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Aidan Martin is a singer and songwriter from Newcastle and a proud member of the LGTBQ+ community who has penned songs for the likes of Joss Stone and Will Young. An incredibly honest and raw writer, his track ‘Easy’ is an emotive ballad about falling in love with the wrong person.
We chatted to Aidan about opening up about his depression through music, his dream collaborations and life in London:

What was it that first got you into music – did you always see yourself writing pop music tracks?

I have always loved music since being a young boy. I grew up listening to the likes of Nina Simone, Sade, Brian McKnight to Creed, Rush and The Smashing Pumpkins. I was shown an eclectic mix of genres, but essentially, I always knew I wanted to make great pop music. I knew I had a voice from the age of nine, and I fell in love with performing on stage from my very first live performance.

You’re originally from Newcastle – has moving and living in London impacted your music career/creativity as a whole?

I think moving to London was a huge shock to the system for me. I came from a small village in northern England so I hadn’t had too many life experiences when I left home. That all changed when I moved to London, suddenly I got a taste of what the real world could be like. Over the course of my twelve-year stay in London now, I have so many stories, memories and traumas to sing about now. It’s really shaped my musical identity.

You seem to be a lone wolf when it comes to collaborations with other artists, will this be changing in the near future?

Yes, this is changing. I have always wanted to wait for the collabs that feel 100% right. This year they are coming and I can’t wait to share them with you all.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

Rudimental is incredible and I have always been a huge fan of their work. Jazmine Sullivan is also a big one on the bucket list.

Your sound is described as raw, powerful and slightly reminiscent to Sam Smith. Could you describe your creative process?

The piano is where it all starts for me. I taught myself to play at a very young age by ear, so I’ve never been able to read music. This allows me freedom with writing that I can’t describe. Once I find some chords I love, I then delve deep into my notepad, rounding up all the little songwriting golden nuggets I have written down over the years. I am always consuming what people say, what I see, and what I feel because the inspiration for songs resides everywhere.

You’re dedicated to fighting causes such as racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights and countering the stigma of those affected by HIV and AIDS. Was there a turning point in your life where you felt the need to use your music as a platform to fight these causes you hold so close to your heart?

Being a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and knowing what I’ve been through in my own journey with embracing my sexuality has really shaped the way in which I try to connect through my music. Having gone through addiction myself, off the back of not feeling free to be who I am,  and having seen what this can do to both our mental and physical health, I decided that I had to do something to help combat the things that my community are up against. HIV / AIDS and the stigma that surrounds that, addiction, and mental health are all extremely prevalent in my community. I’d like to be part of that change.

Your recent track ‘Easy’ has gained you traction from all over the world, performing on TV to huge audiences. What has been your favourite track that you’ve put out?

I would have to say it’s “Good Things Take Time”. This song was the first time I confronted my demons head on publicly and doing so was a huge breakthrough for me.

You’ve opened up about depression in your music –  how have you coped with maintaining your mental health through your come up in the music scene?

Having a strong support system though my family and friends has been a game-changer for me. Additionally, since I’ve performed on stages, TV shows, etc. since I was a youngster, I think I’ve learnt that certain hardships innately come with my job. I love what I do so much that I’ve learned to cope with it and use them to my advantage. A great therapist helps too, let me tell you!