New single from Martin Lloyd Howard

Based in Reigate, Martin Lloyd Howard has been staking his claim as one of the UK’s more distinctive instrumental voices, crafting music that feels equally intricate and expressive. As a guitarist and composer, his sound moves between classical discipline, the instinct of folk and the emotional pull of blues and rock all coming from his initial work in the classical world, a background that still informs everything he does.

That early training instilled a deep understanding of tone, phrasing and control, giving him a technical skillset that remains evident throughout his work. Over time, he gradually began to stretch his vision, allowing curiosity to guide him into new areas where acoustic and electric textures began to merge and elements of folk storytelling and blues energy found their way into his compositions.

Both performing solo or collaborating with others, there’s a consistency in how his music takes shape; it often feels like a form of storytelling, not through words, but through shifts in melody and atmosphere. The guitar becomes a voice in itself, capable of conveying nuance and emotion in a way that doesn’t rely on explanation. His recorded output began with the 2020 debut single “The Night Train,” marking the start of a steady release of original compositions.

Since then, his work has gathered tens of thousands of streams, building a quiet but growing audience drawn to Martin’s unique brand of engaging classical music performed on nylon guitars. One of his more recent releases, his single titled “Rapids,” offers a magnificent display of his creativity and performance talent. The piece began not as a finished idea, but as a technical exercise, focused on developing left-hand movement across the fretboard and building strength and dexterity in the little finger.

From that starting point, it gradually developed into something more complete, taking on a form that extended beyond its original purpose, resulting in a composition that mirrors the movement of water, shifting between intensity and calm. Set up by the delicate flicker of soft acoustic guitar notes, the softly flows like the rush of water gathering pace, twisting, turning and bubbling over rocks in its steadfast march towards the ocean.

Despite its pace, there’s a hypnotic quality to it and after the subtle surge of energy, the piece simmers down to a soothing finale on gentle notes to complete a mellow yet enticing musical experience. As his catalogue grows, Martin Lloyd Howard continues to create a sound that feels at once enduring and quietly exploratory, carried forward by a constant sense of curiosity and we can’t wait to see what else he’s got in store.

Listen to Rapids below

More from Music

---

Editor Picks

---