BILLIE RAY MARTIN: PRESS
Recording Magazin 6-09 interview
Billie
Ray Martin (geb. in Hamburg), wird als “Queen of Electronic Soul”
betitelt. Als Sängerin und Frontfrau des Londoner Deep House Projekts
“Electribe 101” landete sie mehrere internationale Hits, bevor sie sich
im Alleingang mit “Your Loving Arms” (all-time-classic im House-Techno)
plötzlich auf Platz 1 der Charts wiederfand. Derzeit arbeitet BRM an
diversen Produktionen und nahm erst kürzlich gemeinsam mit Stephen
Mallinder (Cabaret Voltaire) und den DJs Märtini Brös den Titel “The
Crackdown” auf. Recording Magazin wollte wissen, wie aktuelle
Vocal-Produktionsmethoden aus der Sicht eines Künstlers wahrgenommen
werden.
RecMag: Mrs. Martin, obwohl Sie sicher intonieren, wird Ihnen nachgesagt, keinerlei Berührungsängste mit Melodyne zu haben?
B.R.Martin:
Melodyne benötige ich nur in den seltensten Fällen, wenn ich etwa eine
fehlende Note von irgendwoher zusammenbauen muss. Aber, es ist ein
super Tool. Es verändert die Qualität des Originalsounds nicht. Das ist
mir immer das wichtigste. Tuning kam bei mir früher deshalb nie in
Frage.
RecMag: Nutzen Sie selbst eher klassische oder synthetisch klingende Tools um Ihren Vocals im Mix den letzten Schliff zu geben?
B.R.Martin:
Beides. Generell ist alles erlaubt. Bei ‚Undisco Me‘ finden sich ca. 10
PlugIns auf meinen Vocals. Ich wollte roboterartige Tönungen, ohne aber
die Originalstimme zu verlieren. Also habe ich immer mehr Effekte
draufgegeben. Besonders hervorgetan hat sich in diesem Zusammenhang
“Revolver” von McDSP. Ein fantastisches Tool für Vocals.
RecMag:
Sie gelten als anspruchsvoll und beherrschen selber so manchen
Produktionstrick. Bei Remixen wird oft schonungslos mit Vocals
umgegangen – ist das Fluch oder Segen?
B.R.Martin: Früher habe ich
sie als Fluch empfunden. Jetzt bin ich ein wenig offener für
Experimente, was die Bearbeitung meiner Stimme angeht. Man erlebt ja
doch sehr oft freudige Überraschungen.
RecMag: Haben Sie als Sängerin Unterschiede in der Arbeitsweise deutscher und anglo-amerikanischer Produzenten ausmachen können?
B.R.Martin:
In der Arbeitsweise nicht unbedingt. Aber Amerikaner verwenden oft
genau das Equipment, welches mir zusagt. So sind als Kopfhörer die
Fostex T20 Standard in den USA. Hier kennt die keiner. Für
Vocal-Aufnahmen sind das für mich die besten und einzigen Headphones,
denn Bässe kommen definiert rüber und der Frequenzgang im oberen
Mittenbereich ist leicht angehoben. In den USA kommt ausserdem als
Mikrofon das Sony C800G oft zum Einsatz, mein Favorit.
Fotos: Wilschewski, Universal, Warner, Billie Ray Martin; Grafiken: Sash
Billie Ray Martin - Vertont Roman Polanskis »Repulsion«, Track mit Hell
by Walter W. Wacht on Spex 06 May 2009
Roman Polanski EkelSchon vor vier Jahren kooperierten Helmut Geier alias (DJ) Hell und die Soul- & House-Ikone Billie Ray Martin miteinander: Die Single »Je Regrette Everything« sang die heute in Berlin lebende Chanteuse für Hell ein, nun wiederholte sich die Zusammenarbeit: die japanische Version von Hells jüngstem Doppel-Album »Teufelswerk« – unsere aktuelle Platte der Ausgabe – enthält mit »Silver Machine« ein neues BRM-Gesangsstück, verziert von klöppelnden und blubbernden Sounds aus Hells Synthesizer-Fabrik. Erhältlich ist das »Silver Machine« für ›uns‹ Westeuropäer zum Beispiel über iTunes, zudem kann man die übrigen Kollaborationen zu »Teufelswerk« mit u.a. Bryan Ferry und P. Diddy derzeit in Gänze streamen.
Am Freitag wird Billie Ray Martin in Berlin auftreten, dann mit einer Live-Vertonung der Stummfilmvariante von Roman Polańskis »Ekel« (siehe Foto/Still).
