PART II:

IT´s a new start on many levels for Martin. New baby, new country, new tan and a new career track to boot. he's four songs away from recording his first solo album and after that he wants to help promising young bands in Perth produce world-class albums. He says he is constantly amazed by the vitality of the WA scene, which has spawned the John Butler Trio, Eskimo Joe, Little Birdy, the Waifs, the Panics and the Sleepy Jackson in recent years. In radio tripple J's Hottest 100 national music poll last week, WA bands took out three of the top ten songs, and fourteen of the top 100.
And below the platinum-selling surface, there is a surprising depth of talent, martin says.
"I have found some great players here in Perth. It's so isolated here but there seems to be a very high-level consciousness here about all aspects of art which I find really inspiring.
"Like I went to the Amplifier a couple of Saturdays ago and I saw a great band, the Bank Holidays. Really, really good band. So things like that; it is just constant surprises for me over here."

Beyond getting stuck into the local music scene, Martin wants to have a hand in making Perth an international recording destination.
The idea came while the Tea Party were recording three songs in the Maui, Hawaii, studio of the legendary Metallica producer Bob Rock.
"I loved his set-up there," Martin says.
"just the calmness and remoteness of it all. And there's no reason why something like that couldn't be done here."
"There is already a very vibrant recording scene on a more local level, but I think we could easily push it out to a more international awareness. I would like bands to come here and give the city a chance, give the whole environment over here a chance-big bands would love it."

Perth is far enough away from the throng of distractions that can effect even the best bands, Martin says. It is exotic and has enough night-life and culture for those who want it.
"Isolation breeds creativity, especially in a studio situation. Perth has everything necessary to make world-class music and it all will take is a catalyst to bring other bands over here. It's not going to be hard to convince bands to come here and swim in the ocean and record some tracks."

The move to Perth comes after 15 years of playing, writing and recording with school mates Jeff Burrows and Stuart Chatwood. Martin and Burrows first played together as ten year olds in Windsor, Canada, at school talent quests as the Suspects,

The Tea Party are taking an 18 month break but plan to record and tour again. It's a break that has been alone time coming and Martin says his friends have already noticed a change in him.
"I'm alot more relaxed than I've been before," he says as he picks up his helmet and keys off the table. "Did you see my bike?"
I follow him outside the hotel expecting to see a big Harley Fatboy with dark red and blue highlighted flames licking the fuel tank. But instead he leads to a silver scooter parked illegally on the footpath.
"I figured if I was moving to Perth I needed one of these," he says with a smile wearied by a raging hangover, or maybe just the sleepless nights of a young father.

Martin plays solo and acoustic at the Fly by Nite Club on february 18th and 19th.