Marina & the Diamonds
Encyclopedia
Marina Lambrini Diamandis , better known by her stage name
Marina and the Diamonds (sometimes stylised as Marina & the diamonds), is a Welsh singer-songwriter. She rose to fame after reaching number two on the BBC Sound of 2010
poll list, coming second to Ellie Goulding
. After releasing one private EP
, Diamandis released her second extended play, The Crown Jewels EP
, with help from Neon Gold Records
, in 2009. Now signed to 679 Recordings
, she released her debut full length studio album, The Family Jewels
, followed by her third extended play, The American Jewels EP
, in 2010. In 2011, Marina announced that she was working on her second album, Electra Heart which is due for release in spring 2012. The first single from the album, "Radioactive
" was released in the UK on 3 October 2011.
Her stage name, "Marina and the Diamonds", consists of Diamandis's first name and the translation of her surname which means "Diamonds" in Greek. Although "The Diamonds" is often mistakenly believed to refer to her backing band, it in fact refers to Diamandis's fans: she explains this on her Myspace
page by saying "I'm Marina. You are the diamonds."
Diamandis's musical style ranges from keyboard-based ballads to more up-tempo New Wave
-style songs with full band backing. She has cited a wide-range of influences such as Daniel Johnston
, Blondie
, The Distillers
, Patti Smith
, Tom Waits
, Nirvana
, PJ Harvey
, Kate Bush
, Britney Spears
, Yann Tiersen
, Elliott Smith
, Dolly Parton
and Madonna
.
, Wales to a Greek
father and a Welsh
mother, and brought up in the village of Pandy
with her parents and her older sister. She attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls
, of which she said "I sort of found my talent there... I was the one who always skived off choir, but I had an incredible music teacher who managed to convince me I could do anything." When her parents separated, Diamandis moved to Greece
when she was sixteen years old to live with her father but returned to Wales two years later.
Diamandis moved to London at the age of eighteen where she attended dance school for only two months. Following this, in 2005 she took a one year singing course at Tech Music Schools
. Diamandis enrolled on a degree in music at the University of East London
, transferring in her second year of studies to Middlesex University
, but she later dropped out. She went for many auditions including the West End musical
, The Lion King
. Diamandis admitted that she auditioned for a reggae
boy band
, held by Virgin Records
, in 2005 to try to make it into the music business. She said she was "delusional with drive" and ultimately decided to dress up in male attire to try to amuse the record label to sign her, but she was unsuccessful. However, she was called back by the record label a week later.
Diamandis has a synaesthetic
condition that involves seeing musical notes and days of the week in different colours.
Early demos of Marina and the Diamonds' songs were self composed and produced on the Apple software application Garageband
. Through Gumtree
she found someone to produce a few tracks, for which she paid £500. These ended up on her debut extended play Mermaid Vs. Sailor EP which was released on 23 November 2007. The record was created on hand-made CD-R
s by Diamandis and sold through her MySpace
page. An estimated seventy copies were sold overall.
In January 2008, Diamandis was first discovered by music scouter Derek Davies of Neon Gold Records
. Davies booked Diamandis to open for Australian singer Gotye
later that year where Warner Music Group
first saw her and ended up signing her in October 2008 to 679 Recordings
.
Diamandis's debut single was a double a-side consisting of "Obsessions
" and "Mowgli's Road
" which was issued on Neon Gold Records in the United States on 19 November 2008, followed by her second extended play
The Crown Jewels EP
on 1 June 2009 featuring her second single "I Am Not a Robot
".
Her first major label single, a re-recording of "Mowgli's Road", was released on 13 November 2009 under 679 Recordings in the UK and through Atlantic Records
in the USA. On 7 December 2009 she was listed on the longlist for the BBC Sound of 2010 poll
, and on 7 January 2010 it was announced that she had taken second place.
was released on 22 February 2010. It peaked at number five in the UK Albums Chart
and was certified silver in the United Kingdom days before its release. A re-release of "Mowgli's Road
" was released as the album's lead single on 13 November 2009. However, the song "Hollywood
" was released as the first major single from the album on 1 February 2010. A re-release of "I Am Not a Robot
" on the 26 April 2010 became the album's third single. Diamandis said she decided to re-release the song because "people seem to empathize and relate with the song, regardless of gender or age." "Oh No!
