Christina Martin – “Little Princess” (Single Review)

Jenna Melanson·April 21, 2023

Christina Martin shares latest single, “Little Princess” from upcoming album

Christina Martin, singer-songsmith of the East Coast of Canada, returns with her latest single, “Little Princess,” from her imminent new album. After the robust opening singles “Stay With Me” and “In Control,” “Little Princess” rushes onto the scene as a triumphant third offering. A rousing ode to Martin’s elder brother, it’s a soaring strings-led rocker that boasts a potent blend of headshaking swagger and orchestral class.

“Growing up I admired my older brother, who was a gifted artist, but also a rebel. He died in 2013 of an opioid overdose at the age of 41.This song touches on our relationship, and a memory of writing my first prose and wanting to impress him with it. We were two embryonic artists, intrinsically bound by blood and similarities, and yet with mental illness in the mix, we kept each other at arm’s length.”

Martin has a raw troubadour’s talent for making the personal universal, and Little Princess is no exception. A rockier, rowdier beast than the album’s previous singles, it gallops forward at a relentless pace, lending the piece a desperate and determined tone. Martin’s vocals sit elegantly, coolly, over those roaring guitars, dispensing gems such as “The shelter from Toronto’s winters had to come from a total stranger” with all the confidence of a Captain at the helm, pivoting from tense, bubbling verses to sky-high choruses with regal grace.

Review

“Little Princess” starts with understated instrumentation accompanied by Christina’s distinctive and captivating vocals, with a range that can convey strength and vulnerability.

The lyrics “I turned to you to read my poems, I looked up to you to wave your wand, Over my head, little princess, You direct my rhyme” are beautiful yet heartbreaking, knowing the backstory. Christina’s songwriting shines on this track, as with previous tracks, “In Control” and “Stay With Me.”

In “Little Princess,” Christina’s powerful vocals and honest delivery take the listener on an emotive and intimate journey through the song’s raw and authentic lyrics, showcasing her exceptional talent as a vocalist.