“If everyone else is doing it, what’s the point?”
This is the quote that stuck with me from this delightful, weird, rambly conversation with Marc Martel. Let me introduce you to Marc, in case you don’t know him already.
Or, maybe I should have given you this one first: an imagining of how Pavarotti and Freddie Mercury would have done a duet.
Incredible, right? Marc and I have known one another for fifteen years, back when we were both graduating college. He was playing with the band Downhere, who had just been signed to a major Christian label. I was working in a church doing youth ministry. Now he is pulling double-duty with his first solo album, Impersonator (it’s SO GOOD) and being the frontman for the Queen Extravaganza, which means he channels Freddie Mercury for half the year. Exciting life, right?
Marc has navigated the music industry in the new, digital age, which set the stage for changes in the book world as we have moved to digital there as well. I loved talking to him about promotion, his passion, and….the Backstreet Boys. No, really. We talk about the Backstreet Boys.
Listen to Create If Writing – Episode 013
I hope you love this interview and feel inspired to find your weird way of embracing your passion. I think we all dream of making our passions a working reality, and that’s just what Marc has done and is doing.
This is the video he made with his wife, Krystal Martel. (Check out Krystal’s photography site!)
For more on Marc, please check out his site for tour dates, and you can also snag his album Impersonator from iTunes!
And if you LOVE the new music on the podcast as much as I do, you can check out more about her and her music on her site. 
Marc
Me and my partner Katia saw you at the O2 in Bristol last year and met you back stage with the guys from QE. You and the band were brilliant musicians and lovely people. I am going to see you with several friends (including Kat) at Bath in October and I am sure all will enjoy your brand of Queen as much as us.
You have an extraordinary talent in your voice. Thank you for sharing this with us
Good luck on the tour and for the future. Keep making the music
John
Loved the “Create If Writing” interview with Marc Martell. What a nice guy – and so talented too. I first came to know of Marc from an email link that my friend sent to me of the “Somebody To Love” audition before Marc had actually got the job with QEX. Initially I thought it was someone just lip syncing to Freddy’s vocals (I wasn’t really listening on proper speakers at the time) but soon realised just how amazing this guy was and have been following his story ever since. Been to see QEX twice in th UK and already booked tickets for the Norwich event coming up in November.
I’m an amateur musician myself and a big Queen fan. I did a pretty good version of “Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon” a few years ago and was really pleased to see QEX perform that song live. Something that I don’t think the real Queen ever did (unless I’m mistaken) The vocal harmonies are really quite challenging (and fun) so I look forward to more of this kind of thing from QEX.