EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL INTERVIEW: MARTIKA!

MARTIKA – Over 4 million records sold worldwide… 3 Aussie top ten hits… and a #1 smash from 1991…

What a pleasure it is for me to introduce my very special guest to theaussieword blog, Martika – the artist who released some of the world’s biggest hits from 1988 to 1992. Toy Soldiers sent Martika to the top of the Australian charts in 1989 – the track taken from her self titled debut album. Martika followed up the success with the release of the hugely popular dance track I Feel The Earth Move, the tune taking Martika as high as #2 in Australia. It was 1991 when Martika returned to stamp her authority on the Aussie charts, she came back with a vengence and a Number 1 song that spent weeks at the top of the ARIA charts, it was the hit Love… Thy Will Be Done – a track that goes down as one of the best of all time.

Hello and thanks for taking the time to do this interview with me Martika! 

Thank you for asking. I love my fans in Australia!!

So great to hear the news of your comeback! You’re a personal favorite of mine and I am really looking forward to your new material. 🙂 
Thank you again! :):):)

Firstly, congratulations on the announcement of your new single and album due for release in 2012! How does it feel to be back?
Thank you very much. It is a bit surreal to be honest. I knew that I wanted to put together a new CD of new material but the response that I have been receiving has been so heartwarming, it makes me wish that I had even more material coming out!!! Hopefully there will be a demand for more MARTIKA music and I will follow this CD with another! I am just enjoying the moment right now!!!

Tell us where Martika has been these last few years and what projects you have been working on?
I have been busy working on an Internet Series called J8DED which was very fun and a lot of work. I did a project called OPPERA and we released two CD’s which were experimental and toured with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. That was AMAZINGLY fun!!!

‘Flow With The Go’ is the first single from the new album ‘The Mirror Ball’, what can you tell us about your new single?
It is a very up tempo dance/club song. I won’t give away too much other than to say I think that it is a lot of fun and should get people dancing!! I am super excited to do the video for this song!

Tell us about your connection to Australia, what are you fondest memories of our great country?
The people!! Everyone was so warm and open to me the last time I visited. It is such a relaxing place and I want to vacation there for A MONTH!!

A totally 80’s question now….tell us about the cool sounds of the Fairlight Synthesizer!
OK, WOW!!!!! I am so honored to be working with Fairlight!! This is a dream come true! When the Fairlight was at the height of the 80’s and 90’s very few people could afford one. They were so exclusive that you would hire a Fairlight and an operator and they would show up in a white lab coat! (hee hee). Seriously, Fairlight has been on practically every hit from that era and I am so pleased to be using their 30th Anniversary prototype on this new CD. Peter, Graeme, Duncan and Tino are such cool guys! They are always there to help and update the Fairlight even though we are a world apart! It’s so cool to see them working on the Fairlight while it sits in the studio in the states. It’s strange to watch the cursor run around like mad and see the machine doing things when no one is touching it!!! The sounds you get out of it are nothing less than amazing!!! Once you hear it, you know why everyone wants one or used one on their music.

Martika’s video clips! Australia loves a good video and you have always made brilliant ones, will you be treating us to more?
New videos coming!!!!!!

As you know our very own Kylie Minogue holds a special place in our Aussie hearts, how does it feel looking back at the time you both had huge hits in Australia?
Australia has always been a place that I have loved! I am so happy for Kylie!! She is a national institution for Australia 🙂 I look forward to coming back to Oz and performing again!!

Love Thy Will Be Done, a massive hit Down Under, a personal favorite of mine, as were the tracks ‘I Feel The Earth Move’ and ‘Toy Soldiers’, what do you remember most from the time you released these tracks and how does it compare to the new material from The Mirror Ball?
I loved my records. I had so much fun performing those songs and I plan to do a lot of that material on tour as well. THE MIRROR BALL is 20 years later so the sounds and the style is different. Mind you, it’s still MARTIKA because, well, its me :):) I also did not have the technology that is available today so the sound quality is far superior. The new music is just so BIG sounding!! I am really loving it!!!

Does Martika have a favorite track from her back catalogue?
Love, Thy Will Be Done ranks up there pretty high!

The shape of the music industry has changed significantly over the years, how do you feel about the industry as a whole today and what does it mean to you in getting your records out into the public eye?
The BUSINESS has changed dramatically and I think for the better because artists have more control over their careers and their music. I am enjoying the new era!!

We’ve missed you Martika! Good luck with the new single and we look forward to the brand spanking new album! What can you leave theaussieword readers with today after this interview?
I AM COMING BACK!! Love and Hugs!! xoxoxoxoxoo MARTIKA