Latest news with #MarinaDiamandis
CBS News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
MARINA steps into her next era with new album after overcoming health challenges: "I have had to basically change my whole life"
MARINA opens up about health struggles and new album "Princess of Power" For British indie pop icon MARINA, the most thrilling part of writing a record is when she finally nails what it's about. "I was like, it's 'Princess of Power' … and it spells 'pop.' It's like, this is meant to be," MARINA said. Her sixth album, "Princess of Power," comes after the artist — born Marina Diamandis — recovered from chronic fatigue syndrome while rebuilding her relationship with music and her identity. MARINA has scored billions of streams without ever having a top 10 single in the U.K. or U.S., yet her influence runs deep among a generation of artists including Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish. "I think artists who are very commercially successful, like they'll have these peaks and troughs and mine's kind of like been like steadily going up," MARINA said. Although she admitted it's "somewhat frustrating" when music doesn't reach mainstream success, her dedicated fanbase never fails to find it. "I always want people to choose to love my music. I don't want to shove it in anyone's face," she said. The origins of MARINA's journey The daughter of a Welsh mother and Greek father, MARINA moved from her hometown of Abergavenny, Wales, to London at 19. She was initially embarrassed to sing in public – but music felt like an "innate calling." She overcame her stage fright "painfully" by going to open mic nights alone. "I was like, if I'm bad, I need no one I know to see me be bad, which you can't do anymore, 'cause everyone's filming everything," she said, laughing. Her 2010 debut as Marina and the Diamonds launched her career, followed by 2012's "Electra Heart," which reached No. 1 on British charts. But by 2016, success felt suffocating. "And I just suddenly felt really trapped," she said. "I felt like my identity was glued to my artist's identity. I just suddenly, like wanted out." Discovering health issues That same year, MARINA began experiencing mysterious symptoms that would later be diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome. "The main symptom actually was buzzing all over," she explained. "And it always started in my feet then it would basically go all the way up my body … like my face would basically be throbbing. Like my whole body would feel like it was ringing." It took six years to understand the condition was connected to her nervous system. Breathwork ultimately provided relief. "I have had to basically change my whole life, like inside out," she said. While MARINA stepped back from her career, her early music found new life on TikTok. "It is strange because I was so used to like pushing to make things happen in my career. And then suddenly this whole thing, you get three platinum records by doing nothing," she said. Now living in Los Angeles, MARINA approaches each album with detailed planning, usually in a journal. But this time, she made an album map for "Princess of Power" which includes a color palette, themes and the kind of energy she wanted the music to have: cosmic, love rush, euphoric, dazzling, bright light, and powerful. "This album was different because I think I'm at the point where I'm not writing so much to like heal myself," she said. "I was like, I have this platform, and I want to make sure that whatever I'm putting out into the world has a certain type of energy that feels positive to me … because that's what I really needed two years ago when I started writing this." "You don't get to do this many times in your life, you know, as an artist," she continued. "So, I was like, this is the time I'm gonna do this. Let's see what happens." Performing these new songs allows MARINA to embody the transformation she's undergone. "It's almost like making it public means I can suddenly step into it," she said. "It's almost like I can finally say to people, 'This is who I am actually.' Like the person you knew four years ago has gone." That transformation represents more than recovery, it's a reclamation of her power.
The Guardian
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Marina Diamandis: ‘My greatest achievement? Being delusional and dreaming big'
Born in south Wales, Marina Diamandis, 39, released her first album, The Family Jewels, in 2010. Her second, Electra Heart, went to No 1 in the UK in 2012 and gave her the hit single Primadonna. Her other albums are Froot, Love + Fear and Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land, which featured the Ivor Novello-nominated Man's World. Last year, she published a poetry collection, Eat the World. Her new album, Princess of Power, has just been released. She lives in California. When were you happiest? My late 20s, writing my third record. What is your greatest fear? Not trying something I really want to do. What is your earliest memory? Painting the entire kitchen floor red with my sister. It had a pink tinge for years afterwards. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Cruelty. Aside from property, what's the most expensive thing you've bought? A Porsche. What is your most treasured possession? I don't have a strong sentimental side when it comes to stuff I own. Describe yourself in three words Cheerful, sensitive, sassy. What would your superpower be? To make people love each other. What makes you unhappy? Being too busy. I need space in my day. What is your most unappealing habit? I hate to wash a pot or a pan. Who is your celebrity crush? George Clooney for ever. Which book are you ashamed not to have read? None! We shouldn't shame people for not having read 'the greats'. There are always new greats emerging that may feel more relevant to our life experience, particularly female writers. What is your guiltiest pleasure? Watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why? Myself. I didn't know how to protect myself adequately when I was younger, and I think I would have experienced my youth differently if I had. What does love feel like? Home. Have you ever said 'I love you' and not meant it? Absolutely not. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Which words or phrases do you most overuse? 'Are you fucking kidding me?' What is the worst job you've done? Working at a petrol station. If you could edit your past, what would you change? I would get therapy in my early 20s. When did you last cry, and why? Three days ago. I don't even know why. Sometimes I just feel emotional about how vulnerable humans are. When did you last change your mind about something significant? A year ago. My understanding of what love is has changed immensely since. What single thing would improve the quality of your life? Getting rid of my phone. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Being delusional and dreaming big. How would you like to be remembered? As fun and of help to others. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Genuine love is given freely, not by force.
