Will Martin

[Stephany]

Hello everybody!

You can listen to samples of Will's album (including the track with All Angels!) on 7digital.com.
His official website www.willmartin.net has also just opened with a video section, a gallery, a diary and a news page.

I had very high expectations and wasn't disappointed by 'A New World'. Will has a lovely voice and I hope he gets the success he rightfully deserves. I'm now planning to go and see him in concert in Chester on December 9th i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Stephany

[Ross]

Tonight (2nd Nov) on Closeup (TV One) they had Will martin.He has signed one of the biggest recording contracts in NZ for 5 albums ($3 million). He sung Going Home and if the rest of the album is as good I will be buying it.

[Stephany]

Hi Ross,

Many thanks for the alert! As you may already know, I'm quite a big supporter of Will and I'm glad to hear that he's doing some promotion in New Zealand. I have to get hold of this video but unfortunately it doesn't seem to be online The only thing I could find was this:

Singing superstar
Will Martin. The name probably means nothing to you. But soon you won't be able to forget it. Will Martin's name, face and voice will be everywhere. The 22-year-old is one the brink of super stardom. Will's career is humming along nicely... in fact its been crusing along ever since he was spotted singing on a cruise ship by record label EMI. Within hours the label offered him an almost $2 million contract. But it wasn't enough. Rival label UMG sweetened the deal and signed the singer to a contract worth almost $3 million... the biggest ever offered to a Kiwi musician. And they don't want Will for just one album. They've signed him for five. Will sung live in the Close Up studio.

I've been told that the album has been received pretty well by industry folk and the listening public alike. A very good sign. Yesterday, Will Martin was at a charity concert for the Raukitauri center. He seems to follow Hayley's path and I wonder if he has read Hayley's book - especially the chapter about what to do to be a successful singer

I bought a few tracks online of Will's album on 7digital.com (there are two bonus tracks from his original demo CD 'Gira con me' and 'Anthem' from Chess that will be included later in a special edition) and they are absolutely gorgeous. He doesn't have a superpowerful voice like Vittorio for example, but his voice has a softness and sweetness that make me want to listen to him and I'm totally 'willwowed' (errr...)

Best wishes,
Stephany

[meagan]

Stephany,

Thanks for posting about the official website and the clips on 7digital. I had looked about a week ago and his cd wasn't on there yet. I absolutely love his voice, and all of the tracks sound really great, especially the one with All Angels!

I can't wait till his cd comes out in the UK, because that's where I'll be buying it from. I wish him the best of luck. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[Stephany]

Hi Meagan,

I'm delighted to hear that you also love Will's voice. He's very busy promoting his album in New Zealand at the moment but it seems to help - the launch of 'A New World' was very successful. Another star in the making without a doubt There was an article about him in today's NZ Herald:

RELEASE OF WILL MARTIN'S DEBUT ALBUM
3 November 2007
New Zealand Herald

Called New Zealand's ``brightest new young star'' by blogging fans and classical critics alike, the much-talked-about Will Martin released his debut album, A New World, at the Westin Hotel on Wednesday night. Still a baby at only 22, Martin has already packed in a lifetime of paying his dues in school musicals and rock bands, not to mention working like the proverbial canine playing piano in bars and on cruise ships. Now his debut album - recorded with the Prague Philharmonia - has been released at last, and a huge crowd assembled to celebrate. Those who turned out included respected vocal coach Janice Webb, Gray Bartlett, Paul Holmes and Juice TV's Daniel Wrightson.

High point: Martin's amazing achievements thus far, despite having no UK manager, no lawyer and no fixed plan!

Low point: After a record company bidding war to sign him, Martin secured a major five-album deal in the UK with the world's largest and most successful classical label, Universal Classics and Jazz. Why on Earth didn't New Zealand get in there first?

Stephany

[Stephany]

I am surprised that he hasn't been compared to Hayley yet.
Not such a bad thing after all

4 November 2007
(c) 2007 The New Zealand Herald

One of the delights of being around a long time is that you become quite good at recognising talent. But talent alone is never enough to make it. Talent, when it is accompanied by a work ethic and a drive to succeed is wonderful to behold. Will Martin, the 23-year-old tenor from Devonport whose CD A New World is the whole package, is about to become an international star.

