Lee
“Being a woman, for me, is seeing the power in softness and fluidity, knowing that you will have to wear so many hats, sometimes requiring you to be a warrior and sometimes requiring you to be the nurturer.”
Lee is an established musician whose resilient heart and soft nature are captured beautifully in her songwriting. Picking up a guitar before the age of 10, she built a connection with music that has served as a safe haven and source of joy for her through the years. After a life-altering experience rocked her reality and sense of safety, she was able to embark on a journey of incredible strength and healing. Even through times of adversity, her empathetic and forgiving spirit prevail. Meet Lee. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
L: My name is Lee Martin, a New Zealand based singer/songwriter.
I grew up and studied in South Africa and my sister and I were raised by a single Mum since the age of 1. My Mother is one of the most amazing and bravest people I know, having had the courage to leave an abusive situation with a one- and two-year-old to take care of.
As a child I managed to build an imaginary world where I spent most of my time escaping the realities of the drama surrounding me. I started my musical (especially guitar) obsession when I was 5 years old.
I live and breathe music; from the moment I open my eyes until the moment I drift off to dreamland. I feel like music occupies every molecule of my being and song-writing to me is as natural as breathing. I am a Mum of two gorgeous boys, a wife, artist, entrepreneur (co-founder of Marlee + Jo), yoga lover, health nut and chess enthusiast.
K: Describe yourself in your own words
L: Bubbly, high energy, creative, greyscale.
K: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
L: My ability to forgive. I think my best quality is being able to see beyond the black and white. I am always able to look further than just the obvious and I tend to play devil’s advocate in most situations. I believe we are all driven by so many things, and nothing is ever really what it seems. I like giving people the benefit of the doubt. I think that is why I find it so easy to forgive people, knowing that there is something deeper behind everyone’s actions.
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that has defined you or made you stronger?
L: When I was still living in South Africa, I had a home intrusion while I was asleep and home alone. I was attacked by the intruder, but I managed (still inconceivably) to fight him off. This experience led to severe PTSD and worse even, a year long stint of insomnia and intense paranoia and fear. I found myself finally agreeing to counselling to help me through the trauma but what I found was so much deeper and more valuable than I ever could have imagined. I discovered more of who I was, I faced some childhood trauma that I never would have dealt with otherwise. I realized that I was so much stronger than I thought, and I overcame the whole experience to a point where I am now grateful that I had to go through it.
K: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
L: Enjoy the moments for what they are while you are in it. Don’t always look ahead to the next goal, just fully experience the moment you are in because before you know it will be over.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
L: Being a woman, for me, is seeing the power in softness and fluidity, knowing that you will have to wear so many hats, sometimes requiring you to be a warrior and sometimes requiring you to be the nurturer. It means embracing femininity and letting strength shine through with grace and elegance. It is realizing that it is your duty to shine as brightly as you possibly can. It means not settling for anything less than what you are worth. It means you might be faced with extra challenges but knowing that inside you have the strength to overcome.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
L: Singer/songwriter Jewel.
Her story of absolute resilience, from sleeping in her car and being at her absolute rock bottom to stardom. The way she managed to use her mind to overcome a hopeless situation and then be able to touch so many people through her music.
I would thank her for inspiring me and for touching my life through her music.
