Billie Ray Martin

Billie Ray Martin first found fame in Electribe 101. Electribe split in 1992, and Billie released her first solo record in 1993 together with the techno duo Spooky, a cover of Throbbing Gristle's 'Persuasion' transformed into a dark electro-chanson. After that she contacted Grid, The and recorded the E.P. 'Four Ambient Tales', a wonderful trip into gentle ambient blues.

Billie's first solo album 'Deadline For My Memories' was filled with both catchy technopop and big ballads. 'Your Loving Arms', written with David Harrow (aka James Hardway) & remixed by Junior Vasquez, crossed over from the clubs to the radio to become a world-wide hit. 'Deadline For My Memories' and the following singles had a measure of chart success, but not on the scale of 'Your Loving Arms'. Magnet/EastWest refused to pay for recording sessions in Memphis for her follow up album. Artist/label relationships collapsed, and Billie was dropped.

Billie moved to New York, and split her time between working on her drum'n'bass Sonnenstahl project, writing and recording with Vinny Vero and Fred Jorio, and recording a (as yet unreleased) country/soul album with Jon Tiven. The Sonnenstahl recordings were released in 1998 against Billie's wishes.

Earlier that year Billie had signed a deal with React. In July 1999 she released a new single 'Honey', produced by Dave Ball and Ingo Vauk. The single - supported by remixes from Chicane and Deep Dish - topped dance charts. However by the time of its release Billie had left the label, after React refused to allot a marketing budget. It finally got a US release in early 2003, reaching #3 on the Billboard dance chart. The second React single 'Don't Believe A Word' remains unreleased.

Forming her own label Sonnenstahl Records, Billie spent 1999-2001 recording her second solo album, "18 Carat Garbage", finally achieving her dream to record in Memphis. London-based Lunatek started as producers, but most tracks were finished by Felix Huber of Plexiq.

Sessions in 2002 with Mikael Delta produced one single, 'I'm Not Keen', and several demos. One of these Martin/Delta tracks 'Je Regrette Everything' was included on DJ Hell's 'NY Muscle' album.

'No Brakes On My Rollerskates' was demoed with Kinky Roland then re-recorded with fellow Berliner Rainer Schirner. This release also marked the end of the Sonnenstahl label, and the beginning of a brand new one, Disco Activisto. 'Dead Again' (a track written during the Delta sessions) followed, reproduced as a moody acid house track. 2004 saw her collaborating with Slam, moving closer still to the dark electronic soul she pioneered with Electribe 101.

Billie is currently living in London again, writing and recording her 3rd solo album. Her new band project, a collaboration with Robert Solheim is named Opiates, The.

(partially adapted from texts by Fredrik Strage, Richard Smith and Jussi Pukkila)