Amber Martin Releasing New LP ft. John Cameron Mitchell, Rufus Wainwright, & More

New York’s internationally acclaimed artist and cabaret star Amber Martin has announced her new album Unbreakable Heart, set for release on November 15. Throughout the new project, Martin returns to her country roots with a collection of songs written by Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters), 3x Grammy nominee Rufus Wainwright, and Tony Award-winner John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shrill, How to Talk to Girls at Parties), all of whom are featured vocalists on the tracks.

Alongside the announcement, Martin shared the first taste of the project with the single + video “I Want You To Be A Real Man” featuring Rufus Wainwright. Written by Wainwright, the tender duet is a classic old-style country waltz with current-day socio-political import, as lyrics yearn for a partner to provide and protect: a poignant plea for bravery in the face of conflict. 

Amber Martin and John Cameron Mitchell’s co-written, live, nationally-touring variety show, Cassette Roulette is back by overwhelming demand for a third run at Joe’s Pub in New York. The iconic show features songs, stories and characters, all chosen by the hand of fate and the ‘cassette roulette.’ It’s never the same show twice! Upcoming dates continue on September 28 and run through October, where Martin will be performing new songs from her upcoming album. Tickets and dates are available here.

A celebrated veteran of the stage, Amber Martin is known for her award-winning, legendary live shows, being named one of the top performers of the year by The New Yorker. Greatly inspired by the performance styles and traditions of Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, Chaka Khan, Carol Burnett, and Bette Midler, her performances have been likened to “watching Ruth Draper after she’s come back from an acid trip during which she thought she was Janis Joplin.” Onstage, Amber is a remarkably powerful vocalist with a deep love for all genres of classic American pop music and culture, inspiring her own original music. Amber brings a combination of uplifting cabaret, dazzling vocals, unfiltered comedy, and compelling stories to her live, genre-hopping musical performances, casting light on her uniqueness from her own contemporaries while bringing a diverse range of inclusive, button-pushing entertainment to her equally diverse audiences.
 
Amber released her first solo album A.M. Gold in 2016, featuring original songs written by herself, Jake Shears, Paul Leschen, Fred Sauter, Townes Van Zandt, and Brett Every. Songs from the album were also featured in John Cameron Mitchell’s 2019 film, How To Talk To Girls At Parties. Beyond that, Amber has guest-starred in John Cameron Mitchell’s sold-out Origin of Love Tour across the world and appeared on Broadway in Tales of the City. Amber’s recent collaborations include belting the backing vocals on the Scissor Sisters’ single “Inevitable” from their album Magic Hour, as well as in the hit single “Too Much Music” on Jake Shears’ 2023 album, Last Man Dancing. Her upcoming album features the song “Devil Came Down The Dance Floor,” a total reworking of the funky disco anthem she co-wrote with Shears, and performed lead vocal on, for his 2023 album. The track has been entirely re-worked into a fast-paced, country-and-western polka complete with fiddle, pedal steel guitar, and Amber’s blazing vocals. 
 
On her new album Unbreakable Heart, Amber returns to her country roots – along the bayous, highways and byways of SE Texas – with a collection of new songs written by Jake Shears, Rufus Wainwright, and John Cameron Mitchell, each of  whom appear as guest vocalists. Produced by Martin herself, the album also shines from the mixing and engineering skills of Grammy and Tony Award nominated producer and music director, Justin Craig (Broadway’s Hedwig and Stereophonic). Coming from a country, gospel, and bluegrass-playing musical family, the central theme that connects these wide and varied songs is Amber’s deep love of classic country and family harmonies. Her voice rings out on every track whether in hope or heartbreak, or in just having a good ol’ laugh deep from the belly. Martin says, “The songs are about traveling, moving on, coming home, and finding the right people to surround yourself with, and the sound is all classic country. My objective with this whole album is to get ‘em dancing!’” She continues, “Every song on ‘Unbreakable Heart’ is a standalone in its uniqueness. No two songs are alike. It’s brightened by the fine musicianship of some truly talented Texas musicians and collaborators in New York City. Everyone involved in this album, whether as writer, backing vocals singer or musician is a dear friend and ‘family’ member. It's truly a love letter.” 

Amber continues to evolve as writer, curator, and star of her own shows, such as her acclaimed international performance series, Bathhouse Bette, Amber Alert!, and Janis:Undead. Amber’s shows have included a dizzying line-up of luminary guest stars like Karen Black, Patti Lupone, Rufus Wainwright, Sandra Bernhard, John Cameron Mitchell, Jake Shears, Molly Ringwald, Bernadette Peters, Justin Vivian Bond, Cole Escola, Aubrey Plaza, Joyce Dewitt and Bridget Everett.

Unbreakable Heart Tracklist: 

1. The Moon’s a Reminder
2. I Left My Weed in Texas
3. Unbreakable Heart
4. Sorry Song
5. Devil Came Down the Dancefloor
6. I Want You To Be A Real Man ft. Rufus Wainwright
7. Both
8. Second Heart ft. Jake Shears
9. This Heart’s a Haunted House
10. Call Me Joe ft. John Cameron Mitchell
11. You Better Don’t
12. Until Marianne

Cassette Roulette Live Dates:

Sept 28          New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
Sept 29          New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
Oct 25            New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
Oct 27            New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
Nov 1             New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
Nov 2             New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub

Photo Credit: Jill Pangallo

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