Our BA Songwriting alumna Essence Martins may not be long out of ICMP's classrooms but is already making waves within the music industry, landing a number of high profile gigs and releasing her debut EP. 

Immediately after completing her studies, Essence hit the road and toured the US as part of Birdy's band with ICMP Tutor Charlotte Hatherely. 

She released her debut EP in February 2024 - 'A Deer in The Headlights' - The New Age Magazine described how "Martins has crafted a six-song masterpiece that uses her vocal and lyrical abilities to transport listeners to another world and take them on a journey". 

Following the release, Essence was featured in Spotify's Fresh Finds and will be supporting Mika at his Kew The Music show this July.

Commenting, Shane Beales, ICMP BA Songwriting Programme Leader, said:

Essence was a fantastic songwriting student who showed great commitment to developing her craft throughout her time at ICMP."

"She came to every class with new material ready to share, responded proactively to feedback from tutors and peers, and was always championing the work of her peers in and out of the classroom."

Connect with Essence on Instagram. 

Watch Essence performs her beautiful track 'Wandering Souls' in our brand new Queen's Park studio.

Take the first steps in your music career with ICMP

We've been developing and delivering contemporary music education for over 30 years – longer than any other music school in the UK. With a proven track-record, countless music industry connections and unrivalled access to facilities, it's easy to see why hundreds of students choose ICMP each year. 

To completely immerse yourself in your music career, chat with our friendly Admissions Team via email enquiries@icmp.ac.uk or give them a call on 020 7328 0222.

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