Martin Grech

Martin Grech (born November 14, 1982) is an English singer, songwriter and musician from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Career

He first achieved critical acclaim after his falsetto track, "Open Heart Zoo" (written when he was 15 years old) was featured on a Lexus advert on British television in 2002. A debut album of the same name followed. The accompanying UK tour saw Grech gain a larger following and further critical support.

In 2005, Grech released a second album, Unholy. As before, reviews were positive. The Unholy art work created by Stephen Kasner was hung as a backdrop to his concerts.

Grech split with Island Records shortly after the release of Unholy, but Grech's MySpace page announced the arrival of the new album, March of the lonely. The first single from the album, "The Heritage", was released as a CD single on 30 March 2007 on Grech's own record label, 'Martin Grech Songs' via the online label, Burning Shed. March of the Lonely took a completely different approach from his previous CDs, and was much more acoustic, more guitar-based, with a thinner texture and softer atmosphere. March of the Lonely was released on 4 June 2007 in the UK via Genepool Records.

After moving to California, Grech began working on new material under the name 'Meatsuit'. Demos on MySpace revealed a development of a heavier gothic sound, but in December 2008 Grech announced that his Meatsuit project had been terminated.

In April 2011, Grech released a collection of demos under the title 'Meta'. Also on his BandCamp page, Grech announced his fourth album would be titled "The Watcher".

February to May 2015 - Grech is currently working in the studio on his 4th album, with producer Peter Miles (record producer). The album working title is "Hush Mortal Core". Martin works with TesseracT guitarist Acle Kahney and drummer Jay Postones on the album. On November 15, 2015 new track called "Mothflower" was premiered on Daniel P. Carter's Radio 1 Rock Show.

Other work
In 2003 Grech was invited to play at the Jeff Buckley tribute concert by Buckley's mother Mary Guibert, at the Garage, Highbury alongside Ed Harcourt and Jamie Cullum. In 2005, Adam White sampled "Open Heart Zoo" for his trance track "Ballerina". 

As well as his solo releases, Grech has performed vocals on the album "First Chance I Get I'm Out of Here" (2005) by fellow Aylesbury musician, Zealey (John Zealey); tracks are "Progress Has Stopped" and "First Chance I Get I'm Out Of Here". He drummed for the four-piece rock band Ophelia Torah between early 2006 and April 2007.

Grech has also been involved in a collaboration project, organised by yourcodenameis:milo, called "Print Is Dead". Along with Bloc Party, Graham Coxon, Tom Vek, Reuben and Biffy Clyro, he worked with yourcodenameis:milo, in their recording studio, to write a song in one day. The track was called "We Hope You Are What You Think You Are".

On 18 September 2015 Grech was featured on the song "Hexes" by the British progressive metal band TesseracT on their third album "Polaris".

On 24 July 2015 Grech was featured on the debut self-titled GUNSHIP album on the song "Black Sun On The Horizon".

From 2015 to 2017 Martin Grech was a guitarist for the project Lionface, appeared on EP "Battle". EP also includes a remix made by Martin - "Revamp (Martin Grech Remix)".

On 5 April 2019 Grech was featured on the debut Guy Sigsworth album "STET" on the song "Aeolian".

In 2008 Grech created the film score to the Adam Mason film, "Blood River" (2009). He also wrote scores for "Luster" (2010) and "Junkie" (2012) movies.
Martin Grech's song "The Heritage" was used in Adam Mason's movie "The Devil's Chair".

Touring personnel

Musicians known to have toured with Martin include:

Alistair Hamer – Drums (Open Heart Zoo era) (Sweet Billy Pilgrim)
Anthony Bishop – Bass (Open Heart Zoo era) (Sweet Billy Pilgrim)
Pete Miles – Guitars & Keys (Open Heart Zoo & Unholy era)
Keith Lambert – Bass Guitar (Unholy era) (Vex Red)
Robin Guy – Drums (Unholy era) (Rachel Stamp, Bruce Dickinson, Sack Trick, Faith No More)
Tim Elsenburg – Guitars (Open Heart Zoo & Unholy era) (Sweet Billy Pilgrim)

Discography

Albums
 Open Heart Zoo (2002) – UK No. 54
 Unholy (2005)
 March of the lonely (2007)

Compliations
 Meta (2010)
 Meta: Volume 2 (2011)
 B-Sides, Demos, Live, Rare (2011)

EPs and Singles
 Dali (2002)
1 – Dali (5:40)
2 – Catch Up (3:47)
 Open Heart Zoo (Promo) (2002)
1 – Open Heart Zoo (Circus) (Radio Edit) (4:41)
2 – Open Heart Zoo (Album Version) (5:23)
 Open Heart Zoo (2002)
1 – Open Heart Zoo (Album Version) (5:21)
2 – Storm (5:09)
 Push (Promo) (2002)
1 – Push (Radio Edit) (3:56)
 Push (2003)
1 – Push (5:01)
2 – Bliss (1:38)
3 – Head Sty (5:25)
 I am Chromosome (Promo) (2004)
1 – I Am Chromosome
 Rest In Peace EP (2004)
1 – Mighty Hands (4:15)
2 – Gratefully Punished (4:26)
3 – Father And Mother Figure (2:48)
4 – Freedom, Warmth And Security (2:53)
 Guiltless (Promo) (2005)
1 – Guiltless (Album Version) (7:47)
2 – Guiltless (Radio Edit) (4:00)
 Guiltless (2005)
1 – Guiltless (7:41)
2 – Seed Of A Seed (3:29)
3 – Worthy (2:59)
 The Heritage' (2007)
1 – The Heritage (3:32)2 – Ashes Over Embers (5:39)''

References

External links
Official Fan Page and 'Guiltless' Forum

Category:1982 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from Aylesbury
Category:English singer-songwriters
Category:Progressive rock musicians
Category:Progressive metal musicians
Category:Ambient musicians
Category:21st-century English singers