Award-winning singer, composer, performer, multi-instrumentalist (piano, keyboard, organ, guitar, recorder), engineer and playwrighter Marthie Nel started her career in Welkom, South Africa on the steps of a temporary classroom: singing to her friends all the Girl Scout songs she knew, later refusing to attend choir practice because she wanted to sing alone. She would sing in, direct, and write for small chamber choirs while still in school.
Marthie received classical piano and voice training, with a dream of writing and singing her own music. In her tours she found her voice and style…she would not just sing: she would sing cabaret!
In cabaret, Marthie believes you have great musical freedom to think outside forever turning hooks and drum beats. To communicate life and mutual life experiences; to touch somebody’s life; to make people laugh and cry…She sings about being lonely and happy and lost and the joys of motherhood, perfect worlds that do not exist, and how to find yourself amidst the chaos that life brings.
A children’s gospel CD was released in South Africa in February 2004 as part of the Kingfisher outreach drive. For this project she wrote eight songs and recorded the lead vocal in Canada in her home studio: the best part being 36 weeks pregnant at the time!
Marthie’s songwriting accomplishments include a honourable mention in the
Songprize.com International Songwriting Competition for “How Long Can Your Love Wait” (2003) and finalist in the Unisong International Song Contest for “Dance of Snow and Light” (2003). Her recordings have received airplay on online radio stations, been featured as “Saskatchewan Artist of the Week” on CJTR FM, Regina and received airplay on CBC Radio One. She has also been honoured to be included on several compilation CDs including Saskatchewan Tourism’s “Land of the Living Skies”, distributed throughout Canada (2004). Marthie has written several plays including “Enfer L’hiver,” performed at Regina’s McKenzie Art Gallery (2003) and for which she did the arrangement and performed.
With a diverse range of writing styles covering pop, adult contemporary, rap, rock and folk, and performing in English and Afrikaans, Marthie’s music will takes you on a journey of scenery, emotions and stories. Through her eyes you will see the world.
Phase4Music is excited to introduce Marthie to songladder subscribers with her wonderful choral composition and choral orchestration-performance of Bill Whites lyric, In A Gutteral Age.