Getting to know David Martel

There are some epic love songs that leave you breathless, transporting you to someplace far away in your mind. David Martel, a Canadian indie-folk singer from Montreal possesses that amazing story telling quality in his music. One moment you’re in the crowd, watching him play his guitar and the next you’re caught up in the passionate landscape that he paints.

I watched David perform in October at Lee’s Palace in Toronto, as an opener for Mother Mother, wearing an old fashioned hat and fuzzy slippers. He sang like his life depended on it, and I was hooked. Plus a cellist was involved, which made it even more soulful and romantic sounding. It was musical-love at first sight.
His debut album, “I Hardly Knew Me,” was birthed in 2007, with the help of many different musicians intricately layering their instrumental gifts. This album resembles a love letter read in bed, with the winter sunlight peeping under your curtains. Capable of both slow, soft lyrical moments, David sings with an unquestionable passion and playfulness on stage and on record. Songs like, “End of self” have a rock anthem/ ballad quality to them which crash with intensity.


He captivatingly takes you through his highs and lows, with songs like, “Cancel all your plans,” and “Stay In,” which end on powerful, thundering tempos. “Be all, end all,” is another fierce song about the end of relationships.

Are you waiting for the sun to rise
to make this over?
just hold me up to the light
see what’s still left over
stop waiting for the sun to rise
don’t pretend it’s over
your freedom waits in sacrifice.

Like any good love story his songs take you on a high, leaving you with the feeling that in life, despite the endings that occur, there is something on the horizon. Intimate lyrics are meshed with the sounds of guitar, piano, accordion, flutes and synths, as well as his talented female vocalist, Natasha-Lou Landry.
I’m sure that his visually stunning lyrics and disarming performances will get a lot of attention in the near future. Hopefully Canada will be getting to know the talented Mr. Martel a lot better, very soon.