I have been a fan of Billie Marten for quite some time now. I saw her Burberry Acoustic performance on YouTube of Ribbon (a.k.a my favourite song ever written about London) and was memorised ever since, especially when I found out how young she is. That does mean to sound patronising or as if to say make her music is less mature; It heightens the fact that her talent comes across as natural, effortless and organic. She speaks and sounds beyond her years and is someone I am glad is finally getting more recognition.

Her single 'Bird' was introduced onto the 6Music C List then to be picked up by Radio 1 into their 'In New Music We Trust' list. This is an incredible achievement and do I hear the soft echo of 'BBC Sound' perhaps ringing in the air... I have to say, after last years controversy of picking 'safe' pop acts such as James Bay and Years & Years, I can see why Billie would be in the running. Her music is driven by captivating melodies but they are never obvious. Instead, they are clear and crisp, almost slightly haunting. Her lyrics have an aura of poetry in what they describe. I think she would be a safe choice, in knowing that she can produce fantastic tracks but is unique in what she delivers, giving the BBC Sound that 6Music feel: Music that is both captivatingly interesting but melodic. 

This cover of Out Of The Black by Royal Blood is something I definitely felt I should write about. Fellow forteloud family member Charlotte has also been captivated by this cover and the ease at which Billie makes it her own. It's in the little details; The ways in which she plays upon the words in the melody. Dropping and rising so to feel the emotions of what is being said. The guitar line is captivating and slightly haunting beneath the vocals... Oh- The vocals. The way she is able to make the listener feel comfortable in such a low register whilst also being able to glide softly into her falsetto in the second part of the song exaggerates a distance within the track, once again telling the lyrics like a narrator to a story.


Her latest Bird is something quite extraordinary. It's something that has completely taken over my queues on Spotify. It is so touching and heavy with the vocals, despite often resting in the falsetto. Ed Sheehan and George Ezra have also tweeted their admiration for the track. This is an artist I have followed for a few years now and each release has been something bettering on the last. I am excited to see what is to come for Billie. If there is an album on the horizon, I will ready myself to purchase that pre-order!