Seat at the Table Episode Eight with Martello

From Dublin to the Depths: Martello Unveils the Story Behind Boat on the Water

At just 23, Dublin-born artist Martello is already proving himself as one of the most compelling new voices in Irish music. Blending acoustic-driven melodies with ambient electronic textures, his ethereal falsetto, earthy tones, and intricate guitar work create songs that feel both intimate and cinematic. A classically trained musician since the age of seven, he performed solo at Carnegie Hall at just 13, later headlined the Coláiste Lurgan stage in 2019 with over 100,000 views, and delivered a standout set at The Ruby Sessions in 2024. Following his debut release earlier this year, Martello now readies his third single, Boat on the Water, out September 26th, drawing on influences from Bon Iver to RY X as he continues to push folk into new territory.

Boat on the Water is your third single, what is the story behind it, and what drew you to write this song?

The song was written after I came back from a gap year in Spain during university. That year meant leaving behind certain relationships and a place that had become really important to me. It was actually the first song I wrote when I returned home—just me processing the aftermath of those memories.

Your music fuses acoustic-driven folk with ambient electronic textures. How do you strike that balance between organic warmth and modern soundscapes?

I’m still figuring out where my sound sits, to be honest. Like most artists, it’s always evolving, but I try not to drift too far from the core elements that make my music mine. Right now I’m keeping things quite organic—writing and recording in a stripped-back way—but I often have to stop myself from layering in big synths or even an orchestra.

Listeners often describe your sound as cinematic. Was that intentional from the start, or something that emerged naturally as you developed your style?

Something that’s happened naturally really, as I've got more experience making music, I feel like I’m falling into the sync world and it’s something that would work well on screen. Hopefully in the future my music will be in some pretty cool projects. 

You’ve cited Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, and James Vincent McMorrow as influences, how have they shaped your songwriting and production choices?

I think they are probably my influences because I see bits of myself in them. For example, I’ve a background in classical singing and church music so the harmonies that come naturally to me are similar to the likes of fleet foxes, whereas lyrically I’m hugely inspired by Bon Iver and, that coupled with the rawness of early James Vincent mcmorrow is just something that gets me every time.

Growing up in Dublin, how has the city’s music scene influenced your artistic journey?

Martello as a project has only really existed for the past year, so it still feels quite new. But I’ve been writing music for much longer. A lot of my roots come from my choral background in Dublin. From the age of seven, I sang with the Palestrina Choir for eight years, which gave me some incredible opportunities—performing in London, Budapest, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome for Pope Benedict XVI, and even singing three solos at Carnegie Hall in New York when I was 13. Outside of that, my influences came from just going to gigs with friends in Dublin and realising how vast the world of music really is.

From Carnegie Hall at 13 to Coláiste Lurgan and The Ruby Sessions, you’ve had some incredible live experiences. How have these shaped your confidence and approach as a performer?

Yeah so much so. It’s still normal for me to get nervous before shows but I definitely feel confident and now I'm well able for it. The choir background really drilled into me about maintaining high standards and earning my stripes if you will but it is still pretty different to the stuff I do these days. Playing instruments in my sets is something I’m still sort of adjusting to.

Looking back on your debut release earlier this year, in what ways do you feel your music has evolved by the time you reached Boat on the Water?

Quite a lot has changed. My first two releases were written three or four years ago but only came out this year, and so much happened for me in between. Boat on the Water, for example, is already over two years old. Back then, I was listening more to artists like Novo Amor, SYML, and Lowswimmer, but over time my references have shifted closer to those I mentioned earlier, while still carrying some of that influence.

Your voice, especially your falsetto, has become a defining feature of your sound. Did you always lean into it, or was it something you had to grow comfortable with?

It’s definitely been a journey. Transitioning from a boy soprano to a male voice is a strange phase, but I’ve learned to really love where my voice has landed. I think it brings something unique to my sound.

If Boat on the Water were the soundtrack to a film scene, what would that scene look like?

I haven’t done a music video yet, so that’s definitely on the horizon. If I were to make one for this track, I imagine someone rowing alone out to sea, heading toward a distant land of the past in an attempt to reconnect with a lover. That was the kind of imagery I had in mind when writing the song.

With Boat on the Water, Martello continues to carve out a sound that’s as immersive as it is heartfelt, a blend of folk tradition and modern experimentation that feels distinctly his own. At just 23, his journey has already taken him from Carnegie Hall to Dublin’s most beloved stages, and now toward a future that looks set to resonate far beyond Ireland.

Boat on the Water is out September 26th, and one thing is clear, Martello isn’t just making songs, he’s creating tracks that tell stories, and this is only the beginning.