Marty Zylstra Rattles The Glass on Vancouver's Local Scene
“I guess when I came through grief and was reborn with a sober mind I ended up with a different view on the world. I found that I was able to deeply relate to the pain of others and see signs of trauma in the world easier than before. ”
The road to artistic catharsis is often paved with obstacles. Life is simultaneously beautiful and tragic, what truly defines character is the way we weave the mess of it all. Marty Zylstra is an innovative Vancouver based artist who has made a masterpiece out a particularly generous amount of lemons perpetually hucked at him. Marty is about to release a series of singles that explore the deep waters of grief, social injustice and emotional awakening. His music makes his writ and grit profoundly apparent and enthralling. You feel as if you’re right at home in the complex musical universe he has created similar to the likes of Father John Misty and Kevin Morby. His music reminds you you’re not alone even when the world seems so isolated you can almost smell the loneliness. We had the pleasure of catching up with Marty on the various facets of the man behind the music...
On his sobriety- Marty got sober after dealing with a great deal of personal grief. This experience has given him a renewed clarity on life. He explains that ‘I’d had some demons that I’ve kind of overcome in the past few years and sobriety helped me find a new perspective on life. I guess when I came through grief and was reborn with a sober mind I ended up with a different view on the world. I found that I was able to deeply relate to the pain of others and see signs of trauma in the world easier than before. I wanted to find truth in the songs and I think we achieved that to a certain degree.’
On being a father- ‘Being a creative person helps me balance those things as much as those things help me balance creativity. Most successful artists seem to create their seminal work before family and kids come along but I think seeing the world from the eyes of children gives me more meaning in my songs which in turn helped me get deep into new territory. They also spark joy in my life beyond the torture of artistry. My family is the reason for my being and music is the celebration of that. It’s mind-blowing isn’t it?’
On being a musician amidst the pandemic- ‘We are bunkered down like most folks. Staying safe and wearing masks outside in the public. My daughter recently had a play date with a friend she hadn’t seen in months, her best friend if you will. She’s five by the way. Anyway, there was a scheduling conflict and it was canceled. She was totally devastated. Crying all afternoon. It was heartbreaking. I know how she feels - I miss my friends and family. I can’t imagine what it feels like for people with parents or grandparents in seniors residences - to not see mom or dad for months and be worried constantly. ‘
On his playlist- ‘I listen to local music. A lot of it. Small town Artillery, Dan Moxon and co, healing days. Also Dr. Dog, new phantom planet, and music from the 60’s laurel canyon era - the Byrds, Mamas and the Papas, CSNY, Flying Burrito Bros, Gram parsons. Also (always) the Beatles and the beach boys’
On the future of music- ‘I think the new movement will be female-led. I’ve seen so much incredible genre-bending musicianship from female-identifying talent all over the world and can’t wait to see what the future brings. It’s an incredible time because people from all over the world can collaborate with no boundaries instantaneously. It’s inspiring to watch a hip hop artist blend with art folk and emo punk in one song with multilayered synths, 808s, banjos, and a gospel choir. What a time to experience music!’
What a time to experience music indeed! You can check out the anthemic track ‘Rattle the Glass’ here. Stay tuned for everything this local legend has to offer because it’s nothing shy of extraordinary.