The Grand Rapids band with an EP on the way debuted the title track for Local Spins on WYCE, which also aired new music by Overdrive Orchestra, Aspen Jacobsen, Dreas, Cole Hansen and more.
Post-Hardcore to Emo Influences: Martyr for Madison is about to release a new EP. (Courtesy Photo)
SCROLL DOWN FOR RADIO SHOW PODCAST
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
For the Grand Rapids band Martyr for Madison, “raw and honest lyrics” have always been the focus through its evolution from post-hardcore to a “lighter emo side” since 2013.
“That’s true for all the various sound transitions the band has gone through,” said guitarist Nathan Tyler Proctor. “Authenticity about the struggles we face is an important part of what gets us inspired to write.”
That inspiration drives the band’s upcoming new EP, “So I Guess this is Progress …,” officially being released on Dec. 16.
On Stage: The band plans more shows and more new music in 2023. (Courtesy Photo)
Melding influences from the likes of A Day to Remember, blink-182, Story of the Year, Incubus and Deftones, the new recording “stretches those influences further than before” and even touch on hip hop.
“We’ve always bounced between various rock and metal sounds. We take inspiration from classic post-hardcore bands like Taking Back Sunday or The Used to the more modern interations like A Day to Remember, classic metalcore, pop-punk, grunge and rock. They’re all a part of the sounds that inspire us.”
After releasing a few singles from the new five-song EP that was recorded in Proctor’s home studio and mixed and mastered by Nick Scott, Marty for Madison debuted the title track for this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE. View the lyric video for the single “Rose Colored” here and scroll down to listen to the title track and the full radio show podcast.
LYRIC VIDEO: “Rose Colored,” Martyr for Madison
The band – Proctor, drummer AC Grimes, singer Tom Soupal and bassist Ryan Rhoads – released its debut album, “Connections,” in 2016, followed by EPs in 2018 and 2020.
Performing live only a few times a year, “writing and releasing new music is always a priority for the band and occupies much more of our time than playing live does,” said Soupal.
The Upcoming EP
Still, Martyr for Madison aims to book dates for 2023 in addition to releasing a cover of New Jersey post-hardcore band Thursday’s “Autobiography of a Nation” in January.
“With the music coming out in 2023, we expect to return a bit to our roots – returning to some of the heavier sounds that originally connected us,” said Proctor.
In addition to debuting the new track from Martyr for Madison, this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE – staged on the final day of the community radio station’s Fall Fund Drive – also featured music by Overdrive Orchestra, Aspen Jacobsen, Dreas, Chain of Lakes, No Skull, Cole Hansen, Weezil Malone, Lisa Can’t Sing, Myron Elkins, Organissimo and The Sailor Kicks. Listen to the show below and donate online to the WYCE Fall Fund Drive at wyce.org.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE (10/28/22)
Copyright 2022, Spins on Music LLC