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Vogue
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
On Her New Album Princess of Power, Marina Finds a New Sense of Freedom—and Has a Whole Lot of Fun
Here, Diamandis talks to Vogue about striking out on her own, how making the album taught her to love herself in a different way, and the story behind her winking tribute to Salma Hayek on the deliciously titled standout track 'Cuntissimo.' Vogue: Good morning, Marina! Where am I finding you today? Marina: I'm honestly just in my bed in LA, all propped up. I shot a new video the day before yesterday, and I'm kind of still recovering. Was it an intense shoot? It was, actually. It was 14 hours, and really fun, but there was a lot of dancing. There was also some wire work, which I've never done before. Wow. How are you feeling at this stage, two weeks before the album comes out? Do you tend to get pre-release jitters, and does it feel any different this time around? I don't get jitters, per se. I feel much more excited, more than anything. And also just curious to see how people are going to react—particularly with this record. It's definitely a pop record, but it feels quite varied, especially compared to the singles that have come out so far. Obviously, every time I feel really inspired by something, I hope that other people feel similar. But with art, you can never control it. You just don't know how people are going to connect to it—and if they are even going to connect to it, based on my past experiences. But I feel really good. I'm ready to get into it, and start being out in the world again. It's your first record as an independent artist. Can you tell me a little more about your journey there, and why it felt like the right time to strike out on your own? So, I had been with Atlantic for five records—and with my publisher, actually—and so after those deals were done, I just didn't bother re-signing with anybody. I didn't really see the point, which is a privilege that's only afforded to an established artist, unfortunately. I think it's very difficult to be completely independent if you're starting out. I spent a couple of years just figuring out what kind of record I wanted to make, and then I actually ended up doing a partnership deal for just one record with BMG. So it's not solely independent, but essentially what it means is that I have my own record label. I have investment from someone else, but I get to decide what to do with it, which is really the key thing. That's usually the main point of frustration for a lot of artists: you want to do a certain type of video, but then you have to get 20 people to sign off on a budget. I don't have to do that anymore, which is great.
Gulf Weekly
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
A lesson in love
Greek-Welsh singer and songwriter Marina Diamandis aka Marina is set to drop her sixth album Princess of Power tomorrow, June 6. According to the 39-year-old artist, the 13-track album – which she described as 'freeing' to work on – is about loving her inner self, reflecting on ageing in the pop industry, finding one's voice and challenging patriarchal oppression. The body of work is expected to feature an upbeat and energetic pop-oriented sound. 'We are meeting a Marina who is not guarding her heart so much anymore,' the artist said in an interview. 'I think part of why this album has felt so freeing is that I think I've really dove into my fear of love. That's why, for me, it's so powerful that this superheroine's biggest power is love. The album is about teaching yourself – or re-teaching yourself how to love,' she added. Princess of Power marks the creative talent's first self-released project since her extended plays Mermaid vs Sailor (2007) and Froot Acoustic (2015), following her departure from Atlantic Records and starting her independent label Queenie Records. Previously known by her stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds', the musician embarked on her career in 2005 and rose to fame for her song I Am Not A Robot off her debut album The Family Jewels (2010). She garnered even more attention following the release of her 2012 studio album Electra Heart, which received mixed reviews from music critics but was favoured and uplifted by Marina's dedicated audience. It eventually earned the status of a cult classic, with Rolling Stone magazine listing it among the 50 greatest concept albums of all time in 2022. Marina's style consists of a combination of pop subgenres, including art pop and electropop, and she is known mainly for her mezzo-soprano vocal ability.
Washington Post
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Marina is here to generate joy, during WorldPride and always
A few weeks ago, Marina Diamandis took to social media to make an all-caps plea to bring back things like whimsy, smiling in photos and dillydallying. 'MAKE THIS THE SUMMER OF CRINGE,' she wrote. 'MAKE THIS THE SUMMER OF GIVING A S---.' That mission statement reverberates throughout the forthcoming album 'Princess of Power' from the singer-songwriter, who performs mononymously as Marina. Across a trio of synth-powered pop anthems, Diamandis celebrates personal transformation, new love and female empowerment with her trademark wit and glam.
