Lighters Aloft For Renowned Musician Martin Larose’s Latest Release: ‘The Spirit Of Radio’ – A Classic Rush Cover
Martin Larose, the renowned musician, and owner of Le Studio Septentrio from Quebec’s picturesque Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region is set to enthrall music lovers once again with the release of his latest single, the classic Rush cover “The Spirit Of Radio” – available now!
This musical rendition is a captivating cover of the iconic Rush classic and a testament to Martin’s exceptional talent and unique approach to making music. “The Spirit Of Radio” which coincides with the upcoming launch of his album, Hek of a Ride, co-written with lyricist Nath Farley, is scheduled to be released in late 2023.
“The Spirit Of Radio” is a demonstration of Martin’s deep-rooted admiration for Rush, a band he has been a fan of since 1980. Martin, who had never seen Rush perform live until 2013, was finally able to experience the band’s incredible live performance. However, the show was abruptly halted by a thunderstorm and despite being soaked to the bone, this experience left an indelible mark on Martin, fueling his passion to pay homage to Rush in his own creative way.
“I’m usually reluctant to cover other people’s material and prefer to work on my own stuff,” proclaims Martin. “However, I had this idea in the back of my mind for quite some time and wanted to release it alongside my new album, ‘Hek of a Ride,’ as it showcases another facet of my musical style.”
Influenced by legends such as Michael Hedges, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Howe, Chris Whitley, and Pete Townshend, Martin developed an original sound combining tapping, atmospheric ambiance, and intricate gameplay. His exceptional talent and technique earned him recognition, with his work being featured in the prestigious magazine, Guitar World.
“I’ve been playing the harp guitar for 12 years now. I’m also fortunate to own an Allan Beardsell HG1 HarpGuitar, which is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba,” says Martin. “It’s a wonderful instrument built by a tremendously talented Canadian luthier, so it’s a Canadian guitar played by a Canadian guitarist interpreting a Canadian song.”
Welcome back! Tell us what you’ve been up to you since the last song.
It’s been quite a whirlwind since my album ‘Hek of a Ride’ was released on September 15th. I’m extremely happy with the reception and reviews. I’ve been working on planning a few concerts for Spring 2024, and we’re going to record them to put out a live album. I’m also back in the writing process for an upcoming album.
Tell us about the process of writing and recording “The Spirit Of Radio.”
I have been a huge RUSH fan for as long as I can remember. Also, the fact that many of their most famous albums were recorded at Le Studio in St. Sauveur was something close to my heart. Everybody loved Rush around here. I’ve been playing the harp guitar for about 12 years now, and I always had this project in the back of my mind. Obviously, when Rush was in their heyday, everybody was completely floored by the amount of sound just three people could produce. And, with a bit of bravado, I must admit, I decided to work on an arrangement of my own using the harp guitar. I made sure it wasn’t an exact copy of the song but rather my own interpretation. The whole process took about three months to come up with something that was coherent and would do justice to the song while avoiding making a pastiche of it. The recording was also a challenge since we did it totally live in the studio, NO OVERDUBS!!! Believe it or not, the hardest part was Geddy’s singing lines…I had no idea how difficult they were to sing while playing the guitar and sub basses. That was quite an undertaking.
Why that song? What attracted you to do a cover?
If I remember correctly, it was the first Rush song I ever heard, and at the time, it literally floored me. It was also the perfect song to merge the bass, guitar, and drum parts on the harp guitar. I also included snippets of ‘Red Barchetta’ and ‘Tom Sawyer’ towards the end. There’s also something really Canadian about the project. A Canadian song played by a Canadian guitarist on a Canadian guitar (The harp guitar was built by Allan Beardsell in Winnipeg). This is something I’m extremely proud of. Besides all that, the lyrics are still relevant today. Even though the music business has changed tremendously since the 80s when the song was first released, the theme still resonates with me.
Given the choice, and you’re now officially a member of Rush for one song in concert – what song are you playing?
Definitely ‘The Camera Eye.’ Such a well-structured, great song with a mesmerizing ambiance and full of intricate parts and beautiful melodies. Is there a job opening, by the way? I have my resume nearby and I can supply my own washer and dryer… I’m serious… 
Have you ever seen Rush live before?
That’s the sad part of the story… The only time I had the opportunity to experience Rush live was in 2013 at the FEQ in Quebec City. Unfortunately, they had to abruptly stop the concert due to dangerous thunderstorms. Sadly, Neil fell ill in the following years. Nonetheless, it was an amazing concert and a moment I will never forget. In the dictionary under ‘Power Trio,’ it says, ‘see them.'”