Watch Now via Billboard
On Tour with Consider The Source in March 2017
Still from “Flashback” Video
Berklee-educated modern progressive/world fusion guitarist FELIX MARTIN will release his upcoming 15-track full-length album, Mechanical Nations, on February 24, 2017. Mechanical Nations is available for pre-order now via iTunes,Amazon and Martin’s official webstore.
As a follow up to last week’s release of “Bom” (watch a playthrough video here), FELIX MARTIN has revealed the official music video for the track “Flashback”, also showcasing his bandmates Kilian Duarte (bass) and Victor A. Carracedo (drums) and directed by Matt Zane. You can watch “Flashback” now, exclusively via Billboard. There, you can also read commentary from Martin on the new album, this track/video and other subjects: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7686416/exclusive-watch-the-video-for-felix-martins-flashback
“I wanted this song to sound like thunder, fast cars, flashes… really fast stuff, that sort of thing. The idea came to me after a really stressful day in Los Angeles,” says Martin. “All of the traffic congestion and warm weather, and then the relief I felt when I got home. I wrote almost the whole song right as I returned home that day. For this video, we wanted to have the band play around bright lights and flashes, as it reflects the mood of the track.”
He continues, “Musically, I wanted to have a really heavy sounding guitar without using distortion. The whole thing is played using chords with percussion, always keeping a groove going and clean tones with flashy delays. This song is very band-based, where we are all playing the same thing, as we were all part of a rhythm section.”
FELIX MARTIN self-produced Mechanical Nations, with mixing by Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me). Aside from a few tracks on the album inspired by other influences (such as “Flashback”), a good portion of Mechanical Nations is inspired by industrialized South American locations and the hard work of the people. Musically, Martin’s goal with this album was to discover unique sounds on the electric guitar while blending rock and metal with a Latin spark. Martin wanted his full band to stand out, rather than have the album come across primarily as an instrumental solo guitar record.
“I challenged myself to not use distortion, play solos, or even lead-solo melodies, as I wanted to focus on what makes me different on the guitar and put the whole band under the spotlight,” says Martin. He continues to describe the inspiration behind the album’s concept. “Many songs on this album are inspired by traditional South American melodies and locations that were then “Mechanized” so to say, in a progressive format. “Barquisimetal” is a good example – it is a place in Venezuela that inspired melodies and the landscape brought out that creative spark. Many South American countries, especially places like Venezuela, are heavily-industrialized economies. The hard work of the people and how it shaped the countries themselves seemed fitting for a progressive rock record.”
Mechanical Nations track listing:
1) Flashback
2) Carnatt
3) Eight Moon Headdress
4) Nomadic Tree
5) Da House Cat
6) Cosmo Basket
7) Bom
8) Bom Continues
9) Cardboard Roofs
10) Santos (feat. Angel Vivaldi)
11) Barquisimetal
12) King Zartman
13) Four Handed Giant
14) Canaima
15) Bridge Clock Disparity
Stay tuned for more tracks and playthroughs from Mechanical Nations, set to be released soon!
Album art painted by Felix Martin’s mother, Soraya Martin
FELIX MARTIN recently announced an upcoming tour of the north-eastern U.S. with Consider The Source, beginning March 8 in Pittsburgh, PA. The tour will hit a total of ten cities, coming to an end on March 19 in Bridgeport, CT. See below for all currently confirmed tour dates.
FELIX MARTIN w/ Consider The Source
3/8 – Pittsburgh, PA @ James Street (Ballroom)
3/9 – Akron, OH @ Musica
3/10 – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s
3/11 – Dekalb, IL @ The House
3/12 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Hi-Fi
3/15 – Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House
3/16 – Washington, DC @ Gypsy Sally’s
3/17 – Asbury Park, NJ @ The Wonder Bar
3/18 – Albany, NY @ The Hollow
3/19 – Bridgeport, CT @ The Acoustic
About FELIX MARTIN:
Although FELIX MARTIN‘s popularity first exploded in 2012 with the release of his Live in Boston album via Prosthetic Records, he originally began shaping his unique performance techniques at the age of just 13. His unparalleled ability to perform a striking genre-blend of metal, jazz, progressive, world and Latin music while nimbly executing it with 14 and 16-string guitars is what preserves Martin at the forefront of fusion music today.
FELIX MARTIN performs and records with guitars that he designs himself, built by different manufacturers (including his most famous guitar by Skervesen). Check out all of Martin’s guitars here, including those used on the upcoming album: www.felixmartin.net/guitars
“If ever you happened to be at a FELIX MARTIN gig, you’d know something was… different. Even if when you first walked in you didn’t immediately notice Felix was playing a 14-string instrument, one couldn’t help notice the complexity of the music, as well as the level of technique displayed.” – Jay Hale, Seymour Duncan blog
FELIX MARTIN band:
Felix Martin – Guitar
Kilian Duarte – Bass
Victor A. Carracedo – Drums
FELIX MARTIN Online:
