Will Martin

[Stephany]

Thank you very much, Dave! The video is on Youtube but it takes ages to load so I still haven't been able to watch it!

Roger - I hope you enjoy Will's album as much as I did!

[scoobedoo]

Sept 20, 2008 17:24:39 GMT Stephany said:

Thank you very much, Dave! The video is on Youtube but it takes ages to load so I still haven't been able to watch it!

Roger - I hope you enjoy Will's album as much as I did!

Hi Stephany,your in for a treat,it is simply BRILLIANT,EXCELLENT, no other way to describe it IMO, ENJOY,

cheers,

Rodders

[Dave]

Sept 20, 2008 17:24:39 GMT Stephany said:

Thank you very much, Dave! The video is on Youtube but it takes ages to load so I still haven't been able to watch it!

Hi Stephany and everyone,

I'm sure you've been able to watch the YouTube version by now but I've done mine anyway and it's slightly longer, better quality too. I've done this in the XVID variant of DivX as XVID is fairly standard and should play on everyone's computer. I'm quite pleased with the result, it's 700 x 400 pixels and about 1 mbps.

One thing all these lossy compression codecs do is to reduce the contrast so to get it back, increase the contrast in Media Player by about 20% and slightly reduce the brightness, by 5% to 10%. The screen surrounding the Nat King Cole photos should *just* be the same black as the black of your computer screen and not any lighter. To protect against possible disconnections, if you use Firefox 3 (or 2) you can resume broken downloads from where you left off.

Will Martin - Nature Boy (3m 15s, 25 MB file to play or download).

It's an excellent performance from Will but I thought it was cruel of them to precede it with a clip from the original by Nat King Cole, one of the all-time greats (for me nobody but nobody can match Nat but it's nice to have Will's excellent new version!)

Enjoy!

Dave

[Stephany]

Hi Dave and Rodders

I'm glad I waited for your video clip, Dave - it was absolutely wonderful! It's obviously not comparable to Nat King Cole's original version but I think Will's new take on it is simply gorgeous.

Thanks a million for the video. I still cannot believe how good the image quality is for a 25MB clip!

Stephany = very happy i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[Richard]

Hello Stephany!

Will Martin was talking to Anne-Marie Minhall on the Classic FM Guest List Special last night. If you've got an hour to spare you can listen to the show HERE at any time until next Sunday. Click on 'Last 7 Days: Guest List Specials', then click on the programme for 20th September.

Love,

Richard xxx

[Richard]

Sept 21, 2008 1:35:37 GMT Dave said:

I've done this in the XVID variant of DivX as XVID is fairly standard and should play on everyone's computer.

Hello Dave!

I can only get the sound, because the computers in the Internet Café can't download the necessary codec for the video. Fortunately I was able to watch it on YouTube.

Edit: I successfully downloaded the XVID codec from here: www.xvid.org/Downloads.15.0.html

I'll have to download it every time I need it, so the link is really for my own benefit, unless others need it, of course! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Richard

[Richard]

Classic FM are really promoting Will Martin now. He's also featured in today's Arts Daily podcast (Sunday 21st September):-

www.classicfm.co.uk/sectional.asp?id=17535

Richard

[Dave]

Sept 21, 2008 8:48:01 GMT Richard said:

Sept 21, 2008 1:35:37 GMT Dave said:

I've done this in the XVID variant of DivX as XVID is fairly standard and should play on everyone's computer.

Hello Dave!

I can only get the sound, because the computers in the Internet Café can't download the necessary codecs for the video. Fortunately I was able to watch it on YouTube.

Richard

Hi Richard and any other codec-starved members!

Try this

Cheers, Dave

[Richard]

Thanks Dave, but please see the edit in my earlier post.

Richard

[Stephany]

Hi Richard

Thank you very much for all the Classic FM links! I was thrilled to learn that Will has recorded a song with the Fron Male Voice Choir for their 3rd album. He also mentions Hayley several times noticing that she loves going to New Zealand for Christmas. There should be a Spring Tour in the UK in 2009 and hopefully album number two.

Stephany

[Richard]

Hello again Stephany!