" became the album's fourth single on 2 August 2010. "Shampain
" became the album's fifth single on 11 October 2010. She embarked on her first headlining tour on 14 February 2010, consisting of seventy dates around the United Kingdom, Ireland, mainland Europe, the United States and Canada.
Early on in 2010, Diamandis has been collaborating with producer Benny Blanco
and guitarist Dave Sitek in Los Angeles
on new material which she describes to be "a really great opportunity for me as a songwriter. [We are] such a weird threesome - a combination of super pop and really indie".
In March 2010, Atlantic Records
signed Marina and the Diamonds to Chop Shop Records
in the United States. Before the album's American release on 25 May 2010, Diamandis released her third extended play, The American Jewels EP
, digitally and exclusively for the United States on 23 March 2010. Diamandis made her North American debut on 14 March 2010 through a series of performances.
Marina and the Diamonds was nominated for Critics' Choice at the 2010 BRIT Awards
and came fifth in SHREDnews' "Ten Artists To Watch in 2010" list in March 2010. She also won the award for Best UK & Ireland Act at the 2010 MTV EMA awards, sending her into the Best European Act category, although she failed to reach the top 5 nominees.
's "California Dreams Tour
". Three early demos were leaked in early 2011, called "Sex, Yeah!", "Living Dead" and "Jealousy", each showing a more pop sound. A number of these previously unreleased tracks have been performed as part of the Burger Queen Tour. "Jealousy" made its television debut at the 2011 Glammy Awards in Germany. Of the leaked tracks it is so far the only to be confirmed for the new album, yet according to Diamandis "has nothing to do with the concept of the album". She is currently recording material with producers Guy Sigsworth
, Labrinth
, Greg Kurstin
, Diplo, Dr. Luke
, Stargate
and Liam Howe
.
On 8 August 2011 at 4pm, Diamandis uploaded a new video to her YouTube page titled "Part 1: Fear & Loathing". In an interview with Popjustice, Marina explained the whole concept of "Electra Heart" with the album to be under the same title and "Fear & Loathing" as an album track, and to be released on iTunes on 25 September. However this will not be an official single. The high concept video for it sees Marina slowly transforming into the character of Electra Heart, a guise Marina says "epitomises and embodies the lies, illusions and death of American ideologies involved in the corruption of self." but will however not be an alter-ego as Marina says it is too "clichéd". Asked to describe just what Electra Heart is and stands for, Marina told Popjustice: "Electra Heart is the antithesis of everything that I stand for. And the point of introducing her and building a whole concept around her is that she stands for the corrupt side of American ideology, and basically that’s the corruption of yourself. My worst fear - that’s anyone’s worst fear - is losing myself and becoming a vacuous person. And that happens a lot when you’re very ambitious." The second song, "Radioactive
" produced by Stargate
premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 22 September 2011. It was released on iTunes on the 30 October 2011. Further developing the Electra Heart concept "Part 2: Radioactive" the official music video for the single premiered. On her first video chat with fans, Marina revealed that Electra Heart would come out "the same month as the previous album," which came out in February.
On November 20th 2011, Marina released another video onto YouTube, this time titled "MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS | "Starring Role" Demo", stating that the demo was a song from Electra Heart.
Aside from music, Diamandis became the new face of Max Factor. The venture was confirmed early 2011 with a number of photoshoots since taking place.
to Britney Spears
. Diamandis has also noted Daniel Johnston
as one of her major influences saying:
Diamandis calls herself a "DIY musician" and describes her sound as an alternative to mainstream pop music. In an interview with ClashMusic Diamandis said that she does not come from a musical background and explained “I probably have a bit of a different sound because I don’t really know what I’m doing”. Lyrically, she says her music analyzes people and that if she wasn't a musician, she would be a psychologist.
