“Smokie’s Key Master: Martin Bullard

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By Maurisha Niewenhuys

What an impressive lifetime achievement to have won the Unisong award! Can you share a memorable moment or story from that experience?

I was thrilled to win the Unisong award. It’s always a surprise when an artist wins an award, especially with so many people competing. It was a huge honor and a wonderful moment for me. Outside of Smokie, it’s a big part of my career as a composer, but with Smokie, we’re just having a blast and enjoying ourselves.

After more than 20 years with Smokie, how has your perspective on the band and your role changed? What’s the biggest lesson or growth you’ve experienced?

There have been many lessons learned over the years. When I first joined, we were relaunching our career, and our new album went platinum in several territories. Our first visit to South Africa was incredible—we even picked up a double platinum album. It’s been amazing to see our efforts being rewarded and to experience the joy of our fans.

So you are a multi-instrumentalist?

Keyboards are my main instrument, but I’ve picked up a bit of drumming, bass playing, and a few guitar chords along the way. I wouldn’t dare play guitar in front of a real guitarist, though! I find music everywhere, even in the most unlikely places. I guess you could say I’m a bit of a musical busker.

If you could play one instrument for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

I’d choose the piano. While I love the bass guitar, the piano holds a special place for me. I started playing it when I was just a child, and it’s always been a natural fit. The piano is very important to me, and it’s where my musical journey began.

If you had to cook a meal for the entire band, what would be your go-to recipe?

That’s a great question! When we first visited South Africa, we appeared on a cooking show and I made up a recipe called Mexican Bolognaise. We had no idea what we were doing and just threw things together! But if I were to cook for the band now, I’d probably make one of my favorite pasta dishes. I make a pretty mean pasta!

What’s the most memorable place you’ve visited on tour?

One of the most memorable places was our first time in South Africa. We performed at the Standard Bank Arena, where we received our double platinum album. To top it off, we were on stage with the entire Springbok rugby team. It was an unforgettable night.

What is the coolest piece of music technology you’ve experimented with recently?

The Instrument One is probably the coolest tech I’ve used recently. Designed and built in Nashville, it’s a versatile MIDI device that can emulate almost any instrument—guitar, bass, you name it. It’s incredibly clever and has a lot of capabilities.

What is your favorite image that you’ve snapped?

I love taking photos of the audience at the end of each show. It captures their enjoyment from a unique perspective—the view from the stage. Fans often take photos and videos of us, but these audience shots are special and provide a different angle on the experience.

How do you stay in shape?

I’m lucky to live in the Highlands of Scotland, so staying in shape is easy. I naturally hit my 10,000 steps daily and often do even more. It’s not difficult to stay active in such a beautiful place.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you take with you?

I’d bring a book to read, a Frisbee to keep entertained, and a kayak—though not to escape, just to explore the island and enjoy the surroundings.

Martin’s Favs

Favourite comfort food: Chocolate

Favorite thing to do on a weekend off: Going for a walk,

Favorite movie: Blade Runner, the first version

Favorite travel destination: Melbourne Australia.

Favorite season: Spring

Favorite quote: Spike Milligan, ‘I told you I was ill’

Favorite thing about Cape Town: Table Mountain

Favorite song to sing along with? “They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!”

Very last unusual question hahahhaha, Who the f$#k is Alice?