Introducing: Essence Martins

From the tennis courts of North West London to the spotlight of the indie-folk scene, Essence Martins is proof that it’s never too late to follow your gut. After swapping rackets for riffs at 17, the British-Nigerian singer-songwriter taught herself guitar and piano via YouTube — now, she’s turning heads with her soulful, genre-blending sound. Fresh off tour support slots with Birdy, Rachel Chinouriri, Cat Burns and Mika, Essence returns with her second EP “Sleeping On It” — a beautifully introspective collection that captures the ache of regret, the chaos of modern love, and the power of finding your voice. With a headline show at London’s Courtyard Theatre set for April 29th, it’s clear Essence is done playing small. We caught up with her to talk heartbreak, authenticity, and the soundtrack to her self-discovery.

 Your new EP, Sleeping On It, is deeply personal, touching on themes like regret, love, and self-acceptance. Was there a particular moment or experience that shaped this body of work?

I am always processing, reflecting and searching in my writing and that is what this EP is really. I wouldn’t say there was one moment that defined it, once I had the songs, it was more about which felt right together in body of work that tells a story. 

You started your journey as a competitive tennis player before discovering music at 17. How has that background influenced your discipline and creativity as an artist?

Music came to me at a time where I felt lost like a lot of teenagers do. For me it was this outlet to just have fun and escape the pressures of training and competing which later became a creative outlet too. Tennis like most sports is one that requires constant discipline and when I was learning how to play piano and guitar I probably subconsciously treated it in a similar way. It was really fun so it never felt like work trying to learn or write a new song.   

You’ve toured with Birdy and supported artists like Rachel Chinouriri and Mika. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from sharing the stage with such established musicians?

I learned a lot touring with Birdy as I’d never played in a band before or been a session musician. I was constantly learning things on the job such as playing with in-ears, learning how to use different music equipment, learning parts of a song for live shows and not just your bedroom walls, playing big stages and understanding how many parts are involved and how many people it takes to pull it off a tour, like the guitar and keyboard techs, the sounds and lighting guys as well as the tour manager! I’ve also learned a lot from supporting artists such as Rachel Chinouriri and Mika! I admire them and I’m so inspired by their stage presence! Rachel especially has been a huge support and its been an honour to have shared the stage with her, she’s gonna be a superstar one day!    

 Your music blends indie, folk, pop, and soul, creating a unique sound. Who are your biggest musical influences, and how do they shape your songwriting process?

I grew up listening to a large mix of genres. There was always music playing in the house growing up. My dad was a DJ when he was younger and has a vast record collection. My mum is also a huge music lover, and so are my older sisters, so I had so many different eras of music around me all the time. We listened to Lauryn Hill, Earth Wind & Fire, The Bee Gees, Billy Joel, Simon and Garfunkel, Tupac, Dido, The commodores, Mary J Blige, Soul II Soul, SWV, Tevin Campbell, Maxwell, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson and so on… While growing up my sisters played the Spice Girls, Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, Angie Stone, Jill Scott, and we were all obsessed with Sister Act and other Disney musicals like High school musical the ones with the Disney princesses (I was anyways)!    

During sixth form I rediscovered Paramore and became completely obsessed and started getting into indie music and found artists such as Declan McKenna, Beach Bunny, Clairo, Billie Eilish and Haim. During lockdown I heard Phoebe Bridgers for the first time and with this new music taste, I knew I wanted to give the artist thing a go.  

I feel like the music I grew up with and the music I discovered in my teens (and will continue to discover) have both shaped and will continue to influence the kind of writer I am.

With a headline show at The Courtyard Theatre coming up, what can fans expect from your live performance, and how do you bring your songs to life on stage?

I’m super excited for my headline show!! I think fans can expect moments of warmth, peace, introspection within my lyrics but also a whole lot of energy from a full band set up. I love to talk to the audience and make them feel a part of the performance to create this ‘we’re all in it together feeling’!