A year ago, having served a musical apprenticeship in shows and performances around Auckland, Will got a job as the piano man on a British cruise ship. Before he left, he recorded a few demos with the NZSO and sent them to the major British record companies. Next thing, emails are flowing across the high seas. Sony, EMI and Universal all want to sign him immediately and a bidding war is on. Will signs with Universal and it has recorded him with the Prague Symphony Orchestra. Universal is launching Will in Britain in February.

I saw Will nine years ago in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by the Auckland Children's Musical Theatre. His talent was obvious. It gushed straight from a crystal spring and was thrilling to behold.

Last Wednesday, Will performed to an invited group of about 100 people at the Westin Hotel at the Viaduct. His voice was pure, his range was extraordinary, but it was his almost instinctive professionalism and his determination to be the best that stood out. When he recorded in a dark studio in London, he says, he wore an All Black scarf because it helped him feel who he was and where he came from. It occurred to me the All Blacks should try it.

Stephany

[Stephany]

Hi Ross, Belinda and everyone from Christchurch!!

If you're interested, Will Martin is going to perform at Christchurch’s Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park on November 24, 2007.

Classical superstar to dazzle at Christmas
Sunday, 4 November 2007, 2:21 pm
Press Release: Coka Cola Christmas In The Park
Stars set to shine this Christmas!
Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park 2007
Saturday 24 November 7:30pm
www.christmasinthepark.co.nz

Will Martin has just launched the first of five albums with the world’s largest classical record label, but the at Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park have known for years that he is something special. The star in the making will be performing at the Christchurch edition of Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park, making it his third performance at the iconic Kiwi event.

Described as a talent that only comes along once in a generation, Will Martin (22) comes from the North Shore of Auckland. He has worked hard to achieve success and without the representation of a manager or a lawyer, has survived a record company bidding war to secure a major five album deal in the UK.

His next challenge is performing in front of over 200,000 New Zealanders at Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park, where he will sing ‘Nowell’ and his first single, ‘Going Home’.

“Will is achieving great success abroad, but to us he will always be that amazing guy who walked into the Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park auditions several years ago,” says the event’s artistic producer, Kate Ward-Smythe. Kate credits his singing teacher, Janice Webb, with helping to put Will on the road to success.

Will’s album, ‘A New World’, includes a classical collection of crossover songs, including ‘Into the West’ (the theme song from Lord of the Rings originally sung by Annie Lennox) and Ennio Morricones’ Cinema Paradiso.

Will is to be joined at the Christchurch edition of Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park by big names including Simon Barnett and Gary McCormick, Jackie Clarke, Frankie Stevens and Steve Broad. Around 30 acts in total will perform before an anticipated crowd of over 100,000 at Christchurch’s Hagley Park beginning at 7:30pm.

Since 1994 Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park has raised millions of dollars for child health related charities. Funds from this year’s concerts will go to Youthline, and all proceeds will be dedicated to the support of youth work services and youth mentoring.

Stephany

[Ross]

I got my copy of the album today and it is absolutely brilliant. He has a very strong, loud and clear voice and he will become a star I reckon.

Into the West was very good, he and Yulia sing this better than the original by Annie Lennox.

Over the Hills and Far Away is a beautiful song I first heard on the TV Series Sharpe and I have always liked this song.

If by Michael Nyman was composed in 1995 for the Japanese animated film of Diary of Ann Frank and this could become one of my favourites.

Going Home by Dvorak looks like it will be the song played the most on radio and shows off his voice very well and is another of my favourites.

The Last Rose Of Summer we all should know this song.

Cinema Paradiso by Morricone is another great song sung in a classical fashion.

So Far Away is a song well known to Amici Forever fans and was song just as well as them.

Song Of Peace by Sibelius with the backing of Finlandia was a really good song, I could play it all day.

Nature Boy by Eden Ahbez was a hit in 1948 for Nat King Cole.

Anytime Anywhere by Albinoni features the All Angels as a backing group and was a nice song sung in Italian and English.Listening to it again it is a lot better than nice lol.

