Detroit Artist Martone On New Album, Brand, Shows & Revolution

Few Detroit artists carry their legacy the way Martone does. Rooted in the rhythms and innovation that put the Motor City on the global electronic music map, the singer-songwriter has spent years crafting a sound that is entirely his own.

Electro Wow caught up with the self-described Emperor of House Music to talk about his upcoming album ‘Phoenix Rising: The Emperor’s Ascension,’ his brand, his shows, and the revolution he is quietly but deliberately building.

1. So, ‘Phoenix Rising: The Emperor’s Ascension’ — that’s a bold title. Where did that come from, and what does it mean to you?

The title actually came to me before a lot of the delays and life events that happened during the making of this project. At the time, I was already thinking about transformation — what it means to evolve as an artist and as a person over time. As the journey unfolded, the meaning of the title became even deeper.

‘Phoenix Rising’ speaks to renewal and resilience. Life has a way of testing you, and sometimes the only option is to rise again with a clearer understanding of who you are and what you’re here to do.

‘The Emperor’s Ascension’ isn’t about ego. It’s about responsibility — honoring the craft, respecting the lineage of the music, and stepping fully into the work with intention. The name “Emperor of House Music” is something that grew around me over time through listeners and supporters of the music, and I’ve come to see it less as a title and more as a reminder to hold myself to a higher standard creatively.

Detroit gave the world Techno, and the city has always carried a deep legacy in electronic music. Being part of that broader tradition — while bringing my own voice and experiences into the music — is something I take very seriously.

So the album is really about evolution, resilience, and continuing the journey forward.

2. Detroit House music has such a deep history. How does this album fit into that legacy, and where are you trying to take it next?

Detroit’s contribution to electronic music is undeniable. The city gave the world Techno, and that spirit of innovation has always influenced the broader Dance music culture, including House.

What I respect most about Detroit artists is that they never approached the music as just entertainment — it was always about expression, technology, and pushing sound forward.

With ‘Phoenix Rising,’ my goal isn’t to compete with that legacy but to contribute to it in my own way. I come from a place where House music is emotional, rhythmic, and deeply human. The songs are about connection, love, struggle, and the realities people carry with them onto the dance floor.

Where I’m trying to take it next is toward something that feels both classic and contemporary — honoring the roots of House music while allowing the storytelling and sound to evolve. For me, the future of music still has to carry soul. If it loses that, it loses the reason people fell in love with it in the first place.

3. Talk to us about “We Loved Each Other Through It.” What’s the story behind this new single?

“We Loved Each Other Through It” is a reflection on endurance — the kind of love that exists even when life becomes complicated, painful, or uncertain. Sometimes people think love exists only in perfect moments, but in reality, it’s often revealed in the hardest ones.

For me, the song is deeply personal. It’s dedicated to my ancestors — those who came before me and those who will come after. When you think about the history many of us carry, especially in the African diaspora, love has often been the one thing that allowed people to survive what they endured.

So the song is about that quiet strength. Even when everything around us changes, or breaks, or is taken away, the love that carried people through those moments is still there. That’s the spirit behind the record.

4. That title says a lot without saying too much — did you live this, or is this something you wrote for everyone who’s been through it?

I lived it, but the story reaches far beyond my personal experience. When I wrote “We Loved Each Other Through It,” I was thinking about the way love has carried people through generations of hardship. The imagery in the song and the lyrics connect to that idea — that even when history has tried to break people apart, love was often the thing that allowed them to endure.

For me, the song is dedicated to my ancestors — those who came before me and those who will come after. So while it comes from a real place in my own life, it’s also meant to speak to a much larger story about resilience, memory, and the power of love to survive even the hardest circumstances.

5. For someone hearing this single for the first time, what should they expect when the full album drops?

If someone is hearing “We Loved Each Other Through It” first, they’re stepping into the emotional center of the album. The song blends Afro-beat and RnB influences with House rhythms, which reflects the kind of musical conversation I wanted the project to have.

The full album, ‘Phoenix Rising: The Emperor’s Ascension,’ is scheduled for release on June 23, 2026. The songs themselves are already written, but I’ll be returning to the studio later this month to continue shaping the sound and production of the project.

