Martyn Joseph is a Welsh folk singer-songwriter from Penarth, in the United Kingdom. Born in 1960, he writes and performs songs that combine folk and Celtic elements with a strong interest in social protest and narrative detail.

Style and themes

Joseph’s songs often focus on injustice, inhumanity, grief, love and social history. His writing is associated with protest song, but also with balladry and acoustic performance. He is described as a performer with a distinctive voice and a style that places emphasis on the song itself rather than on presentation or commercial appeal.

His work is linked to a tradition of acoustic storytellers and songwriters, drawing comparisons in the input to artists such as Woody Guthrie, Ewan MacColl, Hank Williams and Bruce Springsteen. His live performances are also associated with humour and passion, and he is noted as a raconteur who can adapt lyrics for the occasion.

Career

Joseph builds a long recording and touring career, with appearances on both sides of the Atlantic. His catalogues spans a decade-long sequence of albums from his Sony period through to a two-volume live compilation called Don’t Talk About Love. His album Being There is named as part of this period.

He achieves five Top 50 UK chart placements with songs including “Dolphins Make Me Cry”, “Working Mother” and “Let’s Talk About It In The Morning”.

Collaborations and performances

Joseph tours and appears with a wide range of artists, including Suzanne Vega, Marc Cohn, Joan Armatrading, Clannad, Chris De Burgh, Jools Holland, Art Garfunkel and Celine Dion. Janis Ian also speaks positively about working with him on stage.

He receives radio recognition through a peak-time BBC Radio 2 singer-songwriter feature, alongside artists such as Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Reviews in the input describe his voice and performances as having depth, emotional force and a strong live presence.

Background

Joseph is presented as a Welsh singer-songwriter whose work often carries a spiritual element, including references to faith and “god bothering” imagery in the lyrics. His songs are described as looking toward forgotten people and alternative ways of living, rather than focusing on mainstream themes.