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Manchester raised, Oxford based Martin Andrews makes sardonic DIY electronica with a personal and political edge.
His fourth studio album, 'Land ahoy' released June 2022 ramps up the stakes with playful and thought provoking themes that explore the idea of finally finding somewhere to land musically and emotionally. Tracks cover memories of childhood scrapes and putting half eaten dinners down the grandfather clock, hitting middle age and dealing with the reality of performing DIY music to 50 people in the back of pubs and the delusion of chasing followers on the social media echo chamber for artistic validation.
His 2020 album release, 'Mood dancing' has Martin return to singing in his natural voice on a selection of electro-pop tracks, recorded during lockdown in collaboration with fellow electronic artist Chris Allinson from Volcanic Shores.
In contrast, the first two Octavia Freud albums, 'Romance & heartache' (2017) and 'Smoke & mirrors' (2019) involve the use of a Roland VT-3 vocal FX unit to create a vocal alter ego which is merged with cut up beats, stabs of sub bass and guitar riffs and forms a dark futuristic world of fluid gender identities.
Martin has previously performed in numerous other live electronic acts on bass, guitar and vocal duties with shows at London's ICA, Flèche Dor in Paris and Isle of Wight's Bestival festival. He has previously performed live on XFM and recorded vocals for electronic producer IDC, with the track 'Modern Touch' earning single of the month in Mixmag magazine. Martin's tracks have also been previously selected by the late Andrew Weatherall for his DJ sessions, appeared alongside Goldfrapp on the influential 'Robopop' electro compilations and been remixed at Death in Vegas' Contino Rooms. Martin has also championed emerging live electronic music, having spent several years promoting London's Heavenly Social's 'Neural Ohmlette' live club nights and set up the monthly Basement and Yard sessions at Modern Art Oxford contemporary art space.
When asked to describe the different approaches to his recording process, Martin explains;
"Octavia Freud is my alter ego for when I want to make personal and funny DIY electronic music. For the previous two albums I have used a voice FX to pitch shift my voice and portray an alternative identity and explore the fluidity of image and the currency of the 'authentic voice'. For 'Mood dancing' I decided to focus on my natural voice and be more confident and direct and create an upbeat sound. Recording the latest album, 'Land ahoy' gave me a chance to consider a world beyond the lockdown and enjoy making music as an escape and release in these troubled times as a metaphor for finding a safe place to land. I wanted the album to be thoughtful and accessible. Hopefully, the songs are reflective on making music for quite a few years but still being able to find interesting topics to riff on".
His fourth studio album, 'Land ahoy' released June 2022 ramps up the stakes with playful and thought provoking themes that explore the idea of finally finding somewhere to land musically and emotionally. Tracks cover memories of childhood scrapes and putting half eaten dinners down the grandfather clock, hitting middle age and dealing with the reality of performing DIY music to 50 people in the back of pubs and the delusion of chasing followers on the social media echo chamber for artistic validation.
His 2020 album release, 'Mood dancing' has Martin return to singing in his natural voice on a selection of electro-pop tracks, recorded during lockdown in collaboration with fellow electronic artist Chris Allinson from Volcanic Shores.
In contrast, the first two Octavia Freud albums, 'Romance & heartache' (2017) and 'Smoke & mirrors' (2019) involve the use of a Roland VT-3 vocal FX unit to create a vocal alter ego which is merged with cut up beats, stabs of sub bass and guitar riffs and forms a dark futuristic world of fluid gender identities.
Martin has previously performed in numerous other live electronic acts on bass, guitar and vocal duties with shows at London's ICA, Flèche Dor in Paris and Isle of Wight's Bestival festival. He has previously performed live on XFM and recorded vocals for electronic producer IDC, with the track 'Modern Touch' earning single of the month in Mixmag magazine. Martin's tracks have also been previously selected by the late Andrew Weatherall for his DJ sessions, appeared alongside Goldfrapp on the influential 'Robopop' electro compilations and been remixed at Death in Vegas' Contino Rooms. Martin has also championed emerging live electronic music, having spent several years promoting London's Heavenly Social's 'Neural Ohmlette' live club nights and set up the monthly Basement and Yard sessions at Modern Art Oxford contemporary art space.
When asked to describe the different approaches to his recording process, Martin explains;
"Octavia Freud is my alter ego for when I want to make personal and funny DIY electronic music. For the previous two albums I have used a voice FX to pitch shift my voice and portray an alternative identity and explore the fluidity of image and the currency of the 'authentic voice'. For 'Mood dancing' I decided to focus on my natural voice and be more confident and direct and create an upbeat sound. Recording the latest album, 'Land ahoy' gave me a chance to consider a world beyond the lockdown and enjoy making music as an escape and release in these troubled times as a metaphor for finding a safe place to land. I wanted the album to be thoughtful and accessible. Hopefully, the songs are reflective on making music for quite a few years but still being able to find interesting topics to riff on".