Marina V

From Modern Fairytale To Beautiful an Interview with Marina V
by London Evans-Thompson

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down  with singer/songwriter Marina V to chat about her new Album “My Star”.

Marina came to Los Angeles from Russia almost 10 years ago and parlayed hard work and drive into a successful career in the music business. I’ve tried my best to describe her appeal, but I think she does it best:

“If the Beatles and Tori Amos had a child raised in Russia by Tchaikovsky… that would be me.”

“My Star” is powerfully introspective. It’s the kind of CD you listen to a few times to peel back the layers. So fitting for Marina, an artist who always garners a second look.

Q & A with Marina V

Marina, you’ve accomplished what few artists have. You’ve just released your seventh album. You’ve discovered your niche and you have an adoring fan-base. You have an amazing new video, you are touring, you’ve got buzz. To a new listener who just recently jumped on the bandwagon, you’re an overnight success. After 10 years in the BIZ what can you tell me about the concept of “Over Night Success”?

Marina: First – I’d like to thank you for your kind words, as they mean a lot coming from you! Although I started 10 years ago with my very first live performance, my first few “albums” weren’t really albums, but more like self-discovery or, better yet, “trials and errors”. “Overnight Success” – I think most successful people go through years of preparation, hard work and learning about themselves and their craft, and I am no exception. But I feel this is only the beginning. I am only starting!

As a fan, what attracts me to you is your story. I’m really drawn in by your songs when I view them through the lens of your amazing journey. This realness is what I feel really gives you the ability to influence and win people to your cause. You raised over $30,000 from your fans to fund your current album “My Star”during the most challenging financial time in U.S. history. To me this is nothing short of a miracle and proof that you totally matter in the music landscape. It also shows that humility and accessibility trump Billboards and hype.

There is a saying “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Looking back at the past year, how did you formulate the idea to reach out to your fans, and how does it feel today to glance off the stage into the eye’s of those who’s hearts and treasure are truly with you?

Marina: I think that for most people, when we look back at our accomplishments, we often wonder – how did I do it? Right? For me, looking back at this year, having raised money to make my new album, I am somewhat amazed that it all actually happened and that people were kind and generous enough to help me make this record. I reached out to my fans to help me finance the album for a couple of reasons. First, I didn’t have my own money to do it (if I were super wealthy, I would have just paid for it myself, of course!) Second, I am always in close touch with my fans, whether it’s after the shows, via email or Facebook or my messageboard, and the fans often ask – what can I do to help? So this is what helped me make the decision, that love and willingness of my listeners to contribute!!

In my opinion, sonically this is your best album. Your voice is “in your face” intimate and emotional. I’m immediately drawn in and transported to a place somewhere between space and a conversation with an angel, and by the end of track two I don’t want to leave. What did you do differently in this recording that makes it so captivating?

Marina: Thank you for your sweet words. I really think the sound of the record has a lot to do with the producer I collaborated with, Guy Erez. The songs are still me, the writing hasn’t changed since my earlier work. But what did change, is having the producer work with me on arrangements and subtle additions here and there. Guy helped me pick the right microphone and right compression for my voice, plus we had a great engineer and mixer!!! Having all the people who are experts at what they do work with you as a team makes a whole lotta difference! (Zeppelin reference, not bad spelling!)

Your lead off single “You Make Me Beautiful” touches on a concept that I feel is one of the most amazing things that can be said about another human being. In your video you throw away the material contraptions associated with outer beauty while singing “You make me beautiful believing in me, you make me beautiful and deep within I find the best side of myself, I know no one else makes me beautiful”.

Marina, I know you have been told how drop dead hot you are, and your droves of male fans attests to that, but seriously, right now in this space. Right here, who makes you feel beautiful?

Marina: Are you going to have me tell you all of my secrets? But seriously, the song “You Make Me Beautiful” is about finding the person in your life who brings out the very best things in you, things you possibly didn’t even know you had in you. Drop dead hot? I have never thought of myself that way, I’ve always felt a bit awkward and maybe “cute”, at best!!

When you set out to record “My Star” what side of Marina were you looking to express?

Marina: I know a lot of artists set out to make a record with a certain theme, certain vibe.. For me, all of my albums are collections of songs, and each song is a little snippet of my life and my mind.

What was you inspiration for this recording?

Marina: Everything in life is inspiring to me, everyone I meet, things I see. I don’t think anything in particular inspired the whole recording, but I can think of every song and remember what inspired me to write each one.

Did you succeed in completing you vision or were there a few things you wanted to do on this recording that will have to wait until the next album?

Marina: Perhaps the only thing I didn’t get to do on this album is have a real string ensemble, which I’d love to have on my next record! But that’s far away from now

How is love treating you?

Marina: Very well I am very happy!

Preview “My Star” by Marina V

1. You Make Me Beautiful 3:38 – You Make Me Beautiful
2. Thursday Song 4:01 – Thursday Song
3. Blue for You 3:29 – Blue for You
4. My Star 4:00 – My Star
5. Killing My Dream 3:56 – Killing My Dream
6. Don’t Cry 5:08 – Don’t Cry
7. Unbalanced 3:13 – Unbalanced
8. Weight of the World 4:04 – Weight of the World
9. Tonkaya Ryabina / Тонкая Рябина 1:44 – Tonkaya Ryabina / Тонкая Рябина
Bonus track
10. Magical Christmas 3:22 – Magical Christmas

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About Blisstunes Emerging Artists:

Blisstunes Emerging Artist is a new series that features artists on the verge from around the globe. This crop of artists are unconventional, they are bold, and most importantly they provide a service to their fans. It’s clear in this new music age lots of things have changed, but the basics still remain. We hope through this series our readers will be inspired to follow their dreams, and learn something new about this generation of artists that are literally rewriting the book on how things work in this new music business.