Biography

‘Blinking gorgeous’ – Tom Ravenscroft, BBC 6 Music 

The composer and guitarist Martyn Heyne was born in Hamburg, Germany. Enjoying a musical upbringing as a young child, Heyne started perfoming live regularly at the age of ten, and later completed formal studies at the music academy of Amsterdam. His concerts and recordings have gained him a reputation for a unique approach to the guitar.  

As a solo artist, Heyne has performed on concert tours supporting acts like A Winged Victory For The Sullen, Nils Frahm, and Balmorhea. Heyne’s show is woven around his mesmerising electric guitar playing and has taken him to legendary venues such as the Funkhaus in Berlin and Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie. Heyne also played across the world as a live member of the indie rock outfit Efterklang.

Since moving to Berlin and setting up Lichte Studio, Heyne has been involved with some incredible releases in the contemporary classical and independent genres. As a composer, Heyne worked alongside Dustin O’Halloran on the US TV series, Transparent. In 2015, the show won five Emmy awards and two Golden Globes.

Heyne released the solo EP Shady & Light in 2016, followed by his debut album Electric Intervals for 7K! in 2017. Loudersound, UK reviewed: ‘Martyn Heyne is the kind of oblique player who takes the instrument to a completely different textural plane. (…) You forget all about the how, and luxuriate in the why.’
Mary Anne Hobbs of BBC Radio 6 called it ‘A beautiful record from end-to-end.’

In 2019 Heyne teamed up with fellow Berliner and Erased Tapes artist Ben Lukas Boysen to make the collaboration album ‘Thesis 16’ which is available on limited edition 10" vinyl, with a handmade cover by US artist Gregory Euclide.

Heyne's much anticipated 2nd solo album 'Open Lines' was released in 2020 on his newly established Tonal Institute imprint. The New York based Brettworks noted: ‘This is the most beautiful music I’ve heard so far this year. Heyne’s guitar/delay instrumentation is sparse, the music goes on a journey, and the chords are deeply inventive.’
Berlin's Das Filter reviewed: ‘Heyne’s songwriting stands out. It is unique and leaves no doubt that something extraordinary is happening here. (…) It is one of the most important albums of our time. No more, no less.’

In 2023, Heyne released an album of all new compositions for solo electric guitar titled Eight Reflections in Darkness, via Tonal Institute / AWAL Sony. Elizabeth Alker of BBC3 says: ‘Absolutely gorgeous, muted, it’s quite hymn-like as well. There are textures here that you might also find in the music of Manuel de Falla. I think you can hear the influence of Bach’s Lute works as well. There is a real intimacy to this recording.’
Adam Brady of Louder Than War comments: ‘At times hauntingly beautiful, at times ridiculously catchy and memorable.’

DOWNLOAD PRESS KIT