Today, we had the pleasure of speaking with Martay, the talented singer-songwriter known for her unique sound that blends modern Dance beats with soulful vocals and elements of Soul and R&B. Martay has recently released a new remix of her original track ‘Long Way Home’, featuring a Future Bass twist produced by the talented Kustom; with a career spanning more than 10 years, Martay has been honing her craft and creating uplifting and inspiring music that connects with her followers. In our interview, we spoke with her about her collaboration with Kustom, her creative process behind the remix, and her overall artistic vision and direction.
Hi Martay! How are you?
Hello, I’m doing great! Every day above ground is a great day to make a difference!
How did the collaboration with Kustom come about for the remix of «Long Way Home»?
That’s a great question. I’ve known Kustom for over 10 years now. I don’t even remember how we met – I probably saw him online and sent him an email or something. But, yeah, he helped me produce one of my songs called ‘Laugh’ back when I first got started and I still collab with him to this day. So, naturally, when I knew I wanted to create a dance remix for my song ‘Long Way Home’, I knew I had to call him. We discussed what we wanted it to sound like and the rest was history. I’m grateful for him and his work ethic. He’s one of the best producers I know without a doubt.
What inspired you to remix your own track and explore a Future Bass sound?
Honestly, I have a srtong desire to not only create R&B music, but Dance music that allows people to have fun and leads them to Love. Period. I think we just need more positive AND fun music and so, I’m on a mission right now to make that happen! haha.
Can you walk us through the process of creating this remix with Kustom?
Absolutely! I reached out to him through email, which is how we normally communicate and I explained what I was trying to do with ‘Long Way Home’. He let me know he was down to help me make it happen and he began brainstorming. Once he sent back a sample of what he was thinking, I sent him a reference track to refine the vision and then he made the remix come to life! He’s truly a genius, so I didn’t have to go overboard with pointing him in the right direction. Making music like this is in his veins! Truly!
How did you work with Kustom to bring your signature sound to the remix?
Honestly, I brought the soulful vocals and voice that I have – which is definitely its own distinct sound and he brought the Future Bass vibes… and that’s truly how we both left our mark on this track. Sometimes, the best way to leave your “mark” is to just be exactly who God made you to be. That’s exactly what we did and I think it shows.
What was the most challenging aspect of creating this remix compared to the original track?
Honestly, I felt like the remix was incredibly simple to make. Like I said earlier, Kustom was in his vein and I was in mine… so it hardly felt like work. It felt like we were simply painting with our favorite colors and brushes. It’s not always like this when we collaborate, but that’s how it was this time. I think another huge component is that I’m not too picky when it comes to collaborating with others. I’m like, “You create your part and if I hate it, I’ll let you know, but if I even somewhat like it – we’re probably going to go with that… ‘cause I like it and I’m not a perfectionist. Period”.
What do you hope listeners take away from the new remix?
Man, I just hope that people do two things: have a good time listening to the musicality this song offers and let the lyrics wash over them. This song concept was originally my husband’s – he gave it to me to produce of course, so I’m not stealing it, I promise! He really wanted a song written that captured the idea of being out with that special person of your dreams, but you’re not ready to go home… so you take the long way home with them to make your time with them last as long as possible. It’s that simple, but also draws on “taking the long way home FOREVER” which is a metaphor of sorts for wanting to be with that person forever… you know, get married, live life to the fullest with them, etc. That’s a gift. And I think that’s the message of the song. Love is a gift from God that truly deserves to be celebrated. We have to do more of that!
How does this remix fit in with your overall artistic vision and direction?
That’s a good question! I’ve always wanted to create a song that sounds like this. I’m a huge fan of Martin Garrix and the track that he did with Bebe Rehxa… and I feel like that’s the sonic essence I’ve always wanted to be a part of! I’ve always wanted to make Dance music and I think I’m just finally going for it. I’m just like – forget who says what! Just go for it already!
What was your favorite part of working with Kustom on this project?
He’s incredibly innovative and ahead of his time. And, honestly, he’s just so kind and easy-going. He’s a joy to work with and whenever I do, I feel like my music gets lifted and elevated to another level I could have never imagined.
Can you share any exciting upcoming projects or collaborations with us?
Yes, for sure! So, I have this goal of releasing one song per month this year. Ha,ha! It’s wild, but here I am and it’s happening. So, that is kind of its own project. You’ll hear a lot of music from me… a lot of Dance tracks that I’ll also perform acoustically. I love a good acoustic rendition of a Dance song. And I enjoy being versatile. After successfully releasing a song every month this year, I think I want to work on an album. But I don’t want to get too ahead of myself. I’d honestly love to collab with some incredible DJs in the Dance scene. Who knows? I’m in this for the long run though. My true goal is to be prolific – bearing much fruit consistently with my music. If I can do that, I win.
How has your sound and approach to music evolved throughout your career, and how does this remix fit in with that evolution?
Oh man, it’s just gotten better! Like, a lot better! haha! When I first got started, I was just so hungry to do this and did it at any cost. I’m grateful I had talented people around me to guide me, like producers and musicians though. And after a while, hanging with them and touring a little bit here and there, I started becoming an excellent musician myself with a load more confidence in the vision God’s given me and my craft. Also, over this past decade of doing music my voice has developed and I’m just taking risks that I would have never dreamed of taking back then. It’s a good time for me! It feels good to be skilled at my craft, but also still learning a ton. You never stop learning in this industry and artform. It never stops and I love that. There’s no ceiling and for someone like me, that means I’ll be making music and pushing the boundaries for another 50 plus years! Haha.
As our interview comes to an end, it’s clear that Martay’s passion and dedication to music is unstoppable. With her latest release ‘Long Way Home (Kustom Remix)’, Martay continues to explore new sonic territories while staying true to her signature sound and vision; we can expect to hear much more from her as she continues to release new music and collaborate with other talented artists in the Electronic Dance music scene. Thank you for your time, Martay, and we wish you all the best on your musical journey.
Listen to ‘Long Way Home (Kustom Remix)’ now
Martay Online