Critics usually catalogue Marina and the Diamonds as a New Wave
pop artist. In an interview with The Guardian
she said, "I suppose I'm an indie artist with pop goals". Although Diamandis has urged that she never tries to sound like any other artist or copy a genre of music, she has been compared to a variety of artists such as Kate Bush
and most commonly Florence and the Machine
. PopMatters
commented on her vocal delivery and attitude saying it "has a tendency to overshadow the music, which is often melodically inventive, but we are rarely given the chance to realise this." The Guardian' s Paul Lester
wrote that "her songs are hard to fathom. They veer between simple keyboards-based ballads and more upbeat and catchy, quirky new wave-inflected numbers enhanced by percussion, guitar and drums."
, cheerleader and cartoon
". You can see an element of this style in the video for 'Oh No!' Which was released in June 2010.She has praised model/DJ Leigh Lezark's fashion style and called Gwen Stefani
her definitive style icon calling her image "cartoonized but in a very fresh way". Diamandis has mentioned that she sometimes makes her own outfits with clothes she buys from charity shops. She also collects vintage cheer jackets
. She has often been seen wearing clothes by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac
, Laura Mackness, Beyond Retro, Motel Rocks, Jervoise Jackets amongst others. Diamandis has admitted that she would "like to do something in fashion, not designing, not one of those skanky celebrity lines, but being involved behind the scenes".
As part of Selfridges
' "Sound of Music", Diamandis designed her own window display for the London's Oxford Street
branch in May 2010. She also appeared as a "live mannequin" for the display. Marina was featured on VOGUE.CO.UK throughout November 2010 for a popular sartorial section called Today I'm Wearing - where she blogged her daily style choices for the fashion website. On 20 December 2010, Diamandis announced on her Twitter that she would be the new face of the new make up range "Max Factor Max Colour Effects" and performed an intimate gig at London's Cuckoo Club.
's Big Weekend in Swindon
early in May 2009, Glastonbury Festival
in June 2009, and the Reading and Leeds Festivals
in August 2009.
In promotion for her album and "Hollywood", Diamandis performed at Brand New: 10 for 10 at London's Dingwalls
, had an eleven minute 4Music
special - 4Play: Marina and the Diamonds - on Channel 4
, performed at T4's Outside-In Festival
, New to Q Sessions
in January 2010, was a musical guest on GMTV
, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
, The Review Show
in February, 2010 and Later... with Jools Holland and T4
's Frock Me!
in April, 2010. She performed at the Isle of Wight Festival 2010
and Glastonbury Festival 2010
in June 2010 and is planned to appear at other music festivals across the United Kingdom, mainland Europe and North America.
Diamandis had already sold out the first leg of her first headlining tour, The Family Jewels Tour
(including the third leg of her tour, The Gem Tour) before the release of her debut album. Her entire tour currently consists of seventy dates across six legs around the United Kingdom, North America, Ireland and mainland Europe. Diamandis was accompanied by support acts Clock Opera and Alan Pownall
for the first leg of her tour and Spark
on The Gem Tour.
On 4 November 2011 it was announced via the Coldplay website that Marina and the Diamonds are supporting Coldplay at Manchester in their European tour.
Tours
Past members
|-
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Organisation
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Nominated work
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Award
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Result
|-
|rowspan="12"|2010
|BBC Sound of 2010
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Sound of 2010
|style="background:lightgrey" |Second place
|-
|2010 BRIT Awards
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Critics' Choice
|
|-
|SHREDnews
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Ten Artists To Watch in 2010
|style="background:lightgrey" |Fifth place
|-
|2010 NME Awards
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Hottest Woman
|
|-
|2010 BT Digital Music Awards
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Breakthrough Artist of the Year
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|MTV Europe Music Awards
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Best UK & Irish Act
|
|-
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Best European Act
|
|-
|UK Festival Awards 2010
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Best Breakthrough Act
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|4Music
Video Honours
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Hottest Girl of 2010
|style="background:lightgrey" |Eighth place
|-
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Box Biggest Breakthrough of 2010
|style="background:lightgrey" |Tenth place
|-
|Hollywood
|Best Video of 2010
|
|-
||Virgin Media Music Awards
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Best Newcomer
|
|-
|rowspan="1"|2011
||Glamour Women of the Year Awards
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Best Band
|
|-
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Marina and the Diamonds (sometimes stylised as Marina & the diamonds), is a Welsh singer-songwriter. She rose to fame after reaching number two on the BBC Sound of 2010
Sound of... (BBC poll)
Sound of... is an annual poll of music critics and industry figures to find the most promising new music talent. It was first conducted by the BBC News website in 2003. A top 10 list is published each January.-Winners:-Sound of 2009:...
