Unbreakable records…

Q&A with Martin Hone, Director

Born in North London, Martin Hone worked in a warehouse, an umbrella factory, a charity shop and as an accountant before setting up Unbreakable Records with his business partner Andy Weller in 2024. He’s currently signing artists to the label’s roster and Unbreakable’s first release, ‘It’s Hard To Get Up (When You’re Bringing Me Down)’ by Tin Cry is out later this month. He lives in London with his second wife.

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Kate Bush. The world is just a better place because Kate’s in it. And the lad’s from Tin Cry. Our first signing at Unbreakable Records. They’re remarkable individuals.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I have a habit of overthinking and sweating the small stuff which is really annoying.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Toxic positivity.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

My life has really been a series of embarrassing events and it’s hard to say which was the most embarrassing. I once set my brother’s house on fire with a carelessly dropped cigarette butt. That was quite awkward.

Describe yourself in three words

Forgetful, literate, shy.

What would your superpower be?

That’s an easy one. Time travel.

What makes you unhappy?

At the moment it’s the way in which stupidity and ignorance are being celebrated across the world while intelligence and understanding are derided. I’m also not very keen on Thai food.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

I don’t really have movie star looks so it’s hard to say. Maybe John Lithgow?

What is your most unappealing habit?

I can’t stop smoking.

What scares you about getting older?

Absolutely nothing. I couldn’t care less. I’ve always felt right for the times I’m living in and I intend to go on like that until I drop.

Which book are you ashamed not to have read?

This is not a humble-brag but I am in fact very well-read so I’ve ‘done’ Ulysses and Infinite Jest and War & Peace and all those other supposedly ‘difficult’ books. Recently I started reading Jack London’s The Call Of The Wild and, unusually for me, gave up reading halfway through. It’s a crap book, in my opinion. Hugely overrated (sorry Jack!)

What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you?

Well, not said to my face exactly but when I was in a band with Andy [Weller – business partner and producer] we had a falling out with our guitarist who went a bit nuts after he left. The band was called The Unbreakables – hence the name of our record label – but on his social media sites after quitting our erstwhile strummer referred to us multiple times as The Unbearables, which is actually quite funny now I come to think of it.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Kit-Kats.

What does love feel like?

It starts with flu-like symptoms but most people manage to recover after a period of convalescence.

Which living person do you most despise, and why?

My answer to this will make me sound like a bit of a hippy (and what’s wrong with that?) I try not to hate people because I believe that every person has the ability to redeem themselves even if they’ve done cruel or despicable things. There are a number of politicians, musicians and celebrities that I’m not keen on but it would be going too far to say that I despise them.

What is the worst job you’ve done?

A summer job in a factory assembling umbrellas. There were rules about everything, including where you could sit in the canteen, what time you could go to the toilet, and the correct trousers to wear. I hated it.

What is the closest you’ve come to death?

I’ve had several narrow escapes from getting run over while drunk and I once was knocked unconscious when a ladder fell off a roof and flattened me.

What keeps you awake at night?

My wife could snore for England.

How would you like to be remembered?

I hope people won’t judge me too harshly.

What has life taught you?

That it’s better to seek forgiveness than to ask permission.