There’s a reason why there are so many self-help books out there for the lovelorn, said Christina Martin.
“Relationships are tough,” said the musician, who sings about the difficulties associated with being in love on her song Temporary Hell. It is about those times in your life where you aren’t quite sure what is going on.
“Maybe it was a day where I couldn’t see what tomorrow was going to bring, and I was just frustrated,” said Martin about why she penned it. “Sometimes we have a tendency to blame stuff that is happening on other people, or our partners, or our teammates.
“When I listen to the song, well it is what I wanted to say — and that is how I want it to sound to other people,” she added. “With that song, even when I am singing it, there are parts where I feel a little ticked-off at times.”
Temporary Hell is one of nine songs Martin has included on her sophomore album, Two Hearts. The vocally strong album — a follow-up to her 2002 debut Pretty Things — merges country and folk in a series of songs about love and longing.
“I write a lot about relationships, and I have a keen interest in them. I think it is human nature,” said Martin, who is officially kicking off an album tour next week.
While her tour will mostly be a solo affair, her CD release show at FRED will feature her performing with a band — Jason Voutour, Kinley Dowling, Glen Nicholson, Tim Kohoot and Rose Cousins — and a small choir.
“I don’t think I have ever been so pleased with a compilation of my songs,” said Martin about the release, which was produced by Dale Murray (The Guthries, Hayden).
She said working with Murray was a wonderful experience. He helped to work out the song arrangements, and made sure the album came together sonically.
“For me, songwriting is a form of creation and sorting things out,” said Martin. “It gives me a sense of meaning.”