poll list, coming second to Ellie Goulding
Ellie Goulding
Elena Jane "Ellie" Goulding is an English singer-songwriter. In 2010 she became only the second artist to both top the BBC's annual Sound of... poll, and win the Critics' Choice Award at the BRIT Awards in the same year, following Adele's win of both in 2008...
. After releasing one private EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Diamandis released her second extended play, The Crown Jewels EP
The Crown Jewels EP
The Crown Jewels EP is the second extended play by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina and the Diamonds. It was digitally released 1 June 2009 and physically 22 June 2009. The cover artwork was designed by Cristiana Couceiro. The artwork shown is for the digital edition, the physical edition had...
, with help from Neon Gold Records
Neon Gold Records
Neon Gold Records is a New York City/London-based boutique record company founded in 2008 by Derek Davies and Lizzy Plapinger . Neon Gold specializes in 7" records, regularly releasing limited runs between 250 to 500 copies...
, in 2009. Now signed to 679 Recordings
679 Recordings
679 Artists is a Warner Music Group-owned record label based in London, England....
, she released her debut full length studio album, The Family Jewels
The Family Jewels (album)
The Family Jewels received mostly positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 68, based on 21 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews"...
, followed by her third extended play, The American Jewels EP
The American Jewels EP
The American Jewels EP is the third extended play by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina and the Diamonds. It was digitally released on 23 March 2010 in the United States through Chop Shop Records, prior to the American release of Diamandis' debut studio album, The Family Jewels, on 25 May 2010.The...
, in 2010. In 2011, Marina announced that she was working on her second album, Electra Heart which is due for release in spring 2012. The first single from the album, "Radioactive
Radioactive (Marina and the Diamonds song)
"Radioactive" is a song by Welsh recording artist Marina and the Diamonds, released as a single from her sophomore album Electra Heart. It was released on 30 September 2011 as the album's first single.-Background:...
" was released in the UK on 3 October 2011.
Her stage name, "Marina and the Diamonds", consists of Diamandis's first name and the translation of her surname which means "Diamonds" in Greek. Although "The Diamonds" is often mistakenly believed to refer to her backing band, it in fact refers to Diamandis's fans: she explains this on her Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page by saying "I'm Marina. You are the diamonds."
Diamandis's musical style ranges from keyboard-based ballads to more up-tempo New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
-style songs with full band backing. She has cited a wide-range of influences such as Daniel Johnston
Daniel Johnston
Daniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
, Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
, The Distillers
The Distillers
The Distillers were an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1998. They released their first two albums on Hellcat Records/Epitaph Records before moving to Sire, part of the Warner Music Group. The Distillers were originally formed by Australian-born Brody Armstrong , a woman with a...
, Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
, Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
, Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
, Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
, Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, Yann Tiersen
Yann Tiersen
Yann Tiersen is a musician from France. His musical career is split between studio albums, collaborations and film soundtracks with a distinctive sound that is always involved...
, Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
, Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
and Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
.
Background
Diamandis was born in AbergavennyAbergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
, Wales to a Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
father and a Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
mother, and brought up in the village of Pandy
Pandy, Monmouthshire
Pandy, Monmouthshire is a hamlet in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, United Kingdom.- Location :Pandy is located five miles north of Abergavenny on the A465 road to Hereford immediately to the north of Llanfihangel Crucorney...
with her parents and her older sister. She attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls
Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls
Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls is an independent school in Monmouth, Wales. The school was established by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in 1892, and continues to enjoy their support. There are four houses - Imbert Terry , Mather Jackson , Bagnall Oakely , and Prosser...
