Martin Hailey

I was born in Liverpool, UK. My family moved to Canberra, Australia, when I was young and I grew up there. I moved to Sydney in 1994 and have been working as a musician ever since.
I have been fortunate to work with a wide variety of artists as I have always enjoyed many styles of music. I have been able to consolidate my musical voice by challenging myself in different genres.
Over the years I have been lucky enough to record and perform with lots of great people (see blog for the namedrops!)
2007 was a good year I was playing guitar in Hedwig and the Angry Inch in Sydney with iOTA and working with David Campbell's swing band, touring right across the country and even getting to Paris. There was also a bit of telly last year. I worked in the house band for both The Sideshow on ABC and The Singing Office on FOX 8
This year I'm excited about releasing THE FAVOURITES debut album COUNTING THE DAYS with Rebekah Jensen (see the song "Indigo" above) a record with lots of good people on it and differring styles from Folk to Rock and Jazz. I'm currently working on an album with the Groovemessengers - Mr "Lushsounds" and Paul Chenard - an electro loungey funk thing that was born out of a residency we've had for the last few years at Hemmespheres in Sydney city. Speaking of current releases, check out Abby Dobsons' beautiful new album RISE UP which I play on and Tammy Ingram's EP MODERN LOVE which I produced with Tammy last year.
As well as being a songwriter I have written much instrumental music. For example, In 2005 I wrote a 70 min programme for Captain Cook Cruises that accompanies their Sydney Harbour tours. In that year I also completed a documentary soundtrack for a film entitled "Renewing Womens Business." In 2004 I was commissioned to write music for Channel 7's "Auction Squad" programme.
Since 2006 I've been MD for the Absolutely 80s show which features members of Kids In The Kitchen, Uncanny X-Men, The Models, Chantoozies and Machinations. It's fun to play the stuff you listened to in high school! I contributed two remixes to the "Kids All Mixed Up" Kids in the Kitchen remix album that was sold on the national Countdown tour in 2006. And speaking of 80s gear I was also fortunate in 06 to tour and make a record with the amazing Jimmy Somerville from Bronski Beat and The Communards.
In addition to my experience as a session player and performer, I have produced a number of records. My credits include Australian music legend Jimmy Little, Senegalese master percussionist Pape Mbaye, Indie Rock Band Ezmerelda and most recently one of Australia's best indigenous singer/songwriters, Glenn Skuthorpe. Other independent artists I have produced albums and demos for include Adam d'Roma, Leanne King, Carolyn Shine, Asha Kuerten, Janet Swain, James Henry, Rupert Reid, Story, Humankind and Filament.
Keep a lookout for THE NEW STUDIO - BLACKFOOT SOUND coming in Feb (currently under construction)
This year I aim to record the jazz pieces I've written in some type of format. I have recorded a number of instrumentals and hope to compile and release them too. Occassionally I have trio that plays these tunes so keep an eye out!
Here's to all - let us do the right and best in this year full of promise!
Be good.