Interview with Marina & the Diamonds
We’re talking to you ahead of your Valentine’s Day gig next month – are you gonna be all loved up for us?
Erm, probably not! I’m not that in to it… I just think it’s a bit of a nothing; it’s only good if you’re with someone, isn’t it? I think it’s just a marketing thing.
Yeah – you should tell your loved one that you love them on days that you’re not told to do so…
Exaaaactly!!
But it’s gonna be your first headline tour, so are you excited about that?
Yeah, I am actually and I think it’s almost all sold out, which has never happened before for me, so yeah, I’m really pleased and I’m looking forward to seeing all the Diamonds…
Well there’s definitely more than a few in Norwich. It’s been a long wait for the Diamonds to get their hands on your album, but it’s coming out in February – but hasn’t it been put back a little bit?
Yeah, it’s been put back a week because of the Brit Awards and Valentine’s Day, because apparently the charts are flooded with these Valentine’s albums – it’s like ‘grrrr’. But I’m kinda pleased because the 22nd is a very lucky date for me; the number 11 has followed me around my whole life, and I met 679, my record label – which adds up to 22 by the way – on the 22/11 in 2007, so it’s a very lucky number.
Has it been a long wait for you too, as well as the fans?
Er, yes; maybe not so much a wait, but it was a long process because I am such a troublesome studio bunny! I do take a while getting things right, but it’s only because I want to get them exactly right.
I’ve noticed your songs seem quite autobiographical, but I wondered if it’s quite an exposing thing, writing about yourself?
Well only when I do interviews do I realise, and I kinda feel exposed, but I think ‘oh well, if no-one ever confessed to anything, people would feel very alone’, so I don’t mind being exposed a little bit!
There are some awesome remixes of your tracks, but have you heard them all and what do you think about them after such a long process of getting them exactly the way you want them?
I have to approve them, so I’ve listened to them all; I mean, I’m sure there are ones that are not legit, which is cool, but a lot of them I love, like the Starsmith one for ‘I’m Not a Robot’, Aspirins for my Children one I love, and loads that I listen to and then I’m like, uh, that’s embarrassing, you’re listening to your own songs!
Your Dad’s Greek, isn’t he? Did that make for interesting musical influences as a child?
Yeah, it did, I mean, I think that’s the only thing that really influenced my music, because I didn’t really listen to UK artists when I was growing up – it was mostly like Greek Choral music, or class Greek singers, so I’m very grateful that he did play music all the time.
Have you always had a lot of support from your family?
I think in the beginning they thought it was a big risk, and they were like, ‘What?! Marina, we didn’t even know you could sing!’, and I was like, ‘Nah, I want to be a pop staaaar!’ Now I think I’ve proved it over five years that I’ve got what it takes to do it and I really wanted to do it, because I think I could have gone overboard very early on, but I feel like this is my goal and they’re so supportive – I’m really lucky.
How do you feel about the ‘Ones to Watch’ type of label affixed to you and artists like you? Do you think it’s unnecessary hype?
It can be unnecessary or damaging if the artist is right at the beginning, so if they haven’t even recorded an album, they’re not really established, but I feel that because I’ve taken a quite organic and steady route, I do feel quite ready for any criticism or attention, or whatever, so for things like this that are encouraging and positive are nice, because it’s good to have people believe in you.
You have just been to America, haven’t you?
Yes, I wanted to do a few writing sessions in New York, but it didn’t really work out. Then, I went to LA to meet people and I did write a song while I was out there, called ‘Oh No’, which did actually make the album!
You worked with Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio out there, didn’t you?
Erm, I have to disappoint you and say that I did work with him, but nothing came out of it. Maybe the next time it will – we’re still in contact, so maybe he’ll work on the next album.
He’s got such an inimitable style – was it interesting working with him?
Oh God, he’s incredible – so talented, he’s great, but sometimes it just depends on whether you’re having a funny day, or it can depend on lots of things.
Now, you have been to Norwich before on one of the NME Radar Tours, last October, I think, but do you have any memories of our fine city?
Well actually I was quite ill when I was on that tour, so I missed quite a lot of it, so it wasn’t the best tour ever, so I’m actually looking forward to coming back and exploring Norwich and having a nice time, especially because it’s my own gig now… I dunno, the NME tour was a bit of a funny one if I’m honest! I had swine flu for like, six days.
As I said, your gig is on Valentine’s Day, so I just wanted to know what you would like from your audience that night?
I would like them to come to my gig and not feel any kind of negative feeling that you usually have when you go to a gig or go out, like, when you feel self-conscious, or anything like that – just feel free as people. And move around lots please! British people don’t move in gigs – especially in places like London! People are all really still and don’t express themselves, but the further up north you get, they’re a little more expressive. That would be a lovely gift if they just had a dance.
Emma Roberts
Marina will be welcoming her Diamonds to come to the Norwich Arts Centre on February 14th. For tickets and information, go to www.norwichartscentre.co.uk.
