Martha Wainwright

Goodnight City, cover image Photo: Inertia Records

Martha Wainwright - sister of Rufus, daughter of Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III, niece of Sloan Wainwright, niece of Anna McGarrigle.

Rufus tends to get more attention. Martha walks in his shadow maybe, but she's a fine songwriter and performer in her own right and she applies a keen intelligence to her craft.

William admits to being fond of her singing of other people's songs and in this programme he provides examples from Syd Barrett, Edith Piaf, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Julia Stone.

Her most recent album, Goodnight City (2016), may feel unsettling at first but it's one of those albums that fully rewards repeated listening.

Music Details

'Song title' (Composer) – Performers
Album title
(Label)

'Martha' (S Wainwright) – Sloan Wainwright
The Song Inside
(Farkie Music)

'Star Crossed Lovers' (Ellington/Strayhorn) – The Propellerheads & Martha Wainwright
Red Hot + Indigo
(Red Hot)

'Whither must I wander' (Vaughan Williams) – Martha Wainwright
Martha Wainwright
(Shock)

'See Emily Play' (Barrett) – Martha Wainwright
I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too
(Shock)

'Le Métro de Paris' (Leveille et al) – Martha Wainwright
Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, A Paris
(V2)

'I wanna make an arrest' (M Wainwright) – Martha Wainwright
Come Home to Mama
(Indochine)

'Traveller' (M Wainwright) – Martha Wainwright
Goodnight City
(Inertia)

'Window' (M Wainwright) – Martha Wainwright
Goodnight City
(Inertia)

'Somehow' (Stone) – Martha Wainwright
Goodnight City
(Inertia)

'What’ll I Do' (Berlin) – Kate & Anna McGarrigle et al
The McGarrigle Hour
(Hannibal)