Five years ago, Martha's Trouble, an Americana folk/rock duo,
released a nationally, critically acclaimed album, “Forget
October.” Since, the duo has all but been quiet, touring the
country, writing and recording, preparing for the next leg of their
epic adventure. On Feb. 1, 2011, Martha’s Trouble will
release
the much-anticipated Anchor Tattoo the duo's tenth self-released album.
The past five years have been crucial for the duo. In addition to
sustaining a career in music, Jen and Rob Slocumb started a family and
are raising their two children – Wilson, 5, and Emery, 3. The
time between albums allowed the couple to focus on their family and
spirituality, both setting the tone for their release of
“Anchor
Tattoo.”
The new album, Anchor Tattoo takes the duo back to their roots,
bringing back their signature sound – an Americana/folk album
with pop essence – that made them touch so many when they
first
came to the music scene 12 years ago.
“I think we went through a discovery process trying
different
things over the years and landed on what I would say our strength
is,” Jen said. “But it took some trying. I think
that’s good though. You try different things and you come to
a
place where you belong, where you fit. That’s what we did.
And
now we are stronger than ever.”
Their passion, their ability to find themselves, comes, in part, from
their spirituality and church family. It is the support they find from
both that allowed the duo to try new things, to realize that music,
Martha’s Trouble, their family is where they belong.
“I think about the years we spent living in a van, traveling
across the country and it’s hard to believe that we did
that,” Jen said. “Now we have two children, a
mortgage,
bills, a dog … things that wouldn’t fit in the
van. But
those times help us remember what Martha’s Trouble
means.”
Martha’s Trouble comes from a story in the Bible about two
sisters, Martha and Mary. Jesus came to see them one day. Martha was
running around, trying to clean up and prepare food while Mary was
hanging out at Jesus’ feet. The story says Martha was
“troubled” because Mary wasn’t helping.
The story,
the duo says, is a reminder to stop and smell the roses, the idea of
keeping an eye on the bigger picture and the important things in life.
Founding band/soul mates Jen and Rob Slocumb met 15 years ago with a
twist of fate inside a Houston, Texas, coffee shop where Jen worked
booking bands. Rob was home to see his parents after a music venture
fizzled. It started as a simple bond over music. Time led them to
realize it was something much more. The two fell in love and were
married. They continued to write and play music, building up enough of
a repertoire to start producing albums and touring around the country
and the world.
Martha’s Trouble has dropped nine self-released albums
– “Anchor Tattoo” will be No. 10.
Daughter of a millionaire
Country club, horses, lake house with a view
She got an anchor tattoo
Old station wagon held all they own
The bank took it all twenty years ago
She packed up one suitcase like she was told to do
She got an anchor tattoo
-“Anchor Tattoo”
The title track, “Anchor Tattoo,” is a reflection on Jen’s life. She grew up in a wealthy family, never wanting for anything. Her father was a successful business man and her mother owned a popular boutique. And one day, it was all gone.
She and her family had to give up the luxuries they had grown accustomed to when her father went bankrupt. Although the family was in its darkest hour, Jen found she could get through with her faith. Her story is the backbone for “Anchor Tattoo.”
The entire album is based on life experiences within their family and from close friends. “We all have struggles in life, and it’s how we deal with them that helps shape who we are,” Jen said. “The songs are all personal in some way and are things that we all go through in life.”
“Our fans can expect a very fresh, honest, uplifting album. It's very true to ourselves,” Jen said. “It's who we are. We are not trying to be like any other band or trying to be like the next trend in music. I think our fans who like us 'live' as a duo or trio, will like this record. It is still a fully produced record, but it's not overdone. We were able to spend a lot of time with it and it is our most thoughtful, mature record to date.”