In der Box+Bar des Deutschen Theaters Berlin wird Polańskis Thriller (im englischen Original »Repulsion« betitelt) von 1965 dann neben eigenen Stücken von Billie Ray Martin mit Cover-Versionen von u.a. den Carpenters und The Velvet Underground ›illustriert‹, begleitet wird der Auftritt von Stereo MCs-Session-Musiker Clifford Slapper, der Eintritt kostet 12 Euro.
Billie Ray Martin vertont Roman Polanskis "Ekel" am DT, 8.5.
by Kathleen Fietz on siegessaeule 05 May 2009
Spannendes Projekt: Die „Queen of the Electronic Soul“ Billie Ray Martin vertont Roman Polanskis Filmklassiker „Ekel“ im Deutschen Theater
In den 80er-Jahren war die in Hamburg geborene Künstlerin Billie Ray Martin Frontfrau von House-Acts wie S’Xpress und Electribe 101. Mit ihrem Pophit „Your loving arms“ landete sie auf Platz eins der internationalen Charts. Danach verschrieb sich die House-Ikone mit der ausdrucksvollen Soulstimme unterschiedlichen Richtungen elektronischer Musik, arbeitete mit Kollegen wie Spooky, The Grid oder DJ Hell. Ihr neues Projekt ist die Band The Opiates; ein Album wird in Kürze unter dem Titel „Hollywood under the Knife“ erscheinen. Nachdem Billie Ray Martin viele Jahre in London gelebt und gearbeitet hat, ist sie jetzt zurück in Deutschland, lebt in Berlin und will hier neben ihren Band- und Soloprojekten als Electro-DJane arbeiten. Nun kommt sie mit dem Soundtrack zu „Ekel“, Roman Polanskis Filmklassiker von 1965, ans Deutsche Theater. Mit eigenen Electro-Titeln und Coverversionen von Stücken Liza Minnellis oder The Velvet Undergrounds vertont Billie Ray Martin die Geschichte einer jungen schüchternen Frau – gespielt von der damals noch unbekannten Catherine Deneuve (Foto vorn) –, die in ihrer Wohnung Opfer ihrer paranoiden Wahnvorstellungen und Psychosen wird und einen Freund und den Vermieter umbringt. Polanski hatte Sympathie mit der Hauptfigur und zeichnete sie als zerbrechliche Heldin und nicht als männermordende Irre.
Billie Ray Martin vertont Roman Polanskis „Ekel“, 8.5., 22.30 Uhr,
QX MAGAZINE No. 735 - 09 April 2009 Interview by Stewart Who?
Billie Ray MaRtin’s haunting, yet
soulful voice soothed many a chill out party in the early ‘90s when
she fronted the seminal ambient band electribe 101. as a solo artist,
she enjoyed an international hit with ‘your loving arms’ and then
went to Memphis where she recorded the critically acclaimed ’18
Carat Garbage’. She’s written a music column for QX, performed an
avant-garde project at the iCa and forged a career in DJing. She’s
one of the most intelligent, unique and principled artists to have
graced the charts… and this Sunday 12th april is performing at
loaded at area. as she’s been going to men-only gay clubs since she
was a young girl, Billie Ray Martin is bound to feel right at home…
By Stewart Who?
This if the first public PA you’ve
done for a while, where have you been?
No, I do them all over the
world…constantly. The first three months of this year alone has
taken me from South America to New York,
Switzerland, Italy, Spain and many other countries. The rest of the
year sees me in Japan, Berlin... So, no me dear, not the first public
PA. I’m not Greta Garbo. I live slow and die old and will annoy
everyone throughout the process as much as possible.
What inspired you to start DJing?
Not hearing the records I wanted to
hear- the electronic music that might be dancefloorbanging-as-can-be,
but also has soul and something to say… So I started my own club
night and it all took off from there. Luckily, I DJ all ‘round the
world now. It’s just taken off in 2009 for some reason. I’m
thrilled.
What’s been your most nightmarish
DJing experience?
Ohhh…a ‘commercial’ club in the
city centre of Liverpool, filled with page 3 look-a-likes with handbags. The conversation with the
club owners went like this:
Them: so your agency tells us you play
funky vocal house
Me: Erm, no.
Them: What do you play then?
Me: electro.
Them: Oh, shit.
Me: Oh, dear.
Them: Oh well go on anyway and let’s
see how it goes.
I go on - room clears in minutes.
Them: STOP!
They paid. I went back to London.