, of which she said "I sort of found my talent there... I was the one who always skived off choir, but I had an incredible music teacher who managed to convince me I could do anything." When her parents separated, Diamandis moved to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
when she was sixteen years old to live with her father but returned to Wales two years later.
Diamandis moved to London at the age of eighteen where she attended dance school for only two months. Following this, in 2005 she took a one year singing course at Tech Music Schools
Tech Music Schools
Tech Music School is a contemporary music school that trains musicians for the music industry in the following disciplines: drums, vocals, guitar, bass guitar and music business...
. Diamandis enrolled on a degree in music at the University of East London
University of East London
The University of East London is a university located in the London Borough of Newham, East London, England, based at two campuses in Stratford and Docklands areas...
, transferring in her second year of studies to Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
, but she later dropped out. She went for many auditions including the West End musical
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
, The Lion King
The Lion King (musical)
The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice along with the musical score created by Hans Zimmer with choral arrangements by Lebo M. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well...
. Diamandis admitted that she auditioned for a reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
boy band
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
, held by Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, in 2005 to try to make it into the music business. She said she was "delusional with drive" and ultimately decided to dress up in male attire to try to amuse the record label to sign her, but she was unsuccessful. However, she was called back by the record label a week later.
Diamandis has a synaesthetic
Synesthesia
Synesthesia , from the ancient Greek , "together," and , "sensation," is a neurologically based condition in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway...
condition that involves seeing musical notes and days of the week in different colours.
2005–2009: Early career
In 2005, Diamandis created the name "Marina and the Diamonds". When describing the origin of the name, she said:Early demos of Marina and the Diamonds' songs were self composed and produced on the Apple software application Garageband
GarageBand
GarageBand is a software application for Mac OS X and iOS that allows users to create music or podcasts. It is developed by Apple Inc. as a part of the iLife software package on Mac OS X.-Audio recording:...
. Through Gumtree
Gumtree
Gumtree is an extensive network of online classifieds and community websites. Classified ads are either free or paid for depending on the product category and the geographical market...
she found someone to produce a few tracks, for which she paid £500. These ended up on her debut extended play Mermaid Vs. Sailor EP which was released on 23 November 2007. The record was created on hand-made CD-R
CD-R
A CD-R is a variation of the Compact Disc invented by Philips and Sony. CD-R is a Write Once Read Many optical medium, though the whole disk does not have to be entirely written in the same session....
s by Diamandis and sold through her MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page. An estimated seventy copies were sold overall.
In January 2008, Diamandis was first discovered by music scouter Derek Davies of Neon Gold Records
Neon Gold Records
Neon Gold Records is a New York City/London-based boutique record company founded in 2008 by Derek Davies and Lizzy Plapinger . Neon Gold specializes in 7" records, regularly releasing limited runs between 250 to 500 copies...
. Davies booked Diamandis to open for Australian singer Gotye
Gotye
Wouter "Wally" De Backer , also known professionally by his stage name Gotye , is a Belgian-Australian multi-instrumental musician and singer-songwriter. He has released three studio albums independently and one remix album featuring remixes of tracks from his first two albums...
later that year where Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
first saw her and ended up signing her in October 2008 to 679 Recordings
679 Recordings
679 Artists is a Warner Music Group-owned record label based in London, England....
.
Diamandis's debut single was a double a-side consisting of "Obsessions
Obsessions (Marina and the Diamonds song)
"Obsessions" is the debut single by Marina and the Diamonds. It was released as a double a-side with "Mowgli's Road" on 19 November 2008 whilst Diamandis was signed to Neon Gold Records...
" and "Mowgli's Road
Mowgli's Road
"Mowgli's Road" is a song by Marina and the Diamonds. It was originally released as a double a-side with "Obsessions" on 19 November 2008 whilst Diamandis was signed to Neon Gold Records. It was re-released on its own a year later as the lead single from her debut album, The Family Jewels, on 16...
