Billie Marten announces new album with politically-charged lead single "Betsy"

"Betsy" was originally written in 2017 with Marten's longtime collaborator Rich Cooper, arriving today as the first taster of her forthcoming second full-length.

On the new single, Marten says, "It was the first time I’d tried jamming with someone and had the pressure of writing instant, spontaneous lyrics. They poured out actually, it’s about confronting a politician, no one in particular, but sort of ridiculing them. I liked the idea of using number nine instead of 10. I didn’t want the big political stance, and I didn’t want to single out a specific human, it’s representing parliament as a whole institution really. The song turns the wise old politician into a child, infantilising them takes away their power. I think most people feel a bit unsafe with it all, because it’s impossible relate to these characters. No one shows any personal weakness or empathy, and if they do, they’ve already cracked."

Recorded in Bath on four track tape, Feeding Seahorses By Hand will be the 19-year-old's follow-up to her 2016 debut record, Writing of Blues and Yellows. "I feel like I’m more awake to society than I was aged 15," Marten says. "That’s bound to happen. This record is definitely not as much about me. It’s about my view on other people, other things."

Tracklist:

1. Betsy
2. Mice
3. Cartoon People
4. Blue Sea, Red Sea
5. Blood Is Blue
6. Vanilla Baby
7. Toulouse
8. She Dances
9. Bad Apple
10. Boxes
11. Anda
12. Fish