It's all about the lyrics, melody and the recording

Eddie Martin finds it difficult to define his place on the Shoals music scene.

"I'm a writer," the Muscle Shoals resident says. "That's what motivates me."

Martin has been writing since he was a boy and started writing songs when he was 19.

"I've been in love with words my entire life," he said. "I'm more comfortable calling myself a songwriter."

But in reality, Martin wears several other hats.

He plays keyboards. He's a singer. He's a producer.

He likes working with musicians and the creative process, the give and take of creating music. He doesn't mind making decisions or choosing a direction.

In the end, however, he accepts the inevitable.

"The title I struggle the most with, is calling myself an artist, but that's what I am," Martin said.

Since 1987, he has released three independent albums of music he wrote and co-wrote.

His most recent project is an eight-song EP that contains a variety of firsts.

Martin said most of the songs reflect his love of folk music, and some are topical and political in nature.

"Refuse (To Be Their Pawn)" is not aimed at any particular party or politicians, past or present.

"It's more about the games the media and politicians play," Martin said.

"Blue Collar Blues" laments the current state of the economy:

"No more latte grande, no more Chardonnay."

"No more latte grande, no more Chardonnay."

"No more sushi, guess I'll get my tuna from a can."

"'Cause I'm stuck out here in the suburbs, a simple man."

Because of the nature of those two songs, Martin decided to release an EP now rather than waiting to include them on a full-length album later.

"I wanted a chance for these songs to be heard now," he said.

Both tracks were co-written by Martin's "creative brother" Charlton James,

Martin said "Alone, Because of You" is the "most southern-rock song I've ever done."

The track is unique because of the fact that Martin was never heavily influenced by southern-rock music while he was growing up.

Martin admits that growing up he was more of a fan of folk music, partly because of his father, who was into folk and traditional country music.

He also was a fan of rhythm and blues, especially early 1970s Stevie Wonder.

"Alone, Because of You" was co-written by Daniel Beard, who is Martin's frequent production partner and engineer.

Martin and Beard most recently worked with Shoals singer/

songwriter Malcolm Singleton.

"He's an excellent studio engineer, technically savvy, and is always open to whatever approach I'm shooting for," Martin said of Beard.

Another first on "When We Were Brave" is the spoken word track "Ode to My Grandmother," which was written while his grandmother was in a Russellville nursing home just weeks before she died.

Martin said he was sitting with her and just began to write down his thoughts.

"I didn't overanalyze it, I just did it," he said. "It is what it is, an ode to my grandmother."

Martin said he acquired his love of music from his parents.

A photo of his late father, Glenn Martin, adorns the cover of the EP. It's a photo of his father on the U.S.S. Menard in Korea in the early 1950s.

"We sang in the car. We'd harmonize," Martin said. "My dad was a big fan of Hank Williams and Woody Guthrie."

Martin said his father would tell he and his older sister to listen to the songs and pay attention to the words and musical arrangements.

He said that's one reason why he likely got into songwriting and production more than

performing.

Martin works his songs on keyboards and rarely performs them live.

For him, music is all about the lyrics, the melody and how the track is recorded.

"Usually I spend a lot of time crafting the production on projects that I work on, whether it's a project for myself or any other artist that I'm working with," Martin said.

On "When We Were Brave," Martin said the primary objective was to achieve a very specific point of view as a songwriter.

"I purposely did not do a lot of extensive overdubbing and kept the tracks really stripped down," Martin said.

"There are even a couple of the tracks that have only two instruments and vocals. Artistically, I am really pleased with the results."

The EP features several musicians including local guitarist Barry Billings who provided acoustic blues guitar on "White Collar Blues" and electric slide guitar on "Alone Because Of You."

Legendary Nashville session player Wayne Bridge added some pedal steel guitar, which Martin likes to incorporate in popular music similar to friend Todd Beene's use of the instrument in the alternative rock sounds of the Murfreesboro, Tenn., band Glossary.

"Wayne is open to play on any kind of tracks," Martin said.

Keyboard player Kelvin Wooten, a member of Eric Essix's band, lends some keyboards and tuba on "Refuse (To Be Their Pawn)."

"When We Were Brave" will be available at Pegasus Records, Tapes and CDs and Rivertown Coffee, both in Florence, and Mug.com in Muscle Shoals.

Russ Corey can be reached at russ.corey@timesdaily.com or 740-5738.