Though I haven’t traveled the world as extensively as I’d like to, I’ve visited enough places during my lifetime so far to recognize that, relatively and generally speaking, Americans are quite provincial when it comes to their exposure to—and interest in—cultures other than their own. And to some extent, this rigidity also manifests in terms of musical discovery, with many stateside listeners investing little to no energy in seeking out new music thriving beyond our country’s borders.
But those who devote even just a little bit of their time to exploring more of the global musical landscape are typically rewarded. A prime case in point would be anyone who has had the pleasure of indulging his or her ears in the songs of one Marina Kaye. Already firmly established as a pop powerhouse and revered singer-songwriter in France with two albums—2015’s Fearless and 2017’s Explicit—to her credit, it’s only a matter of time until audiences outside of her native stomping grounds latch on to her winning formula of commanding vocals, lyrical candor, addictive melodies and polished production. Take one listen to her stunner of a latest single “The Whole 9” and chances are good that you’ll be instantly hooked and eager to hear much more from this unique talent.
As Kaye prepares to release her third studio affair later this year, she generously took the time to speak with me about what we can expect from her new album, how she perceives expanding her footprint beyond France, why music is so important in these uncertain times, and much more.
Your new single “The Whole 9” is such a magnetic, powerful song—sonically, vocally and lyrically. Is the sound of “The Whole 9” indicative of what we can expect to hear on your forthcoming album? What else are you able to share about the album at this point?
Thank you! “The Whole 9,” just like my previous single “Twisted,” is lyrically and sonically one of the aspects of my personality. It’s not exactly what you’re gonna find on the album, yet it blends in perfectly. The album is going to be very, very personal, each song will tell you something about me that I couldn’t share before because I wasn’t ready to be so honest about how I feel about myself sometimes.
The press release for the single reads “For fans of: Lorde, Celeste and Lana Del Rey.” While I understand that this reference is included for those who might be unfamiliar with your music, I feel that your music defies comparison. How important is it to you to set yourself apart from your peers and nurture your own distinctive sound?
Honestly, I know people need comparison when they’ve never heard of someone before, so I accept it and I don’t really pay attention to it personally, as we offer some references when we communicate. However, I want my sound to be as unique as possible and I know I’m one of the “dark pop girls,” but we’re all different. We don’t use the same sounds, we don’t have the same tone.
You’re 22 years old now, but remarkably, you’ve already been part of the music industry machine for quite a while. What have been the high points of your experience thus far? And the low points?
Strictly speaking, I’ve been in the music industry since 2014, when I had already finished writing and producing my first album with no “industry” pressure, and then I was signed to Capitol Music. That’s when the industry machine part kicked in. The high points so far are definitely writing, recording and being on stage. The low points? Having to deal with the pressure and the constant judgement on what you do.
My two daughters are both very young, but they already have aspirations of becoming pop stars one day. What advice would you give to young girls who have dreams of devoting their careers and lives to making music?
I always give the same advice: entourage is key. You have to surround yourself with people you can fully trust, people who want to see you succeed. You also have to stay humble because you can top the charts one day and be completely forgotten the next. Get thick skin, work hard, don’t listen to everyone and anyone’s advice, stay true to yourself and don’t give up if that’s what you really want.
You’ve enjoyed a good deal of success in France, as well as a few other European countries, to date. But you arguably remain a relatively unknown entity elsewhere, and particularly here in the United States, which is admittedly a bit surprising to me, considering the quality and undeniable appeal of your music. To what extent is expanding your global footprint and audience a priority for you and if it is, how are you (and your label) planning to achieve this?
The most important part for me is to continue solidifying my current fan base and listeners. The bigger and stronger that base, the better my chances of going elsewhere too. Of course, the US is a dream market for anyone in my field, but other than a few concerts at SXSW, I’ve not really gone there yet.
With my current label PIAS, we have a very open mind about how we could develop the US market and with which label we could collaborate to achieve that. But for the moment, we’re very focused on opening other markets in Europe, such as Germany and the UK. I’d also be interested in going to southern Europe, they’re emotional and so is my music. Who knows what the future holds in store for me.
The world is currently in disarray, in many different forms. What role do you think music plays in mitigating the chaos and disillusionment that many of us feel nowadays?
I think music can heal a lot of wounds, just listening to the lyrics and being able to relate to them, you remember that you’re not alone feeling this way and that’s what it’s all about. We’re here to remind people that they’re not alone. Music is your best ally when you feel good, sad, depressed. There’s a song for every mood and that’s what’s beautiful about it.
In the current state of the world, more and more people find themselves confined at home and music is now so easily accessible without having to step outside. It’s so important we all respect confinement so we can stop propagating this virus and now we can, with more time on our hands to discover new sounds. I myself am confined at home, so I write and listen to new stuff all the time. Let’s hope the world gets out safely from this soon and that we learn from this ordeal.
The videos that have accompanied your songs are visually stunning. I’m sure that they require a ton of hard work on your part, but do you enjoy the process of making them?
Thank you! Yes I really enjoy it. It’s always been a funny game for me to shoot the music videos —I feel like I’m being someone else, like an actress. Sometimes, I have imagined the full story in advance and other times, I go with proposals from those that understand who I am.
Hypothetically speaking, if you hadn’t decided to explore a career in music, what professional path do you think you would have followed?
I wanted to be an oncologist when I was I kid. I’ve always been fascinated by cancer. And I wanted to save people.
I’m always curious to learn how artists perceive media coverage of their own work. On one hand, music criticism is a necessary part of promoting one’s music. On the other hand, critics’ perceptions of an artist and his/her music are typically very subjective and they can sometimes have little to no empathy for all of the blood, sweat and tears involved in the creative process. For you, Marina, how important are reviews, articles, and interviews (like this one)?
Well, I think we need media coverage. Good or bad. Not everyone is going to like what you do, not everyone is going to understand it. I must admit that I don’t really get why a journalist would write an article about an album or a song they really don’t like, but that’s part of the game. You have to accept that by putting yourself out there, you’re going to be judged and criticized. But you can’t let it change your perception of your art. Like everything, if the proper work and thinking is put into criticism, it can only be constructive and helpful.
OK, last question. In the spirit of Albumism, what are your five favorite albums of all time?
The Weeknd’s Starboy, Imagine Dragons’ Evolve, Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN., Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die, and Rihanna’s Anti.
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