Exclusive Interview with JOYCE MARTENS

Joyce Martens is a Dutch singer-songwriter who became passionate about music as a result of the pandemic. Despite having two children and working as a social worker on the side, Joyce has succeeded in the music business.

Her most recent song, “You Bring Me Home,” captures the essence of genuine love and acceptance. Joyce’s music is a breath of fresh air in a society where social media places a premium on appearances, inspiring listeners to embrace their flaws and find someone who will accept them for who they are. Check out the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

JOYCE MARTENS: I am from the Netherlands and 3 years ago during the Covid-19 Pandemic I was looking for a way to fill in the days with my kids during lockdown. I read an article about making music with kids and playing the ukulele, because it is an easy instrument to learn and to get started. It seemed fun, and so I ordered one online, as all stores were closed. I had never played any music before and was thinking I couldn’t, but I wanted to try. Soon I learned my first chords and it made me so happy. Making music with my kids didn’t really turn out well, the lockdown ended soon after, and they went back to school, but when the world opened up again I started taking music lessons. Music turned out to be the way to express myself. 1,5 years later I wrote my first song, about my daughter, for her 10th birthday. A year later I wrote and recorded my debut single Today. I could never have thought this would happen when I ordered that first ukulele. But I strongly believe everything in life happens for a reason, so it might not have been a coincidence I read that article.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

JOYCE MARTENS: After learning the basic chords on the ukulele, I started taking lessons. When I was young, the only way to do that was face-to-face lessons, but nowadays, it doesn’t really matter what you want to learn, or you can find it on YouTube. The thing is, if you just started, you do not know the quality of the content. YouTube doesn’t give you feedback, either. So after some time I started to take courses and lessons, and it really helped me to improve my skills.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘JOYCE MARTENS’?

JOYCE MARTENS: My parents used to listen to classical music. When I was a teenager my best friend was a rockfan and so I started to listen to Nirvana, Guns ‘n Roses and Metallica. I think the very first single I bought was from The Offspring (No Self Esteem). I liked their songs, but they didn’t really feel like ‘me’. I listen to a wide range of music and not one genre particular. Lots of different things can grab me in music like the melody, the lyrics, a voice, sound or just some acoustic playing. My favorite genres are pop, folk and acoustic styles. Joyce Martens is just my name, Martens is my maiden name. I didn’t feel like I wanted to use a different name. My songs are heartfelt and honest, about my thoughts and feelings. They are completely ‘me’ and that’s why I decided to just use my name.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners?

JOYCE MARTENS: To me, the lyrics and the story behind my songs are very important. I once learned in a songwriting course you should write a song the way you speak to the person that is most important to you, telling that person what you really would want to say. Those words made such an impact, it became the way I write my songs. I have put my heart and soul in there, they are very personal but both very relatable to a lot of people, because we all deal with love, anxiety, loss, rage, grief. Besides putting those emotions in the words, I try to put them in the music and the way I sing my songs. When the package as a whole resonates with someone, it is the best compliment I can get.

5. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?

JOYCE MARTENS: I think it is the best where both worlds meet. To me, it is very important my listeners know the stories behind my songs. The songs that have a genuine story are the ones that move me the most, the ones I am most proud of. I think people want to know the stories behind songs, that makes them connect with you as a person and makes your music stronger, as a part of who you are and what you have to say. On the other hand, it is very important that a listener can relate to your story. That they have experienced the same situations or feelings. For example; my debut single “Today” I wrote about how I dealt with the period our daughter was severely ill. But there’s only one line in that song that reveres my daughter. I wrote it the way anyone going through a hard time could feel and understand it. Every situation is different, but feelings are common for all human beings.

6. Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

JOYCE MARTENS:

I write my songs on the ukulele. Lots of times I start with an idea, a theme, a word, a sentence or a feeling. Sometimes a bigger piece of lyrics, but usually the words and the melody develop at the same time. Sometimes I just start improvising, singing some words while I am playing some chords, and that gives me a point to start from. When lyrics, melody, harmony and song structure are quite finished I work on the arrangement of the music with my producer.

7. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

JOYCE MARTENS:

Given sight I just got started exploring music and songwriting, the fact I put my music to the world is a beautiful point on its own. The fact my 11 year old daughter is very proud makes me so happy. I want to be an example for her, you should follow your heart and chase your dreams. The fact my songs resonate with my listeners and beautiful conversations start due to the stories in my songs, makes me beyond happy. I never started writing songs because I had the idea to make a career in music. I am 42 years old, I am a mum and I have a job, I already have my life settled. I write songs because I want to connect to people, move them, I want to give them a feeling of hope or comfort. Having that said, when I wrote my first song it felt like I should never have done differently, so this is certainly not the end of it.

8. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

JOYCE MARTENS: It is a challenge to stay authentic in this industry. There is so much music out there nowadays, that it is a common wish for new artists to get their songs, on which they are so proud, heard by many people. I think we all make songs because we want to connect to people, and we want to move them. But to find those people you need music promotion. We all want to stand out, and it is a challenge to not get lost in hopes and dreams, but to stay true to yourself and to find the right way for you to do it. That goes with what we Dutch call “vallen en opstaan” (fall and stand up again) and it is a tough learning process, but also a good one, because there’s no way to learn this without running into yourself and getting some self reflection.

9. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?

JOYCE MARTENS: I am really lucky to have not really experienced this. I come from the ukulele community, which is super friendly, loving and supportive. But still, it feels scary putting music that is so personal out there. When You Bring Me Home was released, I almost felt naked. Everyone could see right into my soul, that’s both very vulnerable but also very powerful. For me personally, it is a learning process to deal with criticism and decide what I want to do with it. Every piece of feedback is just someone’s opinion. In my point of view, there is no right or wrong in music (or in any kind of art). I made and still make the choices in my music that felt right for me and that resonated with me.

10. Creative work in a studio or home environment? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?

JOYCE MARTENS: I started recording my songs in my home environment, working remotely with my producer from TORS (the online recording studio). For me, that was the perfect way to combine recording the songs with caring for my kids and my job. It took some more time than for example 1 day in a physical studio, but I really enjoyed every day of the process!