I am My Country with Highland Cathedral I really enjoyed having the bagpipes in this song. I do like bagpipes when they are played well. My sister is learning to play them and she is doing a good job.

Hine E Hine needs no explanation but I will say I would love Will and Hayley to do a duet of it sometime.

Overall this is one of the best debut albums I have listened too, up there with Hayley and Yulia.

[Stephany]

Hi Ross,

Many thanks for your review. This debut album is very exciting - I particularly loved 'Into the west', 'So Far Away', 'Going Home' but also 'Song of Peace' and 'If'. Overall, it is a high-quality CD and I look forward to seeing Will performing live.
Hine e Hine' is absolutely gorgeous - I'm with you on the Hayley+Will duet idea

For those of you who live in New Zealand, you can watch again Will's performance on 'Close Up' here. I wish I could see it

Stephany

[Stephany]

Will Martin's classical crossover debut A New World opens at #26 in the New Zealand charts this week.
You can see the top 40 albums compiled by Media Sauce Ltd HERE.

Hayley's Treasure is ranked #34.

Stephany

[Dori]

Hello all,
I am listening to him now, i on his website www.willmartin.net
What a SWEET voice!! He's like a male Hayley (please don't be offended by this vague comment... )
I think he is going to be a big hit. Into the West is beau-ti-ful....

Dori

[Stephany]

dori said:

He's like a male Hayley (please don't be offended by this vague comment... )

Hi Dori! Actually...it's the title of an article! Hayley is Will's Charlotte Church

Record firms in bidding war for 'male Hayley'
By TOM CARDY - The Dominion Post | Saturday, 10 November 2007

A Wellington-born singer and musician is being touted as the male Hayley Westenra with the release of his debut album this week.

Will Martin, 23, is comfortable with the comparison to Westenra, who, after being discovered singing on Christchurch streets, has become one of New Zealand's most successful and richest performers.

"The comparison comes up and I don't mind that in the slightest," he said. "She has achieved so much. If I can do a tenth of what she's done, that would be incredible."

Westenra signed a $8.3 million five-album deal with Decca Records and has sold more than 3.5 million albums.

Like Westenra, Martin sings "classical crossover" - opera, classical songs and classical interpretations of pop, jazz and folk songs - and has a five-album deal with the Universal Classics and Jazz label in Britain.

Martin, who lives in Auckland, recorded a demo of two songs with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and sent them to British record companies. "I made a decision one day that I wanted to record a demo, but not just any demo. I found an investor who put up the funds in order for me to record with the orchestra in Auckland," he said.

"My honest thought was that maybe two or three years down the line I might get a letter saying `Thanks very much'. I wasn't expecting anything at all."

A bidding war broke out among record companies eager to sign him. Without a lawyer or manager, Martin signed last December with Universal, and this year recorded his album - featuring the Prague Philharmonia - at Beatles producer George Martin's Air Studios in London.

For a singer, Martin said he began relatively late at age 12, performing in school musicals. He left school to break into musical theatre, while also playing piano in bars and working as a waiter. Other stints included fronting a rock 'n' roll covers band in Dubai and singing on a cruise liner.

Martin still cannot entirely believe what has happened in the past 12 months. On Monday, when his album came out, he went into a couple of shops to see it on display. "It was a special feeling just to see it there. It's all about singing to as many people as possible."

Stephany

[Ross]

In todays New Zealand Sunday News there was an article similar to one Stephany found earlier but with more comparison with Hayley in it. Seems Will is Haleywowed too. Hopefully I will be able to video Will when he sings in the Christmas in the Park at the end of the month. Here is the article:-

[Stephany]

Hi Ross,

Thanks a million for the scan of this superb article! I certainly look forward to hearing this duet between Hayley and Will I can understand why she is such an inspiration to him. I hope he read 'In her own voice'
Now I really, really look forward to the 9th of December. I've booked a ticket for Will's concert at Chester Cathedral i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Many thanks again for the article, Ross!

Stephany

[grant]

Splendid article Ross! Thanks for posting.

It sounds very much like Will is just as focussed as Hayley, so I guess he won't do too badly!

Now who else thinks this duet is going to be on Hayley's new album?

Best wishes
Grant