Yorkshire-born Billie Marten is among the rare artists whose early notoriety turned into a musical career. Born Isabella Sophie Tweddle, a popular YouTube video at age 12 plus parents who filled her ears with key UK and American folk artists became this indie artist’s initial grounding. She began with diarist, open-hearted quietly beautiful songs at age 17 before putting out her sophomore album Feeding Seahorses by Hand, which one journalist declared was a “gentle and reserved masterpiece.” Built on her characteristic minimalist acoustic folk, Billie Marten’s 2021 album Flora Fauna showcased mature songs whose bass experimentations create unique, punchy and direct rhythms, reflecting musical independence; like a painting that encompasses organisms, different corners of Earth and a feeling of total abundance. Her latest, 2023’s Drop Cherries, explores the complexities of love and companionship through insightful and illuminating songs. Filled with country fiddle, twangy acoustic guitar, pastoral plucks and stately drums, Marten fleshes out her indie folk dream world with all the bells and whistles that she wasn’t able to utilize when she was just a kid making solo records.

— Kerry Clarke