Marina and the Diamonds

[Magellan]

Marina and the Diamonds (aka Marina Lambrini Diamandis) has really started getting some airplay lately, and I'm sure some of you know her already. She's really just Marina (the "Diamonds" refers to her fans).

Among many of her influences, she cites Kate Bush.
Debut album The Family Jewels came out in February.



I've heard a few tracks of hers over the past year, and while she's a new mix of styles, I can see where Tori fans might also connect. Last.fm constantly recommends her to me, based on my other favourite artists. The time has come for Sarah fans to take note

I think "I Am Not A Robot" is my favourite track so far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_oMD6-6q5Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3nMfS10_1Y ("L.A." Version)

But her biggest track is the more lively "Hollywood", which is full of wit and anti-celebrity lyrics...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1VTcJfL7RE

I'm getting used to her There's a bit of Blondie in there too I think. And to get the complete picture, you also need to try the eccentric "Mowgli's Road", which does remind me (eccentricity wise) of Kate...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwfCjYv7gVQ

Rob.

[Crazylitstudent]

I have "The Family Jewels" and its an excellent album. I first heard her at the end of last year but forgot about her untill I heard "Hollywood" on the radio the week the album came out. I think she has an amazing voice and a really cool style. The video for "I Am Not A Robot" is so unusal and creative, I love it!

[Jessel]

I'm getting used to her There's a bit of Blondie in there too I think. And to get the complete picture, you also need to try the eccentric "Mowgli's Road", which does remind me (eccentricity wise) of Kate...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwfCjYv7gVQ

LOL! That's weird.
Like Katie Melua (who I discovered when she sang "What A Wonderful World" with a recording of the late Eva Cassidy, a duet of sorts), I largely ignored Marina and I don't know much about her music except for a few songs. I just don't get her yet. Vocalwise, she sounds more like a toned-down version of Nina Hagen imo. I'm still working out the Debbie Harry connection though...

[Kaleysuncle]

I really like her, as well as the album. So far I've been enjoying Are You Satisfied, Shampain, & I'm Not a Robot.

[Magellan]

Just some more info and a correction.
Wikipedia says she cites Kate Bush as an influence, but actually she doesn't. She says so here:

http://www.marinaandthediamonds.com/blo ... 0.htm?pg=2

Also Jessel, this article mentions Blondie...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/no ... -interview

I have bought the CD, and I really like her so far.

Rob.

[Jessel]

Just some more info and a correction.
Wikipedia says she cites Kate Bush as an influence, but actually she doesn't. She says so here:

http://www.marinaandthediamonds.com/blo ... 0.htm?pg=2

But she said so in a BBC interview (link to the wiki quote):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/p ... 083745.stm

Hmm, maybe she's simply name-dropping her (a trend among new female singer-songwriters which is becoming rather tiresome)... Or maybe she simply likes Kate's music/style but she probably never really influenced her on a larger scale...

[chadwick]

i downloaded "i am not a robot" when it was featured as a free single on iTunes. i loved it... i bought her record last week from an indie record store. the whole record is amazing... i'm in love with "numb"... so epic and i love the bouncy piano and strings.

she reminds me of regina spektor with a mix of kate nash and ingrid michaelson. i don't see any connections between tori and marina but i can see why tori fans would like her.

the music and vocals are very rich (kinda like bjork's music) so it took a few listens to hear everything.

[Magellan]

Marina has a new single/video - "Oh No!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr-SqRWImmI

Fun as always. I'm not sure what it is about her that I like, but I think it's just how real she comes across. She's incredibly genuine in interviews and on her blog.

[chadwick]

here is a link to marina on "KCRW morning becomes eclectic." It's a 46 minute acoustic set with interviews. i gave it a listen and it is mostly her singing with a piano. i didn't watch the video portion, only the audio.

is there anyone that can covert the show into a mp3, even better if it could be broken into songs? i'm not sure how to do this and i couldn't find a copy on the marina message boards.

http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/m ... _the_diamo

[Magellan]

I tried capturing that for you Chad, but couldn't even get it to play here
Marina has a new video for the single "Shampain" though...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vHi83LTQjU



Bit of an 80s feel/style?
Love Marina, if only all pop singers were this "pure" in terms of being actual artists writing their own songs. Not just doing karaoke for a team of stylists