Presented by Goldenvoice: New Gold Standard
An Interview with Billie Marten
July 30, 2025
British singer-songwriter Billie Marten caught us up about the books on her nightstand, her latest album Dog Eared, and her pre-show rituals ahead of her show at El Rey Theatre.
Dog Eared evokes something well-loved, worn, and revisited. Why did that phrase feel right as the album’s title?
As always, the title is the most brutal part of the whole album making process. At least for me anyway. It's incredibly difficult to name something I think, and so there were a few options I kept rolling around in my head, but Dog Eared felt particularly prominent as it was during the recording that it came to me. I was reading a very pretentious Thoreau book and notably didn't have a bookmark with me, which reminded me of being terrified to fold a page down in my initial years of reading – books were sacred, as Dad taught me.
Throughout adulthood I've scribbled, annotated, underlined, earmarked and thrown in the sea many, many books. My attitude to them is still that they are of the utmost importance to my life, but one can handle them differently. Metaphorically, I feel thumbed through and worn sometimes, but also aren't those signs of love? Don't we all feel that? Shouldn't we be grateful in the knowledge that someone cares about us enough to read us so thoroughly?
What themes or motifs kept resurfacing during the songwriting process?
Childhood, animals, windows, small epiphanies, quiet confidences, revolutions, incremental change.
Were there any particular books, films, or visual artists that inspired this record?
Here's a list I made sure to make whilst recording:
Listening to while making album -
“Eye On The Bat” - Palehound
Diane Cluck
“Gypsy Woman” - Joe Bataan
“Simone In The Moon” - Aaron Roche
“Mole in the Ground” - John Francis Flynn
Joanna Newsom
Weather Alive - Beth Orton
“Lopin’ Along Through the Cosmos” - Judee sill
“The Single Petal Of A Rose” - Duke Ellington
BBC Radio 3
And as mentioned, I was reading 'On Man and Nature' By Thoreau, amongst other things.
Which song changed the most from demo to final version?
Most likely “No Sudden Changes” or “Leap Year.” Those two became tonally very different: big brush strokes over a large canvas rather than a small insular sound which was the initial sketch. The beat of "No Sudden Changes” turned the whole thing around into this sort of bluesy, stanky funk thing. It used to be a whimsical folk waltz. “Leap Year” became this expansive, big performance, big solos, big song.
If this album had a color, scent, or season, what would it be and why?
Colour? Probably a plush deep purple, or a kind of softened mint green. I've often likened it to a Lava Lamp as that's what comes up for me when I picture it. Scent? Probably floral, but with some grit in there, like a rose with some driftwood or tobacco or something. Season? Summer most definitely. Summer-y sweaty heat and foggy thoughts.
How do you take care of your mental and creative health while touring?
It's an age-old conundrum, and I don't think anyone's managed to nail it yet. It's ultimately a very unnatural way of being – something the body isn't used to and never will be. I'm a deeply introverted and private person at my core, so I've learnt that as long as I'm carving out at least a few hours every day for my own space, thoughts, creativity, then I feel okay. I feel like I'm doing good work and not stagnating, which touring can often feel like because you're recreating the same mood every day.
I do love to travel the world. I'm enjoying it more and more and discovering such amazing places and people. You've really got to lean into the curiosity of travelling too, but it's also okay to want to stay in the hotel room and have a bath and watch I Love You Man.
What does your pre-show ritual look like?
I'm trying out a 10-minute YouTube vocal warm up thing at the moment, but mostly I'm aiming to avoid the pre-show bustle and anticipation. That's the bit that makes me nervous. The waiting. Sometimes I have to trick myself that it's a “normal” thing I do all the time – just singing and playing – so I could technically go on in any reasonable state. A lot of performing is about trickery. Ignoring the incoming gig.
Which song of yours would you recommend to a new listener?
It's difficult because I've not got a description of this new listener, but let's go with “Crown.”
What can your LA fans look forward to at your show at El Rey Theatre in September? Are you looking forward to anything about playing LA in particular?
In the words of Randy Newman, “I Love L.A.” So, of course I'm looking forward to this one. I played the El Rey last year on a support tour, so I know what to expect from this beautiful room. They can hopefully look forward to a plethora of talented musicians, the opportunity to feel light or heavy, and a really nice bunch of people. My fans are the nicest. Here's hoping I make it to Musso and Frank's also.
