Marcus Foster featuring Ruston Kelley March 16, 2013

Born and raised in southwest London, from a very early age Marcus Foster began to explore and appreciate a wide range of musical genres. Music and art served not only as a refuge from the everyday, but as interlocutors that would help him to find his own voice and self expression. This is why throughout his songs there is a broad spectrum of echoes and reference to artists as diverse as Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, D´Angelo, Tom Waits, Prince, Otis Reading, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and, more recently, St. Vincent.
At first sight it might seem counterintuitive to try to render a coherent whole out of such a diverse array of influences. Yet a key drive behind Marcus´ work is a desire, not only to avoid the comfort zone of recreating old sounds, but to challenge himself in such a way that he can produce music and stories that, whilst in debt to the past, have been yet unheard.
After contributing one song to the first Twilight soundtrack in 2008, his popularity with audiences in the U.S. and Europe developed exponentially, which helped to vindicate his commitment to his craft. As a testament to his constantly growing demand in the in the U.S., Foster was recently invited to perform on the Jimmy Fallon Show performing with The Roots. What’s more, not only has he had multiple tours on both sides of the Atlantic with great success, but he has combined his time on the road with consistent work at the studio. In fact, it is in the interaction with his audiences that he has found a reminder of music´s prime value and a meeting ground where the unexpected takes place. This creative collaboration has left clear marks on his subsequent recordings. Following his first EP Tumble Down, Foster released his critically acclaimed debut album, titled Nameless Path in 2011, which was produced by Ian Grimble (Communion). His music has a timeless quality which, once appreciated, remains in the mind.
For 2012, Foster is about to release a new EP The Last House. The Last House is a concise and exciting journey. Recorded in a barn in Sussex, England, it is his most diverse release to date. In addition to a further series of European tours, he will soon be opening for Michael Kiwanuka in the U.S, whilst completing songs for his second album.

Official Website: http://oldrockhouse.com/marcus-foster/