Zoë Larsen-Cumming (Babe Martin)

Where are you from?

I was born here in Tāmaki Makaurau but grew up in Australia and Switzerland. I moved back just before I turned nineteen.

Was there music around you when you were growing up? How?

‍ I was always surrounded by music growing up. I started playing piano on a dusty old upright that the landlord of the house my family lived in left in the lounge and never looked back. My two dads influenced my music taste a lot; when I was at home my stepdad listened to a lot of classical music, and when I was with my dad we always listened to 95bFM, so I had a healthy mix of genres which I think has really informed my sound.

When did you start making music?

‍ How has the music you make changed over time? I’ve always written and mucked around with songs, but Babe Martin started when I was in my early 20s. The writer’s block I’d had for a couple of years had started thawing and I was working at 95bFM, so there’s a great little community to bounce ideas off of. The Versoix EP came out last year, and the upcoming body of work has a slightly different vibe but is still rooted in piano (my instrument of choice from day 1) and honest, expressive lyrics.

Do you have any advice for this year's Smokefreerockquest participants, or young musicians in general?

Just give it a whack. Do it before you feel ready, otherwise you’ll be waiting forever. The best way to learn is just by jumping in!

You have played on some major stages and had some great media coverage of projects you've been involved in... is there any part of your musical journey that stands out as particularly special / a favorite moment?

My first gig will always be special, opening for Soft Bait at Whammy Bar at the end of 2022. I was so nervous, but heaps of my mates and my dad were there which gave me confidence. Then the first time I played with Kat Tomacruz on cello at the Hollywood Avondale’s Sunday Sessions was so lovely - her playing with me added such a deep and emotional layer to the songs which blew me away and still does. Also, the first time I heard my song play on 95bFM was very cool. I’m still incredibly flattered and stoked every time I hear one of my songs on the radio, especially on a station that means so much to me!

When you're writing, what do you start with? What is your process from beginning to end? I’m usually lyrics first. I love to read poetry and I like the process of free writing a bunch of random stuff and then sifting through it to boil it down to its key points. I like the exercise of working out how to say the most true thing with the least amount of words, but it still be beautiful and kind of poetic. The next phase is sometimes very intentional, like “I’ve written these lyrics and now I will work out the music to put it to.” Other times I’ll just be mucking around at my piano and humming and seeing what comes out. Other times I’ll be walking (I love a big walk) and humming to myself and recording into my phone. There’s kind of no one singular way it happens. When I feel its bones are finished I’ll show a friend or make a little demo on my midi keyboard. But the initial writing phase where the stakes are low and you’re just thinking about your life and what you want to say is my favorite.

How do you choose what songs to release? I try not to overthink it. I feel like if it’s made the cut in my brain of being shown to mates and recorded then I’ll want to put it out. I never want to be at a point where I’m thinking too hard about how it’ll be received because that’s not why I write, and if I got too in my head about it I’d never get anywhere.

What are two things you have learned along your journey, that you would tell yourself if you could go back in time? Reframe gigging from being an opportunity to impress to instead thinking about it as an offering. You’re offering some music and a part of yourself to an audience, and they can take it or leave it. And that is a gift! Don’t stress! You only get one life! Give it a crack! Get nervous! Have fun! Who cares! And, the recording and releasing phase of music always takes longer than you think. Try embrace the pace (I’m still working on this).

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