bird – and she is on a run of dates supporting Lucy Rose, including Belfast and Dublin next week.
“I’ve never been to Ireland. I’ve got my passport, just in case,” she laughs. “I’ve never even been on a ferry before.”
The tour started in Manchester on Monday and Marten says there were a few nerves ahead of her first support slot.
“I was very nervous at the start but I got through it. I couldn’t see anyone because of the lights, so that was great. It was amazing. I had so much fun. I’ve only been to about two of the places we’re going, so it’s really exciting.”
She laughs again as she talks about worrying about “stupid things” and always getting distracted mid-gig.
“I’ll be stood there singing and I’ll be thinking `What’s that guy thinking?’ or `Where are they going?’ or `What am I having for tea?’ It’s bad. My brother always tells me that I just look like I’m going to kill someone,” she laughs.
Marten releases her new EP As Long As next month and is happy with how the single Bird has been flying live.
“I do that one at the end of the set. I sent the song to Ben, Lucy’s guitarist, and he learned it and he nailed it when he played it live. So I do a mix of my old EP and the new EP and in the middle I do a Royal Blood cover that’s quite sad and serious.”
She has also put out a remarkable slowed-down cover of In For The Kill by La Roux, though she doesn't do that one live.
As she’s still in school and has just started taking her A-level subjects, Marten says her teachers have been “super understanding”. “They’ve known about this music thing for quite a while. I’ve been taking a lot of time out but I’m catching up and taking all the work with me. At the moment I’m doing an English essay. I just do it when I can and I’ll try to do what I can to pass.”
Her parents have been supportive of her music career too. "Oh yeah, they’re my number one fans. It was always going to be a bit stressful but we’re all getting to grips now with this weird thing that’s happening. They’re really happy about it, which is lovely.”
While not studying or recording or playing gigs, Marten says she enjoyed watching the recent series of The Great British Bake Off and thought winner (and fellow Yorkshire lass) Nadiya Hussain was “awesome”. So would she write a song about her?
“Oh, I should do that. Good shout!”
After her tour with Lucy Rose, she’s looking forward to writing some new songs. “I’ll lock myself away for a bit and write. And also try and do A-levels.”
And are there any plans for an album? “I think I’ll do another EP first. I think I’m too young now, so I’d make an album and put it out and be happy with it and then two years later I’d think, `WHY on earth did I put that out?’ So I’ll try and pace myself. I won’t rush it.”
:: Billie Marten supports Lucy Rose at The Empire in Belfast on Thursday October 29 (tickets £14, TheBelfastEmpire.com) and at the Button Factory in Dublin on October 30. The EP As Long As is released on November 13 (BillieMarten.com).
