Martin Aelred Colgan is a disruptor. Born in the raw streets of Glasgow and matured under the sunburnt Australian sky, he has his own sound influenced by legends, cultures, and the whispers of historical giants.
Music’s true essence is not in the creation of sound but in the spaces it occupies, the reactions it evokes, and the timeless tales it narrates. Martin’s serenade with the French virtuoso Manitas de Plata isn’t just a footnote in his career; it’s a guiding compass. Their association hints at a dance of old-world flamenco, tangled in classical strings, with a pop twist, all converging to redefine contemporary sounds.
But it’s not just about the sound with Colgan. His multilingual vocal forays into Italian, Spanish, and French are not just performances; they’re explorations. Each song is a voyage, a journey into the heart of the cultures these languages represent, and an invite for listeners to travel with him.
Yet, among the myriad of sounds and languages, there’s a cohesive thread: homage. “Aurora,” his latest single, is a strong example of just this. Bracing amidst the strings of his Spanish guitar, one can discern the spirit of art maestros such as Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, and Jacques Henri Lartigue. It’s a fascinating blend of auditory and visual artistry.
The single is an evolving canvas, with each string strummed sharing a blend of acoustic, classical, and pop. It doesn’t fit neatly into our pre-established boxes of genres, and perhaps that’s the point. Colgan seems to be challenging the establishment.