This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Artist Interviews
Q&A: Marina And The Diamonds
By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 5 August 2009
Solo artist Marina Diamandis is the Marina in Marina And The Diamonds. The Diamonds, she says, are her fans, rather than a backing band. And in a time when everyone’s saying the key to success is involving your fans more, I suppose that including them in the name of your project should be commended. Hailing from Wales, although she claims to have been born in Ancient Greece, she caused a stir with her debut single, ‘Obsessions/Mowgli’s Road’, and the ‘Crown Jewels’ EP, which was released in June. Amongst numerous live dates between now and the end of the year, you can catch Marina at The Big Chill this Friday, where she will be playing the Wonky Pop stage. She’s also earned herself a place on the NME Radar Tour. We spoke to Marina to ask our Same Six Questions.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
I wrote a lot of songs without ever actually putting music to them. I had never really sung in public either until I was 19 as I was very shy.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Family, being sad, drive, ambition, being average, being unique. Anything that I’d felt strongly about over the past four years.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
It’s never exactly the same but I usually come up with a funny or interesting lyric at first and then I might sit down at the piano with it two weeks later. All the songs are usually lyrically-driven.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
People with a wild imagination, like Vivienne Westwood, Jeremy Scott, Pam Hogg, Christopher Kane. Musically, creatively fearless people like Daniel Johnston, The Distillers, No Doubt, PJ Harvey, and Kate Bush .
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Don’t. Jump. To conclusions.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
I would like my album to touch people. I’m after people’s hearts rather than their pockets.
MORE>> www.marinaandthediamonds.com
