BILLIE RAY MARTIN
(Disco Activisto)
NEWS
BILLIE RAY MARTIN NEWS
The OPIATES have completed (almost) recording and mixing their forthcoming album 'HOLLYWOOD UNDER THE KNIFE' (only one song to do) and are thrilled with the results. They will post some bits on myspace asap. Labels interested in sneak peaks can give us a shout. The Opiates will be extremely selective in their pursuit to find the right partner for the album's release. There's some footage of the OPIATES AT ROUGH TRADE. It will appear on youtube in about a week. There's a second recording of said live show, which we're also expecting to receive. Meanwhile there's a compilation video of the BRM DVD : THE VIDEOS 1989-98 AT:
The DVD: The look and execution of the 'videos' DVD (as much as its content) has gained much praise all over and we are most proud to announce that Andy Reynolds from PENETRATION INC. in New York has taken on the task of promoting the DVD Statewise. Penetration Inc. had long come to our attention, not only as the PR force behind 'Undisco Me', but Andy also truly knows his stuff, which becomes apparent when you tune into his weekly radio show at East Village Radio. And anyway anyone who's a fan of cybernetic broadcasting services is a friend of ours. But seriously, we recommend him to any label wanting top-shelf PR Stateside! In Asia again Danny Chaplin has taken on the DVD project to promote and we are thrilled with his efforts so far. DVD at: www.billieraymartin.com/mart BRM is still flathunting in Berlin (any ideas?) but is now actively working at finishing the last Opiates track as well as her new single. Also she is eagerly awaiting the imminent release of her collaboration with DJ Hell on his forthcoming album. As reported, she has sung a cover version for him of Hawkwind's 'Silver Machine'. Also imminent is the release of the new Gigolo Records compilation containing The Opiates track 'Candy Coated Crime'. Meanwhile, London-based removal company MGR REMOVALS has 'lost' a third of Billie's belongings and claim they don't have the stuff. If you are planning a move and want to ruin your life in the process, book MGR! They aim to please. STOP PRESS: We just heard that the Gigolo compilation won't come out until the end of the year. Comment from employee as to why: 'don't ask me'. We will inform you further about the album which as far as we know still comes out this Summer.
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BILLIE RAY MARTIN: PRESS
SINGLE OF THE WEEK – 5 *****
BILLIE RAY MARTIN "UNDISCO ME" (REBIRTH)
“This is a long overdue and more than welcome return of one of thee voices of dance music. Billie Ray Martin first took club goers on a soulful high in 1989 with the absolute deep classic “Talking With Myself” which she made with Electribe 101.
A few years later she turned up on the legendary Guerilla Records alongside Spooky, causing a bit of controversy with a cover of Throbbing Gristle’s “Persuasion”. Billie Ray Martin soon signed to East West and scored a worldwide number 1 with “Your Loving Arms”. Since then she has done her own thing, and collaborated with quite a few.
Well now she’s back with a new album, and if it’s along the lines of this single, there’s gonna be no stopping her. In its original mix “Undisco Me” has got a slight retro feel, taking you back to those heady Balearic times, bringing a certain DJ Essentials Inc / Lisa Stansfield bootleg to mind, only Billie has done it better, never being afraid to take a chance and push forward, “Undisco Me” is properly out there, giving house the kick up the arse it so desperately needed. A quality set of remixes come from Peter Jurgens, Edison and Acid Jacks. Billie Ray Martin is the thinking man’s diva and she can walk up & down my back anytime.”
Dean Thatcher, DMC Update Mag (U.K. / worldwide)
“The Nico of the rave generation has returned with a stealth-bomb of a record, with a tranced-out charm of its own.”
Ben Wood, Bearded Magazine (U.K. / worldwide)
“Billie’s been a milestone and innovator in the world of dance music for nearly 20 years now and remains one of the few artists who can pull off a return that challenges the genre’s current royalty.”
Jamie Nicholes, Noize Magazine (U.S. / worldwide)
“Billie Ray Martin is an absolute revelation.”
Ken Hollings, The Wire (U.K. / worldwide)
“The singer is Billie Ray Martin and she’s one of the living legends in modern music history and one of the best voices on planet Earth.”
DJ Hell, I-DJ Magazine (U.K. / worldwide)
“The high priestess of electronic soul… her voice is unmistakable – ridden with drama and soul – sounding like Marlene Dietrich by way of Diamanda Galas.”
Gregor Laird, The Skinny (Glasgow magazine)
“A female, modern-day Marc Almond… this E.P. of throbbing electro-disco, torch soul and narcotic pop’s awesome.”