" which was issued on Neon Gold Records in the United States on 19 November 2008, followed by her second extended play
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
The Crown Jewels EP
The Crown Jewels EP
The Crown Jewels EP is the second extended play by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina and the Diamonds. It was digitally released 1 June 2009 and physically 22 June 2009. The cover artwork was designed by Cristiana Couceiro. The artwork shown is for the digital edition, the physical edition had...
on 1 June 2009 featuring her second single "I Am Not a Robot
I Am Not a Robot
"I Am Not a Robot" is a song by Marina and the Diamonds. It was the lead single from her second extended play, The Crown Jewels EP, released on 22 June 2009. It was also re-released as the third single from her debut studio album, The Family Jewels, on 26 April 2010. The single was added to BBC...
".
Her first major label single, a re-recording of "Mowgli's Road", was released on 13 November 2009 under 679 Recordings in the UK and through Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in the USA. On 7 December 2009 she was listed on the longlist for the BBC Sound of 2010 poll
Sound of... (BBC poll)
Sound of... is an annual poll of music critics and industry figures to find the most promising new music talent. It was first conducted by the BBC News website in 2003. A top 10 list is published each January.-Winners:-Sound of 2009:...
, and on 7 January 2010 it was announced that she had taken second place.
2008–2010: The Family Jewels
Marina and the Diamonds' debut album The Family JewelsThe Family Jewels (album)
The Family Jewels received mostly positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 68, based on 21 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews"...
was released on 22 February 2010. It peaked at number five in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
and was certified silver in the United Kingdom days before its release. A re-release of "Mowgli's Road
Mowgli's Road
"Mowgli's Road" is a song by Marina and the Diamonds. It was originally released as a double a-side with "Obsessions" on 19 November 2008 whilst Diamandis was signed to Neon Gold Records. It was re-released on its own a year later as the lead single from her debut album, The Family Jewels, on 16...
" was released as the album's lead single on 13 November 2009. However, the song "Hollywood
Hollywood (Marina and the Diamonds song)
"Hollywood" is the second single from Marina and the Diamonds' debut studio album, The Family Jewels. It was released on 1 February 2010, followed by the album's release three weeks later on 22 February 2010.-Background:...
" was released as the first major single from the album on 1 February 2010. A re-release of "I Am Not a Robot
I Am Not a Robot
"I Am Not a Robot" is a song by Marina and the Diamonds. It was the lead single from her second extended play, The Crown Jewels EP, released on 22 June 2009. It was also re-released as the third single from her debut studio album, The Family Jewels, on 26 April 2010. The single was added to BBC...
" on the 26 April 2010 became the album's third single. Diamandis said she decided to re-release the song because "people seem to empathize and relate with the song, regardless of gender or age." "Oh No!
Oh No!
"Oh No!" is the fourth single by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina and the Diamonds from her debut album, The Family Jewels. It was released on 2 August 2010.-Background:"Oh No!" was added onto The Family Jewels after the album was mastered...
" became the album's fourth single on 2 August 2010. "Shampain
Shampain
"Shampain" is a song by Welsh recording artist Marina and the Diamonds from her debut studio album, The Family Jewels. It was released on 11 October 2010 as the album's fifth single...
" became the album's fifth single on 11 October 2010. She embarked on her first headlining tour on 14 February 2010, consisting of seventy dates around the United Kingdom, Ireland, mainland Europe, the United States and Canada.
Early on in 2010, Diamandis has been collaborating with producer Benny Blanco
Benny Blanco
Benjamin Levin , better known as Benny Blanco, is an American songwriter and producer from Reston, Virginia. He first came to the attention of Internet blogosphere producing a collaborative EP with Spank Rock. Working with producer Dr...
and guitarist Dave Sitek in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on new material which she describes to be "a really great opportunity for me as a songwriter. [We are] such a weird threesome - a combination of super pop and really indie".
In March 2010, Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
signed Marina and the Diamonds to Chop Shop Records
Chop Shop Records
Chop Shop Records is a record label with a partnership under the Atlantic Records group in South Pasadena, California. The label was started by Alexandra Patsavas, who also started Chop Shop Music Supervision, which works with TV soundtracks on shows including Roswell, Boston Public, Grey's...
in the United States. Before the album's American release on 25 May 2010, Diamandis released her third extended play, The American Jewels EP
The American Jewels EP
The American Jewels EP is the third extended play by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina and the Diamonds. It was digitally released on 23 March 2010 in the United States through Chop Shop Records, prior to the American release of Diamandis' debut studio album, The Family Jewels, on 25 May 2010.The...
