“I love experimenting with music. I don’t really have any rules or boundaries and I don’t really know what I’m doing (laughs). I just try anything.”
- Marina Diamandis, on creativity and originality.
“They say if you think you’re mad, then you’re not mad (laughs).”
- Marina Diamandis, on convincing herself she’s not crazy.
“I’ve realised what I want and it’s not to be famous. I don’t give a c**p about that to be honest. I just want to make interesting and stimulating music that will provoke peoples’ thoughts.”
- Marina Diamandis, on the real reason she makes music.
Mar 14, 2009. By Jordana Borensztajn.
Marina Diamandis doesn’t care about fame and fortune. Despite making a very speedy transition from a struggling artist desperately trying to get noticed, to a singer who is now in demand worldwide, the 24-year-old UK songbird – and brains behind Marina and the Diamonds – hasn’t let her recent music frenzy affect her.
Diamandis was catapulted into the spotlight in January after being hand-picked to feature on the BBC’s Sound of 2010 list. Like so many other UK artists before her (La Roux, Little Boots, Florence), it wasn’t long before everyone wanted a piece of this rising star.
Chatting to Nova on the phone from her apartment in North London drinking an "innocent smoothie," the Welsh-born singer and songwriter is incredibly relaxed, articulate, and down to earth. “I’m really tired,” Diamandis laughs as she reflects on what it feels like to be earmarked as a rising star in music.
“It’s exciting but like, for Australia, I know I’m not going to get to come for ages. Part of me feels excitement and the other half is like ‘What’s the point in life?’ I feel very black and white about things.”
“I feel really connected when I’m making music and it’s definitely been a brilliant journey so far because I’ve realised what I want, and it’s not to be famous. I don’t give a c**p about that to be honest. I just want to make interesting and stimulating music that will provoke peoples’ thoughts.”
Check out this wild acoustic of "Mowgli's Road"
There’s no doubt Diamandis’ ambitious, melodic, adventurous and quirky debut solo delivery – The Family Jewels – does exactly that. Boasting a variety of shrieks, wails, instruments, and robotic effects – most notably “koo koo” screeches in “Mowgli’s Road” – Diamandis says fans can rest assured that she’s not as crazy as she comes across in her music.
“I’m quite sensible actually but I love experimenting with music. I don’t really have any rules or boundaries and I don’t really know what I’m doing (laughs). I just try anything. They say if you think you’re mad, then you’re not mad (laughs),” she says.
“I’m very shrude on a business level but with creativity I’ve got quite a fluffy mind that wanders quite regularly. I just like painting a really vivid picture for people.”
Having only been out for three short weeks, The Family Jewels has already reached silver certification across the UK and Ireland. Some artists are naturally blessed with a heap of talent and Diamandis certainly falls into this category.
“I write and record everything, and co-produce everything. Obviously I have a producer and an engineer, but I’m really interested in doing things on my own and being self-sufficient. Sometimes I just wish I had my own studio. I’m such a non-team player. I’m really evil (laughs).”
The Family Jewels is available now through Warner.
Comments