What I want people to experience when they hear the album is the freedom to feel whatever the music brings out in them. For me, the record is an emotional arc of my life — moments of love, reflection, sensuality, and resilience — all moving through the language of rhythm and dance.

6. Who helped bring ‘Phoenix Rising’ to life — who are the producers, writers, and collaborators behind this project?

‘Phoenix Rising: The Emperor’s Ascension’ has been a deeply collaborative effort, even though the vision for the project began with the songs themselves. I wrote the material as part of the emotional arc that shaped the album, but bringing those ideas to life in the studio required people who understood the spirit of the music.

The entire album has been produced by my cousin, Michael E. Williams II of Platinum Keyz. We’ve shared a musical understanding for a long time, and his ability to translate emotion into sound has been an important part of shaping the record. His wife, Felicia Williams, also contributed background vocals, and both of them can be heard on “We Loved Each Other Through It.”

There were also a few writing contributions along the way. Clayton Morgan and Intelligent Diva each participated in the writing process, adding their perspectives after the original song was completed.

On the remix side, my brother, Marvin “DJ Extreme Detroit” Hairston, has been creating the remixes, bringing his own Detroit energy into the music and expanding how the songs can live on the dance floor.

So, while the heart of the album began with the writing, the final sound of ‘Phoenix Rising’ reflects the work of several people who helped shape it into what listeners will hear.

7. You’ve got a pending trademark for “Martone, The Emperor of House Music” — that’s a serious move. What made you decide to go that route?

The trademark process really came from understanding the importance of protecting your name and your creative identity as an independent artist. When you’re building something over time, you want to make sure the brand connected to the work is properly protected.

“The Emperor of House Music” wasn’t something I originally gave myself. The title was used by Ruelon.com in reference to my work, and it began to circulate around the music. My producers later suggested that I lean into it as part of the brand, and over time, it became associated with what I do.

At a certain point, it simply made sense to protect the Martone name and the broader identity surrounding the work. For me, the title isn’t about ego. It’s more about responsibility — respecting the craft, honoring the legacy of the music, and continuing to grow as an artist within that tradition.

8. A lot of Detroit artists are starting to experiment with AI for their graphics and branding — is that part of the Martone visual world?

Technology has always been part of music and entertainment. Long before people started using the term “AI,” artists were already working with digital tools, visual effects, and evolving production technologies to express ideas in new ways.

For me, the most important thing is intention. Tools should serve the creative vision, not replace the human creativity behind it. Whether it’s music, visuals, or branding, the goal is always to tell the story of the work in a way that feels authentic and meaningful.

The conversation around technology can sometimes create unnecessary stigma, but the real issue isn’t the tool — it’s how responsibly and creatively it’s used.
At the end of the day, what matters most is the music itself. If the song connects with people, everything else around it simply supports that experience.

9. What shows do you have coming up, and what’s it like seeing people experience this music live?

Right now, my focus is finishing ‘Phoenix Rising: The Emperor’s Ascension’ and making sure the music is presented the way it’s meant to be heard. I’m planning to return to performing later this year, sometime in the late September to early October timeframe, once the album has had time to settle into the world.

I may also do a small online event or two in the fall so people can experience the music more intimately.

For me, live performance has always been about connection. House music was built in spaces where people could come together, move, and feel something collectively. Seeing people experience the music live is always powerful because you realize the song doesn’t belong only to you anymore — it becomes part of everyone’s moment in that room.

When I step back onto the stage, the goal is to bring that same spirit: rhythm, emotion, and the shared energy that has always been at the heart of Dance music culture.

10. Every emperor leaves a mark on history. What is the Martone revolution, and what do you want it to change?

If there’s a “Martone revolution,” it isn’t about power or titles — it’s about authenticity.

I want to remind people that music can still come from a place of honesty, emotion, and lived experience. In a world where everything moves quickly and sometimes feels manufactured, there’s still value in artists taking the time to create work that reflects who they truly are.

For me, the real change is encouraging people to reconnect with the soul of the music — the rhythm, the storytelling, the humanity behind it. House music was built in spaces where people could come together, express themselves freely, and feel seen.

If the work I’m doing helps keep that spirit alive and encourages even a few people to embrace their own voice and creativity, then that’s a meaningful mark to leave.

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