Is it strange being so accessible to
clubbers as a DJ in a way that as a performer you are not?
No, it’s everything I’ve wanted.
Not to have to dress up like a clown, but to just go on as you are. I
mean, if I feel fab, I still dress to the max... but I don’t have
to. Then I get to enjoy a room full of smiling people. Bob’s your uncle.
Do you take requests?
No!
Do you have a rider as either a DJ or a
performer?
Sure you have the technical rider,
ensuring that you are physically able to play. But both as performer
and DJ, I don’t have a glamour rider. I will have one when I’m
world famous though. Then I’ll rival Grace Jones.
As an artist, do you feel threatened by
illegal downloading?
Difficult question. First I would say
no, ‘cause I’m rock ‘n’ roll, me. But now with Spotify
everyone will get ripped off and nobody will get
paid ever again. Everyone can grab the world’s catalogue for free
from there, so it’s fucked everything up for everyone. So now it’s
progressed to a stage where I don’t even know which outlet to
choose for my tracks to prevent the worst. So, I’m sitting on some
finished album and single projects at the moment and I’m not sure
what to do.
When was the last time you cried?
Saturday morning, when I turned the
computer on and found an email from an action alert group, telling
the story of a single baby seal out of 25,000 that had survived the
previous 3 days massacres. It had hid in a cave. I went nuts and
cried for hours. Oh, and listening to the new Pet Shop Boys album.
It’s too good for words.
Do you remember the first gay club you
went to and what it was like?
Yes, I was a teeny German girl of 13 or
so in Hamburg and I felt proud that they’d let me into this
men-only club. I felt ‘part of the scene’. Inside were all these
gorgeous David Bowie look-alike gay boys and I fancied them. I don’t
think I realised that I had no chance and what it was all about…
the gay thing.
Berlin has some pretty outrageous gay
clubs - have you ever been shocked while performing, DJing or
partying?
Actually, I’ve not DJ’d much yet in
Berlin, as I’ve just moved back here, so I can’t really say. I’m
due to play in a few weeks, though, a few times. I’ve taken on a
residency at the new Dice club, which is going to be so amazing.
Otherwise, I mean, I’ve been to Berghain*, where they all take
drugs and the rest of it but it hasn’t shocked me. Just the usual
stuff.
You have a reputation as a strong and
opinionated artist, have the years mellowed you?
On the contrary. I used to be unsure of
how to react to the world’s challenges, so I was a bit offish, as they say, a lot of times. Now, I
feel I know who I am and it’s made me secure in voicing my opinions
and my needs, with no apology needed.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
I’m a twitter addict.
What makes you angry?
A lot of things. Canadians killing
25,000 baby seals in three days. What fuckers! Also the Chinese
continue skinning alive millions of cats and dogs for ‘our’ tacky
fur trimmed anoraks and coats. I see the beautiful faces of the dogs
and cats in my mind on people’s hoods and collars all over the
world and I can’t believe that the buyer doesn’t know or care
what happened to that animal. And for THIS? It’s so appalling. And
yes, it makes me angry. There’s a major petition going on as we
speak. Google and you’ll find it. And please, please buy no fur
trimmings or any other kind of fur.
Is it true you grew up in quite a
sleazy part of town? How do you think that influenced you?
The Reeperbahn, the red light district
of Hamburg. Not sleazy… glamour, darling. At least in those days.
Now it’s junkies and blowjobs for 3 quid. Back then it was a world
city with money and high life to offer.
When was the last time you got drunk?
Some months ago, actually. I rarely get
drunk anymore. It’s not worth the suffering the next day. However,
when I do go for it, I go for it.
They say it’s
disappointing/terrifying to meet your heroes, how as it working with
Ann Peebles?
A spiritual thing almost, she is such a
sweetheart. She walked in with some lavender, which she had brought
in a tissue for me, as she knew I had some kind of ailment - I can’t
remember what it was. To then see her get in the vocal booth and sing
the first notes and ask me if it was ok, I felt like a worm. Like I
should say: you’re asking me?
If you could work with anybody in the
world, who would it be?
I’ve just worked with Stephen
Mallinder from Cabaret Voltaire, which was one of my other dreams
come true, actually. We’re singing together on the song ‘The
Crackdown’ which will be my next release. It’s called: Billie Ray
Martin: The Crackdown Project feat. Maertini Broes and Stephen
Mallinder. It was unreal to hear our voices together as I used to
stalk him as a toddler… but my one dream is to work with the Pet
Shop Boys.