, digitally and exclusively for the United States on 23 March 2010. Diamandis made her North American debut on 14 March 2010 through a series of performances.
Marina and the Diamonds was nominated for Critics' Choice at the 2010 BRIT Awards
2010 BRIT Awards
The 2010 BRIT Awards took place on Tuesday 16 February 2010. It was the 30th edition of the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The awards ceremony was held at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. The ceremony was broadcast live on ITV1, hosted by Peter Kay with Fearne...
and came fifth in SHREDnews
2011–present: Electra Heart
Marina announced at a concert in Glasgow on 1 November 2010, that she would be releasing new material as early as October 2011, although has since announced via her website that she is unsure how long it will take for the album to be completed. There is still no such indication as to date of release. In a January 2011 interview, she announced that her second album will mainly be about the female sexuality and feminism. On January 19, Diamandis was announced as a support act for the US leg of Katy PerryKaty Perry
Katy Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
's "California Dreams Tour
California Dreams Tour
California Dreams Tour is the second concert tour by American pop singer Katy Perry, in support of her third studio album Teenage Dream. Beginning February 2011, the tour will visit Europe, Australasia, Asia and the Americas...
". Three early demos were leaked in early 2011, called "Sex, Yeah!", "Living Dead" and "Jealousy", each showing a more pop sound. A number of these previously unreleased tracks have been performed as part of the Burger Queen Tour. "Jealousy" made its television debut at the 2011 Glammy Awards in Germany. Of the leaked tracks it is so far the only to be confirmed for the new album, yet according to Diamandis "has nothing to do with the concept of the album". She is currently recording material with producers Guy Sigsworth
Guy Sigsworth
Guy Sigsworth is a U.K. based composer, producer and songwriter. In his career to date he has worked with many famous artists, including Seal, Björk, Goldie, Madonna, Britney Spears, Kate Havnevik, Bebel Gilberto, Mozez, David Sylvian and Alanis Morissette...
, Labrinth
Labrinth
Timothy McKenzie , better known by his stage name Labrinth, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer. McKenzie is signed to Simon Cowell's record label Syco, becoming the first non-talent show signing in six years...
, Greg Kurstin
Greg Kurstin
Gregory Allen "Greg" Kurstin is an award-winning American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 Kurstin received a Grammy Award nomination for Producer of the Year. That same year he won three Ivor Novello awards for his work with Lily Allen, including Songwriters of the Year for "The Fear"...
, Diplo, Dr. Luke
Dr. Luke
Lukasz Gottwald , better known as Dr. Luke, is an American songwriter, record producer, and remixer. Luke performed with the Saturday Night Live Band for ten seasons until 2007. He has co-written and co-produced a string of commercially successful songs...
, Stargate
Stargate
Stargate is a adventure military science fiction franchise, initially conceived by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. The first film in the franchise was simply titled Stargate. It was originally released on October 28, 1994, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Carolco, and became a hit, grossing nearly...
and Liam Howe
Liam Howe
Liam Coverdale Howe is a London based record producer, musician and songwriter.- Musical beginnings :...
.
On 8 August 2011 at 4pm, Diamandis uploaded a new video to her YouTube page titled "Part 1: Fear & Loathing". In an interview with Popjustice, Marina explained the whole concept of "Electra Heart" with the album to be under the same title and "Fear & Loathing" as an album track, and to be released on iTunes on 25 September. However this will not be an official single. The high concept video for it sees Marina slowly transforming into the character of Electra Heart, a guise Marina says "epitomises and embodies the lies, illusions and death of American ideologies involved in the corruption of self." but will however not be an alter-ego as Marina says it is too "clichéd". Asked to describe just what Electra Heart is and stands for, Marina told Popjustice: "Electra Heart is the antithesis of everything that I stand for. And the point of introducing her and building a whole concept around her is that she stands for the corrupt side of American ideology, and basically that’s the corruption of yourself. My worst fear - that’s anyone’s worst fear - is losing myself and becoming a vacuous person. And that happens a lot when you’re very ambitious." The second song, "Radioactive
Radioactive (Marina and the Diamonds song)
"Radioactive" is a song by Welsh recording artist Marina and the Diamonds, released as a single from her sophomore album Electra Heart. It was released on 30 September 2011 as the album's first single.-Background:...