Jason Riley, I-DJ Magazine (U.K. / worldwide)
“Avant-garde Deutsche diva Billie Ray Martin’s sublime vocals and catchy, industrial post-punk disco…”
Keith Barker-Main, Metro newspaper (U.K.)
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Billie Ray Martin started DJing after the fabulous response she received to her sets at her London clubnight “Komputerliebe”, and she hasn’t looked back since. She has just returned from Japan and New York where her own brand of electro went down a storm. As well as dj’ing and performing around the UK and across Europe, her new single ‘Undisco Me’ has just been released, currently gathering momentum in charts and on dancefloors worldwide. Current UK dance chart position no 7.
Billie delivers a distinctive and spot-on set of cutting-edge new electronic music, electro-tec and hard but soulful electro beats.
Electronic music for the connoisseur…
…Billie Ray Martin takes to the decks with a fresh and personal approach.
In addition to this, Billie is available to perform live. On stage Billie delivers a ferocious and mind-blowing performance, to electrifying effect. With Larry Lush on electronics, her unique blend of electronic soulfulness is perfectly suited for clubs, live venues as well as special events.
The non-stop Electronic Cabaret of Billie Ray Martin
The singer is Billie Ray Martin and she’s one of the living legends in modern music history and one of the best voices on planet earth."
DJ HELL
“Billie Ray Martin does it better...She is the thinking man’s diva, never being afraid to take a chance and push forward”.
Dean Thatcher
Dubbed “the Queen of electronic soul”, Billie Ray Martin first came to prominence leading the acclaimed deep house act Electribe 101, her unique voice leaving critics struggling to find words to match its beauty. Electribe 101 scored a series of hits including the classic “Talking With Myself” before Billie departed to continue exploring fusions of electronic music and soul. After releasing the thoroughly scary “Persuasion” and the monumentally beautiful “Four Ambient Tales”, Billie found herself with a worldwide number one in “your loving arms” now regarded as one of the all-time classics of dance music. Three more hits and the album “Deadline for My Memories” followed, allowing Billie to tour extensively.
Since then Billie has worked with Ann Peebles and Carla Thomas, together with Al Green’s and Aretha Franklin's musicians on her album "18 Carat Garbage", developing and to a point perfecting her dream of “Memphis meets Deutschland”.
She followed this with a series of acclaimed singles and collaborations – from her own “Dead Again” and “No Brakes On My Rollerskates” on her Disco Activisto label to “Je Regrette Everything” with DJ Hell and “Bright Lights Fading” with Scottish duo Slam, resulting in an abundance of renewed media praise and dance chart entries.
In Summer 2005, Billie starting taking to the decks with the launch of her own London clubnight “Komputerliebe”, which she aims to relaunch in 2007. As DJ, Billie delivers a distinctive and spot-on set of cutting-edge new electronic music, with new discoveries and classics thrown into the mix. The growing response to her DJing has led to bookings taking her across the UK and worldwide, generating a frenzied reaction wherever she plays. Already in 2007, she has twice visited NYC and also Japan, as well as the Spring Seven Electronic Music Festival in Graz.
Billie is currently working on her new solo album, which she describes as the ultimate pop-fest, with more than a cutting-edge twist. The first single “Undisco Me”, a Moroder-fest released in May 2007 on Rebirth, is gathering momentum on dancefloors as we speak, being the highest new entry on the UK club charts and currently number 7 in DJ Magazine’s Hype Chart. It has reached number 12 in Music Week’s Cool Cuts, number 4 in DMC Update’s Buzz Chart and number 6 in Update’s Club Chart. Remixes are by Peter Juergens, Acid Jacks and Edison.
It’s made Single of the Week in MixMag Update and has received an overload of praise and plays from DJs including Roger Sanchez, Tom Novy (“Welcome back Billie! We put our loving arms around you.”), Joachim Garraud, Oliver Lang (Bora Bora, Pacha), Dave Dresden, David Vendetta, DJ Paulette, Stuart Millar (“massive crossover potential… getting caning by everyone imaginable”), Spooky, Sarah Main (Pacha), Oscar G, Rob Mello, Jody Wisternoff, Mark Moore, Anthony Pappa… the list goes on. It’s already starting to make an impression in Ibiza and across European radio and was Tune of the Week on Huggy’s XFM show.
Meanwhile, Billie is busy perfecting an album with U.S. / Norwegian electronica / industrial-lounge duo Aquavit.
She has also recorded a song with electronic act Risque, entitled “Push The Button”, to be released in the next couple of months.
Please note that Billie Ray Martin DJ'S and performs live.
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