“It’s been a while.” Those are the first words Marty Rivers, probably Malta’s biggest country music artist, tells me when we meet to chat about what he’s been up to.
I’ve never really accepted musical boundaries. There are too many sounds and styles that inspire me
Although it has been a while since we last met face to face, I know he’s been working on new music, recording a new album with seasoned Nashville musicians and invading several radio charts (and airwaves) all over Europe as well as in the US.
The contented look on his face tells me he’s in a good place right now, and he has every reason to be. A few days ago, Rivers released his third album, Midnight Sky, through US label Amber Star, off which the lead radio single Run Angel Run has already done pretty well, getting to number eight on the Hotdisc European Country Top 40.
“Hotdisc is one of the most updated radio charts, so I’m obviously very pleased about that,” Rivers tells me, adding that even as we speak, a second track off the album, Addict For Your Love, is steadily climbing up the chart too.
More than that, however, Rivers is on tenterhooks to show me a review of the new album that appeared on Country Music People magazine.
“I got a call the other week from Stuart (Cameron, of Hotdisc),” he says beaming.
“I knew he’d sent my album to various radio stations and magazines for their comments, but he said he was holding a copy of the latest issue of CMP, and Duncan Warwick had reviewed Midnight Sky.”
Rivers explains that Cameron sends out hundreds of CDs to radios and publications on a regular basis without expecting any to be reviewed, so the fact that his album was featured and reviewed on the same page as Dolly Parton’s comeback album is something of an achievement.
“Whether people know Marty Rivers or not, chances are a lot of them will read the Midnight Sky review because it’s right next to Dolly’s.”
Further to that Warwick, one of the leading reviewers in country music and known to be a harsh and selective critic, gave Midnight Sky a three-and-a-half star rating, “just one star less than Dolly’s album”.
Warwick’s review is obviously a feather in Rivers’ cap, but there are other recent events that have also played a part in boosting Rivers’ international profile, such as topping the God’s Country International Music charts, for example.
“Last year, we released The Lord is Comin’ Soon on Tennessee label Glory Train Records. It’s actually an old song off the first album, but Joe (Spiteri, his long-standing co-writer) felt very strongly that the song deserved not to be left on the shelf, so to speak, and we decided to go ahead and release it.” Spiteri was right. In next to no time, the song was receiving considerable airplay on dedicated radio stations abroad and gracing the upper reaches of other charts.
“Besides topping the God’s Country charts, the song also topped the International Gospel Charts and got to number three in the US Gospel Top 80.”
The fact that one of Rivers’ country numbers also caught the eye of the gospel audience speaks tomes about the extent of his music’s appeal.
“I’ve never really accepted musical boundaries,” he explains.
“There are too many sounds and styles that inspire me,” he continues, adding that it’s the excitement of blending different elements that keeps the music fresh and interesting. As was the case on previous album Out Of The Blue, his interest in other styles is well-reflected on Midnight Sky, too.
“This album gave me the opportunity to branch out, which has given the songs a very diverse individual flavour.”
The title track, for example, was the result of Rivers’ seeking to write a danceable song that would appeal to a mainstream audience without losing its country signature.
“I also wanted to include the accordion, which I’d never had on any of my previous songs.”
The result was a track that not only fulfilled Rivers’ aspirations but was also picked up by the President of the European Country Music Association Rafel Corbi, who choreographed an entire dance sequence around the song which has since become a favourite at line-dancing events.
Elsewhere, the album features prominent Bluegrass on the spiritual Power of Prayer, and Cajun influences surface on the title track and especially on the upbeat Louisiana Girl.
“I go through different phases of listening to music, and lately, I’ve been listening to a lot more traditional country. The contemporary country scene seems to be relying too much on pop-orientated, over-produced music, and it’s made me go back to the roots, to the sound of traditional instruments such as the pedal steel guitar and the fiddle, and that’s obviously been an inspiration on this album.”
He’s also been looking back through his own repertoire, at least for a couple of numbers on the new album.
“I’d been juggling the thought of re-recording Queen Of My Heart and Run Angel Run off the first album for a long time,” he admits, confiding that the debut album was recorded with the equipment and budget available at the time.
“I was pleased with it back then of course, but given the means and technology available to me now I was able to realise the different arrangements that would be playing in my mind whenever I heard those early recordings.”
Having an experienced team of Nashville musicians on board and, in Gary Carter, one of the best producers in the world’s country capital on his team must have helped too.
“Most certainly,” he laughs.
“The musicians are all established in Nashville and beyond, and Gary is an amazing person and a great producer who knows exactly what is needed for each song. I mustn’t forget David Vella either, whose input was also very helpful.”
One of the songs that caught my attention on the new album is Lora Mae, which has more of a rock backbone. “It is, in fact, a country rock song”, he confirms.
“It’s an area I would like to explore further because I think it could bring me a new audience, but for the time being, I’ve decided to keep a balance and not focus on any one particular direction”.
The diversity has unsurprisingly drawn different reactions from different critics. “It can be confusing at times,” Rivers admits.
“I’m getting so many responses citing different ‘favourite’ tracks from critics and fans that it makes it harder for me to choose which song to release to the radio.”
To his credit, he’s devised a system that alleviates the burden of confusion. “I’ve put up a chart on the wall listing all the tracks, and I put a star next to each one that gets a mention… the ones with most stars get first priority; it’s like having my own personal song festival.”
Midnight Sky is available online from CD Baby and iTunes, from local record stores or by contacting the artist directly at www.martyrivers.com.
bugeja.michael@gmail.com