Billie Marten Ascends to New Heights at August Hall
Ashley Mauldin
I remember the first time that I listened to Billie Marten: sitting in the dark of my room in April 2020, the soft yellow glow of Christmas lights over my desk blinking before me. I was transported into a new world of music, with Marten introducing me to the intersection between acoustic folk and indie. In that moment, my small (thanks to COVID) planet seemed to expand beyond the confines of my home, and I discovered how music can truly heal the soul. From that moment on, countless playlists of mine have been marked with Marten’s eclectic and moody vocals on songs like “Cursive” and “Blue Sea, Red Sea.” When I learned that the British singer-songwriter was coming to San Francisco on a chilly October night, I knew I had to be there.
August Hall was filled with a mixed crowd of college-aged couples and folk-loving adults around my parents’ age. The chatter died down as Marten made her way to the stage, tuning and testing her guitars before jumping straight into her set, starting with “This is How We Move.” Billie was just by her lonesome, using a stripped-down atmosphere to entrance the crowd, without breaks in between the first three songs. “Just Us” and “Willow” were some of my favorites from her set, as she sang flawless riffs and used her independence on stage to her advantage. Her vocals were simple yet restorative; her soft and gentle voice bringing the crowd together into a sort of musical peace.
Marten giggled as she heard laughter amongst the crowd, noting that she wanted to be involved with the excitement of the night as she opened up the show for Half Moon Run, a rock band that exemplifies the same autumn vibe as Marten. The artist knew exactly what she was doing, taking requests from the crowd as loud cheers erupted for “Vanilla Baby,” one of her most popular songs. The crowd murmured the words to the song alongside her as they were entranced in the world of music Marten created. Finishing her small set off with “Drop Cherries,” a song that is all about giving yourself to someone, doing so much for them even when you don’t know why. This comes off her latest record Drop Cherries, Marten’s first album that she has been able to both produce and write for. As her set came to a close, Marten noted that she was excited that music was able to “bring us together, even when the world around us is so horrible, we can share the joy of music.” While she did admit that her stating her love for music might have been cliche, I agree with the sentiment wholeheartedly. It is so rare to find a break from the chaos of current events inside of the world we live in but just for a portion of a night, Marten was able to do so.
Billie transported me once again to the twinkling yellow lights under which I first discovered her music three years ago. Her vocals were indulgent and enthralled me, and as I made my way back to the BART station her songs echoed through my ears. Seeing Marten was a wonderful reminder of an artist that made me discover one of my favorite genres today, and I’m so lucky to have experienced it.