Look what I've found on Classic FM's website! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

A New World by Will Martin

Described as a 'once in a generation talent' by Dickon Stainer, MD of Universal Classics and Jazz, Will Martin is set to take the chart by storm with his new album 'A New World'. Find out more, plus hear from the young singer himself in our exclusive interview...

Since making the bold move of sending his demo tape to the heads of two British record companies, Will Martin has gone from playing the piano in bars to singing the New Zealand National Anthem in front of a sold out All Blacks crowd.

At just 24 he has now released his debut album 'A New World' as part of a five album deal with UCJ.

'A New World' is an epic collection of classical crossover songs, which brings traditional repertoire such as 'Going Home' from Dvorak's 'New World Symphony' into the modern day.

Other well-known songs also featured on the album include 'Into the West', the theme song from 'Lord of the Rings' (originally sung by Annie Lennox) and Ennio Morricone’s 'Cinema Paradiso.'

CFM: Looking back at the journey you've made to get where you are now - how does it feel to be releasing your debut album?
WM: Unreal. There’s no better word for it. I’ve been based here for 12 months now, and it’s all been a lead up to this. I certainly hope the UK public will enjoy the music as much as I enjoy recording and performing it.

CFM: A New World is clearly influenced by your New Zealand roots, but how did you go about choosing the tracks to feature on the album?
WM: It was a team effort, with the label, my producer Simon Franglen, and myself, all suggesting potential repertoire. It was quite a task actually, whittling a list of over 200 tracks down to the twelve that feature on the album. Looking back a year on, I’m still super happy with the songs we chose to record.

CFM: What would you say have been your personal career highlights since signing to the Universal Classics and Jazz record label?
WM: Every time I find myself singing live with a full orchestra, I have to pinch myself. It is an amazing experience, one that I doubt I will ever become accustomed to. The release of my album back in New Zealand was a personal highlight, in addition to every performance thus far in the UK; I’m loving entertaining the audiences over here.

CFM: You've sung at a number of prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Stadium, but which would you say has the biggest 'wow-factor'?
WM: Walking out onto the pitch at Wembley to sing ‘God Save The Queen' was phenomenal. I will never forget that moment. Entertaining the Scottish contingent of the British Olympic Association earlier this year was also amazing, especially with The Princess Royal in attendance.

CFM: If you could perform a duet with any classical artist, who would it be?
WM: Right now, it’d have to be Nicola Benedetti. She is supremely talented, and so very beautiful. In saying that though, if the opportunity presented itself, I’d love to get a couple of piano lessons from Lang Lang!

CFM: Where would you like to see yourself this time next year?
WM: As long as I’m still singing beautiful music, and there are people out there who want to listen, then I’ll be a happy boy. Who knows, I may be promoting my SECOND album if ‘A New World’ is received well!?!

'A New World' is currently Simon Bates' CD of the Week: www.classicfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=898085&spid=9778

This morning he played 'Hine E Hine'.

Richard

[Steve H]

Thanks for that post Richard,

Following our visit to St James's I have listened to quite a bit of Will's work, he certainly has a great voice, I am looking forward to getting my copy of ' A New World'

A duet with Hayley would be nice, but Nicola Benedetti is a good second choice.

Steve H

[dutchjoyce]

Hi,
I have ordered his cd too, from CDWOW, just Euro 12,99, free delivery!!!

Greetz JOYCE.

[Dave]

Hello everyone,

Will Martin's album has entered the UK official early midweek chart (based on Monday's sales and published by Music Week) at no. 22. It will probably climb a few places as the week progresses and could well end up inside the top 20 by the end of the week. Good luck to him!

For comparison, Hayley's debut UK album Pure entered the early midweek chart at no. 13 and climbed to no. 8 by the end of the week.

Dave

[roger]

Will's CD arrived yesterday. I refrained from commenting sooner just to keep Stephany in suspense!

These are twelve superb songs whose mood ranges from peaceful to etherial, and from rousing to triumphant. The arrangements are magnificent throughout and Will's voice has to be among the best I have ever heard. Overall, this is not a collection of individual songs - it is a work of art.

The fact that All Angels provide the backing vocals in one tract has not influenced my opinion whatsoever!

Roger