Martin began writing music after retiring from full time work in the UK as a Publisher with Oxford University Press. For the past 20 years he has been living for part of the year in Andalucía. This part of Spain has a long history of flamenco and traditional folk music and it is a cherished tradition that is still very much alive today.

Martin studied composition with the UK Open College of Arts and orchestration and world music with US Berklee College. He also learnt flamenco guitar and took masterclasses in palmas (clapping) and cajon. Under the guidance of his composition tutor and mentor Chris Lawry, Martin wrote and produced two albums of Spanish music under the artist name “Return Trip” - Seven Spanish Songs (2020) and an album of instrumental music Spanish Roots (2021), which earned a 4* review from the leading World Music magazine “Songlines”.

Continuing his studies with the Film Scoring Academy of Europe, in 2024 Martin released ReScore, an album of orchestral film music. In July 2025 his orchestral suite Zambomba! was premiered in Bulgaria by the Sofia Philharmonic as part of the Sofia Symphonic summit  and in December 2025 an ensemble version was performed in Plovdiv by ClassicArt. 

Return Trip was established in 2019 to record and distribute Martin's compositions and arrangements inspired by Spanish music.  

 The name Return Trip, Ida y Vuelta in Spanish, refers to musical styles that have their roots in Spain, evolved in Central and South America, and then “returned home” to Spain in modified form. 

All Return Trip's profits are donated to  Care International, a global charity working to save lives and end poverty