In the recent HMV campaign, you bigged
up Pet Shop Boys and Chris Lowe bigged up ‘Put Your Loving Arms
Around Me’ – surely that’s a good sign
I wish. I don’t think they’re into
the idea. They do like me a lot and I’m proud to say that sometimes
I’m in touch with them but...
What’s your opinion on musical award
ceremonies like The BRITS, Grammys...
They are as obsolete and false as major
record labels. They shouldn’t really exist anymore, but the
‘industry’ - the one that’s actually vanished but pretends to
thrive - needs tools to convince the world that they’re happening
and thriving and selling millions. It makes me sick and I couldn’t
ever watch a minute of any of it.
As a DJ you’re probably spending more
time in nightclubs than before. What’s the key to surviving life
under mirror balls and on sticky floors?
I guess it’s keeping your health in
check… and never drink alcohol while spinning. You think you’re
great whilst making stupid mistakes, like taking the wrong CD out of
the player and wondering why there’s silence.
Junior Vasquez did a number of BRM
mixes, why was he your favourite?
His sound did really work for the
times. He did really have a skill. I think the good thing about the
American DJs is that they can handle a vocal. They love vocals and
they don’t mess about. I’m just about to work with Morales and
Knuckles and I feel now is the right time to bring some updated old
school back.
Did you and Junior ever hang out
together… and is he a bigger diva than you?
We met a couple of times. He was very
nice.
What’s you best memory of living in
London?
As a young ‘un in the mid ‘80s,
when first leaving home, meeting people like the Sex Pistols and the
Psychedelic Furs on Oxford Street. I thought I had arrived. And
wherever that was, it was the right place. Who do we have the
pleasure to meet now: Girls Aloud?
What is the most important lesson that
life has taught you?
I’m not sure at this point. Keep
hoping that humanity will change? Not sure...
What can we expect next from Billie Ray
Martin?
The Cabaret Voltaire project I
mentioned. Then there’s The Opiates album, which is done, but I’m
still looking for a perfect label for it. So that should hopefully
come out soon as well. So hang in there. Oh, and my new BRM single is
almost done too. So all in the pipeline really.
Billie Ray Martin performs at Loaded
this Sunday 12th April at Area. See Musts & Maybes, pages 72-76
for venue details and door taxes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Berghain is arguably the most
hardcore club in the world. Housed in an old power plant in
Friedrichshain, behind the Berlin Ostbahnhof railway station, it
opens around 4:30am and plays industrial techno to a predominantly
gay crowd of amphetamine fuelled muscle monsters and gabba freaks. It
throws 30 hour parties, has no guest list or VIP area and there are
no mirrors… anywhere. The décor is bleak. The venue is awesome and
the music is often terrifying. While it has an enormous darkroom,
people tend to just fuck on the dancefloor . It makes London’s
after hours clubs look like picnics for pansies. It’s fantastic.
http://www.ourscenetv.com/main/2009/04/05/dj-billie-ray-martin
an interview with the legendary flick to download:
http://penetrationinc.typepad.com/my_weblog/dj-andy-reynolds.html
this took place in nov 09
REAL AUDIO NOW ONLINE. Billie Ray Martin on Olaf Zimmermann's Electro Beats ....and more
HI ALL. THE AUDIO IS NO ONLINE FOR THOS WHO MISSED IT
http://www.radioeins.de/musik/interviews/2008/billie_ray_martin.html
ALSO IT'S BEING REPEATED TONITE, FRIDAY AT 1 AM GERMAN TIME.
dear all .we're thrilled to tell you about this :
on the 24th september a 2 hour radio special with billie ray martin will be broadcast on the show: electro beats (with olaf zimmermann) on radio 1. PLEASE TUNE IN, it's gonna be a goodie. 2 hours of brm's tunes as well as her favourite tunes and live dj set :)
if you dont manage to tune in on the day, we believe it stays on their server permanently afterwards.
olaf has been playing bille's songs throughout the last few weeks as well as the new project: THE OPIATES.
RADIO 1 are also recording another special show with billie called: UPDATE which will be broadcast some time after that.
and please check out a whole page article about billie in ZITTY MAGAZIN BERLIN this week.
it's now online as well as in the print issue:
nu article/interview at world dj:
there is a new interview with billie at world dj.
..:: Interview with Billie Ray Martin ::......
: Friday, 10 October 2008....
: Written by Selina Spain....
