If you need a band to restore your faith in humanity during these turbulent times, then look no further than Durham pop-punks Martha. Their third album, ‘Love Keeps Kicking’, explores the ways the world seems to kick us while we’re down, but it also sees the four-piece kicking back.
“It feels like a sadder more sombre album than our previous records,” says drummer and vocalist Nathan Stephens-Griffin. “It wasn’t deliberate, but this is where we’re at as a culture, as a world – we’re in a really shitty place, but there are still things to hold onto.”
In many ways, ‘Love Keeps Kicking’ is a break-up record, though not just the break-up of a romantic relationship. “I think the world is breaking up, isn’t it?” asks Nathan rhetorically.
“We feel like a general negativity and sadness that’s being felt across the board has filtered into our songwriting. It’s not strictly a break-up album, but it might be a heartbreak album,” explains bass player and vocalist Naomi Griffin. “We still love love, though!” she laughs. “We always try to find a bit of humour in sad or stressful situations. The band is meant to be fun; we want to have a good time doing it. We don’t want to be chucked out in the Marie Kondo sorting of things that don’t bring people joy!”
