Martin Larose, the renowned musician, and owner of Le Studio Septentrio from Quebec’s picturesque Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region is set to enthrall music lovers once again with the release of his latest single, the classic Rush cover “The Spirit Of Radio” – available now.
This musical rendition is a captivating cover of the iconic Rush classic and a testament to Martin’s exceptional talent and unique approach to making music. “The Spirit Of Radio” which coincides with the upcoming launch of his album, ‘Hek of a Ride,’ co-written with lyricist Nath Farley, is scheduled to be released in late 2023.
“The Spirit Of Radio” is a demonstration of Martin’s deep-rooted admiration for Rush, a band he has been a fan of since 1980. Martin, who had never seen Rush perform live until 2013, was finally able to experience the band’s incredible live performance. However, the show was abruptly halted by a thunderstorm and despite being soaked to the bone, this experience left an indelible mark on Martin, fueling his passion to pay homage to Rush in his own creative way.
“I’m usually reluctant to cover other people’s material and prefer to work on my own stuff,” proclaims Martin. “However, I had this idea in the back of my mind for quite some time and wanted to release it alongside my new album, ‘Hek of a Ride,’ as it showcases another facet of my musical style.”
Influenced by legends such as Michael Hedges, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Howe, Chris Whitley, and Pete Townshend, Martin developed an original sound combining tapping, atmospheric ambience, and intricate gameplay. His exceptional talent and technique earned him recognition, with his work being featured in the prestigious magazine, Guitar World.
“I’ve been playing the harp guitar for 12 years now. I’m also fortunate to own an Allan Beardsell HG1 HarpGuitar, which is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba,” says Martin. “It’s a wonderful instrument built by a tremendously talented Canadian luthier, so it’s a Canadian guitar played by a Canadian guitarist interpreting a Canadian song.”
His contributions to the regional music scene extend beyond the stage, having served as the producer and host of the television show “Studio Boréal.” Recently, he and his wife directed the documentary, “Les Cordes Insensibles,” providing an intimate look into the world of independent music. Martin was also instrumental in training and recording Québec’s singing sensation Jeanick Fournier who won last year’s edition of Canada’s Got Talent.