WorldDJ.com had the pleasure of interviewing this talented lady in music known as the 'queen of electronic soul' - Billie Ray Martin. A determined vocalist, producer and DJ who has impacted international audiences with her live shows of artistic, soul-driven, edgy electro and unique electronic productions. She is never short of a project or two and unlikely to be forgotten any time soon.....
» When you first started DJing, what was most challenging for you?....
I started about two years ago and wanted simply to play records that I liked. It would get me out of the house.
It was a great challenge to learn how to mix and as a music producer, I found that it came very easily to me. I made some silly mistakes in the beginning which was funny.....
» Have you had any formal music or vocal training or are you self-taught? ....
I am self taught in every way. I had some singing lessons in the end, when my voice went, but that was it. About twenty lessons with the wonderful Helena Shenel in London, who fixed the voices of greats like Shirley Bassey etc. ....
» Do you have any current residencies?....
I had my own little club night 'Komputerliebe' in London for a while. I want to now start that in Berlin as I have moved back there. We already running 'Komputerliebe' in Frankfurt. I have also signed with a booking agency and hopefully I will be let loose on the world some more and I want to continue to work in London as much as I can as well.....
» You've travelled and gigged all over the world. Do you have a favourite venue?....
I don't think so really. It's all great. The best place I DJ'ed was in a big outdoor squat (!) in Rome, in an old military fort. It was massive, with a massive dance floor and amazing sound system. It was mad, with three-thousand people or so. You could play gabber or gay disco, whatever, and you could mix all that. It was too funny!....
» Who are your favourite international and local artists?....
I listen to country and western.. But in the dance field there are many new acts I love. Gemtos from France, Martini Bros from Berlin - too many.....
» Is there any particular musician or producer you would like to work with? ....
I am currently looking for the right person for my album, but it's hard. They must be mad and have a great vision, yet work closely with my ideas as well. My sound is kind of 'if yazoo was today and was French'. Very hi-nrg laden electro. Any ideas?....
» What have been the highlights of your musical career to date? ....
The love people gave me when I travelled around the world. With the release of 'your loving arms' was marvellous. Also releasing my own singles on my label disco Activisto. This was so rewarding as I was in charge and involved in every little bit of the entire production, mixes, mastering, artwork, graphics. Not that I didn't do all that on major labels etc, but this was better. At the moment I find every DJ gig most rewarding. I thrive on it. ....
» Which non-electronic music artists inspire you?....
Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris. ....
» When did you and Robert Solheim form 'The Opiates'? ....
About a year or so ago. There is an album finished now and I am looking into playing it to a label maybe. I am very particular about not just throwing that around to labels, to get the usual rejections etc. This is a good album and the press reactions have been incredible so this should fly!....
» How would you describe The Opiates forthcoming album 'Hollywood under the Knife'? What other artists were involved?....
We are The Carpenters of electro. It is a collection of sick songs about confused characters. It's about identity, or lack of and peoples pursuits of a little happiness, to find that there is no security in this life. Something like that.
We have the fabulous singer from France/New York - Naommon, guesting on one track. It's called Teen Speed Rat Race. Otherwise it's just Robert and I. ....
» Do you have any tour dates lined up this year or 2009?....
I've just moved back to Berlin, so am finding my new way right now. I've got a few gigs which you can see on: www.myspace.com/billieraymartin
There will be many more.....
Thanks Billie Ray.....
n
....
....
SINGLE OF THE WEEK – 5 *****
BILLIE RAY MARTIN "UNDISCO ME" (REBIRTH)
"This is a long overdue and more than welcome return of one of thee voices of dance music. Billie Ray Martin first took club goers on a soulful high in 1989 with the absolute deep classic "Talking With Myself" which she made with Electribe 101. A few years later she turned up on the legendary Guerilla Records alongside Spooky, causing a bit of controversy with a cover of Throbbing Gristle's "Persuasion". Billie Ray Martin soon signed to East West and scored a worldwide number 1 with "Your Loving Arms". Since then she has done her own thing, and collaborated with quite a few. Well now she's back with a new album, and if it's along the lines of this single, there's gonna be no stopping her. In its original mix "Undisco Me" has got a slight retro feel, taking you back to those heady Balearic times, bringing a certain DJ Essentials Inc / Lisa Stansfield bootleg to mind, only Billie has done it better, never being afraid to take a chance and push forward, "Undisco Me" is properly out there, giving house the kick up the arse it so desperately needed. A quality set of remixes come from Peter Jurgens, Edison and Acid Jacks. Billie Ray Martin is the thinking man's diva and she can walk up & down my back anytime."
