Artist Focus | Santino Martin – From Derby’s DIY Scene to the Stage, the Multi-Genre Artist Making Noise Across the East Midlands

Derby may not yet sit atop the UK’s music capital list, but for those paying attention to the city’s independent music scene, one name is beginning to echo louder – Santino Martin. A multi-instrumentalist, multi-genre songwriter and rising force across multiple projects, Martin is fast becoming one of Derby’s most promising creative exports. Whether fronting the distorted dynamics of skeeve., exploring emotive depths with Graveyard Cop, or forging a fresh path with Porcelain Girl, his work refuses to sit still – and that’s exactly the point.

Raised in Derby, Martin’s roots are sewn deep into the city’s musical soil. “A lot of my music has started here,” he explains. “Especially doing GCSE music in secondary, B-TEC music in college and now a degree in popular music at university. Also, a lot of what I write about is based on my personal experiences, the things I do, see and feel – all heavily influenced by where I grew up.” That local connection isn’t just biographical – it’s artistic. Derby’s combination of tight-knit venues, DIY attitude and sprawling underground scenes has offered Martin both a creative launchpad and a source of personal material.

Self-taught and self-motivated, Martin’s approach is driven more by emotion than ambition. “I mostly sing and play guitar, but I also dabble in drums and piano among other things,” he says. “I started when I was 14 and decided to teach myself guitar. Eventually, I began writing my own songs and found music to be a form of expression that really clicked with me.” His stylistic range is striking – from ambient folk to shoegaze-inspired grunge, and from emo to post-hardcore – but there’s a consistent thread: authenticity. “I don’t feel chained to one style or discipline.”

That creative freedom has translated into a number of musical identities. With skeeve. – a band gaining traction for their gritty yet melodic sound – Martin recently reached a major milestone. “Playing a sold out, headline gig was a huge step for me and my band,” he says, “and the success of that night was really incredible to see.” Another key moment? Performing at Y Not Festival, one of the East Midlands’ flagship live music events. “Having the opportunity to play Y Not was amazing and I felt very grateful for that.”

But behind the high points are the same doubts and pressures faced by many independent musicians. “The realisation that you are a small fish in a huge ocean always puts me down a bit,” Martin admits. “It can be a real test of willpower to push through it. At the end of the day, this industry is a lottery and we’re all just praying that we strike it lucky.” Still, what separates Martin from the crowd is a steely resilience paired with emotional candour. His lyrics often mine personal struggle, heartbreak and isolation – not as cliché, but as catharsis. “A lot of my songs are about love, heartbreak and loneliness, which in no way is groundbreaking,” he concedes, “but it does provide very valuable emotional fuel for me to write with.”

Musical evolution has been key. “I’ve become a lot more comfortable in my abilities and stage presence,” he reflects. “There’s been a clear improvement in my vocal abilities, songwriting and performing. I think I’ve tried to incorporate more complexity in my music in the form of layers, themes and techniques.” That complexity is most evident in his solo work as Graveyard Cop, a project that leans into ambient textures and introspective themes. He’s currently working on a full-length LP – “trying to complete it slowly but surely.”

Meanwhile, Martin’s latest venture Porcelain Girl – an emo outfit – represents yet another avenue of exploration. The band are currently gearing up for their debut performance while building out a catalogue of originals. It’s a testament to Martin’s prolific nature that he can simultaneously navigate three musical identities without sacrificing depth in any.

His motivations are refreshingly honest. “I want people to have fun. I want people to relate,” he says. “When I see people dancing and moshing and singing the words, I feel a connection to the audience which is what I live for. Whether my songs help people through difficult times or simply just give them a fun night, I hope people can find their own value in my work.”

For fans, there are multiple entry points to Martin’s world. You can follow him and his bands on Instagram at @skeeve.band, @porcelaingirlband, and @graveyard.cop. All three projects are also available on streaming platforms under their respective names.

And for fellow artists trying to navigate the same rocky path, Martin’s advice is simple but significant – “Don’t think about money, reward or fame. In order to start, you just have to have genuine passion and belief in what you do. If you have that conviction, nothing can really stop you.”

Santino Martin isn’t just a musician from Derby – he’s a reminder of what’s possible when you ignore the rules, embrace vulnerability, and build a sound that truly reflects the complexities of being human. In an industry that thrives on branding and trends, Martin’s voice is refreshingly unscripted. Whether you’re crying in your bedroom to Graveyard Cop, screaming lyrics with skeeve. in a packed venue, or discovering the raw emotion of Porcelain Girl, one thing’s for certain – he’s only just getting started.

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