Martha Wainwright

Martha Wainwright

Martha Wainwright is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Montréal, Quebec. Born in 1976, she is the daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, and the sister of Rufus Wainwright. She is also part of The Wainwright Sisters.

Early recordings and family work

Wainwright appears frequently on recordings by members of her family, including the McGarrigle Sisters and Family. She also begins her recording career with a series of independent releases. In 1997 she issues the cassette Ground Floor. Her song “Year of the Dragon” appears on The McGarrigle Hour in 1998, an album by Kate & Anna McGarrigle. After that recording, she sings backing vocals for her brother.

Solo releases

In 1999, Wainwright releases the six-song EP Martha Wainwright. Her first full-length self-titled album follows in 2005. Later releases include I Know You’re Married but I’ve Got Feelings Too in 2008 and Sans fusils, ni souliers, à Paris: Martha Wainwright’s Piaf Record in 2009. Her fourth album, Come Home To Mama, is recorded at Sean Lennon’s studio in New York City.

Style and songwriting

Wainwright works in contemporary folk, folk pop and singer-songwriter music. She describes Come Home To Mama as a record shaped by her life experiences and as a return to why she starts writing songs.