Dean Thatcher, DMC Update Mag (U.K. / worldwide)....
....
"The Nico of the rave generation has returned with a stealth-bomb of a record, with a tranced-out charm of its own."....
Ben Wood, Bearded Magazine (U.K. / worldwide)....
....
"Billie's been a milestone and innovator in the world of dance music for nearly 20 years now and remains one of the few artists who can pull off a return that challenges the genre's current royalty."....
Jamie Nicholes, Noize Magazine (U.S. / worldwide)....
....
"Billie Ray Martin is an absolute revelation."....
Ken Hollings, The Wire (U.K. / worldwide)....
....
"The singer is Billie Ray Martin and she's one of the living legends in modern music history and one of the best voices on planet Earth."....
DJ Hell, I-DJ Magazine (U.K. / worldwide)....
....
"The high priestess of electronic soul… her voice is unmistakable – ridden with drama and soul – sounding like Marlene Dietrich by way of Diamanda Galas."....
Gregor Laird, The Skinny (Glasgow magazine)....
....
"A female, modern-day Marc Almond… this E.P. of throbbing electro-disco, torch soul and narcotic pop's awesome."....
Jason Riley, I-DJ Magazine (U.K. / worldwide)....
....
"Avant-garde Deutsche diva Billie Ray Martin's sublime vocals and catchy, industrial post-punk disco…"....
Keith Barker-Main, Metro newspaper (U.K.)....
....
"Welcome back Billie! We put our loving arms around you."....
DJ Tom Novy (review of "Undisco Me")....
....
"Something like Amanda Lear ganging up with Laurie Anderson to kidnap a low-key echo of "The Day Before You Came", an Abba track. Is it any good? Yes, very."....
Unpeeled Magazine (U.K. / worldwide)....
....
"Full of soul and emotion… the songs creep into your consciousness and before you know it have taken over your motor functions. Oozing sex with great electro bleeps and an orgasmic vocal delivery… a real success."....
Sean Slingsby, Gigwise (online)....
....
"A bleep-fest of epic proportions, which really serves as yet another vehicle for Martin's butter-soaked soul…"....
Subba-Cultcha (online magazine)....
....
"A glacial quartet of mournful electro-ballads bathed in sumptuous spaciousness. The low slung Marlene Dietrich-pitched vocals are the icing on the cake… this new venture sounds so fresh, unforced and 2008-friendly."....
Beatmag.net (online magazine)....
....
"Some beautiful downbeat electronica, with Martin's distinctive voice… from this release, things are looking good."....
Beat Surrender (online magazine)....
....
"It's the sound of dance music before the circus came to town."....
Electric Roulette (online magazine)....
....
a brand new article went up today for the usa mag about.com (denace music/electronica). it 's a nice long one and it's here:
http://dancemusic.about.com/od/artistshomepages/a/BillieRay2008.htm
new out this week. zitty berlin:
Elektronische Musik
Am Ende doch Berlin
Kiek ma – noch so 'ne Wahlberlinerin: Billie Ray Martin
Foto: Tomas Borbás, Make-up: Justine Boettger
Billie Ray Martin schätzt die „Berliner Ruhe". So bezeichnet die Sängerin die Atmosphäre der Stadt, die zwischen Naherholungsgebiet und Ausgeh-Metropole schwankt – und die sie für ihre Arbeit braucht. Sie sitzt im Café Bravo in Mitte, einem Bezirk, den sie nicht mag, „zu viel Gewusel", meint sie. Nachher kehrt sie in die Kreuzberger Wohnung zurück, wo sie ein Glas Rotwein trinkt, Musik am Keyboard komponiert – und über die neue Bubifrisur mit eingeschnittenen Fransen streicht. Die gebürtige Hamburgerin lebte jahrelang in London lebte und war Mitbegründerin der legendären Elektro-Band Electribe 101, die in den 90er Jahren einen internationalen Top-Ten-Hit feierte („Your Loving Arms"), sie steht für ein privates Motiv, das in eine kollektive Bewegung hineinfällt: Die Elektro-Bohème entdeckt Berlin – und Billie Ray Martin ist eine von ihnen.
Die 39-Jährige kennt Berlin aus einer anderen Ära – der Punk-Zeit. 1982, als sie mit 14 Jahren aus dem Hamburger Elternhaus ausriss, mit einer Freundin nach Berlin fuhr – und einfach blieb. Sie setzte sich bei den Eltern durch, bezog ein Zimmer in Schöneberg, „ich gründete jede Woche