Music meets accessibility

Christina Martin Unveils 17 Audio Described Music Videos Accompanied By A More Accessible Website

Christina Martin, the visionary Nova Scotia-based singer-songwriter, announced the release of 17 Audio Described Music Videos on her YouTube channel, accompanied by a new website with accessibility features to help more people enjoy and discover her music.

Drawing from her collection of visually immersive music videos, Christina worked with accessibility expert Christel Seeberger of Sensory Friendly Solutions to help bring her creations to life in a new way. Each video is meticulously audio described, ensuring that individuals with visual impairments can fully engage and appreciate the artistic expression within the videos.

Speaking of the musician, Seeberger says, “Christina is a sensory-friendly, accessibility and inclusion champion on the music scene. Her large catalog of audio described music videos is unprecedented; her website accessibility features and accessibility statement demonstrate her leadership for musicians. With heart, commitment, and a spirit of always learning, Christina doesn’t let fear of the unknown or perfection stand in the way of doing good and having impact by making her fans feel like they belong, and creating experiences that invite more people to enjoy her music.”

In 2016 Christina began researching ways she could improve access to her music. Her first stop was a UK-based website called Attitude is Everything that offered a free downloadable PDF for artists. That only compelled her to do more.

Speaking of the experience, Martin says, “Even with my background working with people with invisible and visible disabilities, for the most part, ‘barriers to accessing art’ was not on my radar. I needed to reach out to fans, experts and people with lived experience for guidance.”

With the support of the Province of Nova Scotia’s Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive Program, Martin connected with Seeberger and Sensory Friendly Solutions and got to work. She improved accessibility for her podcast A Chat With Heart, ensuring each episode includes transcripts, chapters and subtitles on YouTube. She also learned how to produce music videos for description users, resulting in 17 Audio Described Music Videos, and an official website audited for accessibility improvements. This project was funded in part by the Government of Canada's Enabling Accessibility Fund.

“Music videos are important to my expression as an artist, and they are not always a literal depiction of my song lyrics,” says Martin. “Finding ways to produce audio described music videos felt like an exciting endeavor and a way to connect with more people. I’m not the first person to do this, and I look forward to feedback from audiences on how my partners and I have experimented with producing these videos, and I do see the potential for more artists to start incorporating a described version of their music videos”. 

Along with described video, Martin is experimenting with live audio description and sign language interpretation for online and in-person events, and trained guided volunteers for in-person events that include more sensory friendly elements like chill zones.

“I highly recommend artists and business owners working with an accessibility consultant with lived experience that can help them identify their goals, make the changes, and try new things to help improve access to their work. The experience has been pivotal for me, and now more people can experience and enjoy my music.“

Christina’s Top Tips for Newbies wanting to Increase Accessibility:

  • Hire consultants and people with lived experience to help on your path to making your work more inclusive. 

  • Avoid saying your event is ‘accessible for all’, because it probably isn’t, but do list the initiatives your events offer.

  • People have different needs. Ask your audience for tips on how you could improve accessibility.

  • Ask your local arts and government organizations what funding is available for accessibility initiatives.

  • Try your best and learn from any mistakes.

  • Take inspiration from what others are doing online and in-person.

About Christina Martin

Christina Martin is a powerhouse musician, songsmith, podcast host and performer hailing from the windswept East Coast of Canada. Her music dances effortlessly through Pop, Rock, Folk and Americana traditions but stays deftly unchained by any one label, unafraid to venture into stranger waters. From her Austin-inflected 2002 debut Pretty Things, to the sweeping cinematic dreamscape of 2018’s Impossible to Hold, Christina is an artist who is constantly shifting, and constantly evolving. And like all her material, latest album Storm boasts a backbone of raw honesty about the human condition. Be they personal confessions or narrative tales, each song is lovingly crafted, and hits in the heart like a well-thrown punch.