" produced by Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 22 September 2011. It was released on iTunes on the 30 October 2011. Further developing the Electra Heart concept "Part 2: Radioactive" the official music video for the single premiered. On her first video chat with fans, Marina revealed that Electra Heart would come out "the same month as the previous album," which came out in February.
On November 20th 2011, Marina released another video onto YouTube, this time titled "MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS | "Starring Role" Demo", stating that the demo was a song from Electra Heart.
Aside from music, Diamandis became the new face of Max Factor. The venture was confirmed early 2011 with a number of photoshoots since taking place.
Music style and influences
Marina and the Diamonds has been influenced by a wide-range of musicians from PJ HarveyPJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
to Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
. Diamandis has also noted Daniel Johnston
Daniel Johnston
Daniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
as one of her major influences saying:
Diamandis calls herself a "DIY musician" and describes her sound as an alternative to mainstream pop music. In an interview with ClashMusic Diamandis said that she does not come from a musical background and explained “I probably have a bit of a different sound because I don’t really know what I’m doing”. Lyrically, she says her music analyzes people and that if she wasn't a musician, she would be a psychologist.
Critics usually catalogue Marina and the Diamonds as a New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
pop artist. In an interview with The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
she said, "I suppose I'm an indie artist with pop goals". Although Diamandis has urged that she never tries to sound like any other artist or copy a genre of music, she has been compared to a variety of artists such as Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
and most commonly Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine is the recording name of English musician Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide music for her voice. Florence and the Machine's sound has been described as a combination of various genres, including rock and soul...
. PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
commented on her vocal delivery and attitude saying it "has a tendency to overshadow the music, which is often melodically inventive, but we are rarely given the chance to realise this." The Guardian
Paul Lester
Paul Lester is a British music journalist, author and broadcaster from Elstree, North London.- Career :He began his career as a freelance, writing for Melody Maker in the early 1990s, as well as City Limits, 20/20 , Sky Magazine and The Jewish Chronicle...
wrote that "her songs are hard to fathom. They veer between simple keyboards-based ballads and more upbeat and catchy, quirky new wave-inflected numbers enhanced by percussion, guitar and drums."
Public image
As well as her music, Marina and the Diamonds is also notable for her unique attire. When asked in an interview to describe her fashion style in three words, Diamandis said "vintageVintage clothing
Vintage clothing is a generic term for new or second hand garments originating from a previous era. The phrase is also used in connection with a retail outlet, e.g...
, cheerleader and cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
". You can see an element of this style in the video for 'Oh No!' Which was released in June 2010.She has praised model/DJ Leigh Lezark's fashion style and called Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
her definitive style icon calling her image "cartoonized but in a very fresh way". Diamandis has mentioned that she sometimes makes her own outfits with clothes she buys from charity shops. She also collects vintage cheer jackets
Cheerleading uniform
- Early styles/brief history :This is the uniform outfit worn by cheerleading squads usually indicative of the mascot, school, and/or colors of the team and/or organization they are representing...
. She has often been seen wearing clothes by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac
1949: Born on November 28th in Casablanca, son of Louis and Jeanne-Blanche de Castelbajac1968: First collection for Ko and Co, company created at Limoges by his mother Jeanne-Blanche de Castelbajac1969: First show...
, Laura Mackness, Beyond Retro, Motel Rocks, Jervoise Jackets amongst others. Diamandis has admitted that she would "like to do something in fashion, not designing, not one of those skanky celebrity lines, but being involved behind the scenes".
As part of Selfridges
Selfridges
Selfridges, AKA Selfridges & Co, is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and was opened on 15 March 1909.More recently, three other stores have been...
' "Sound of Music", Diamandis designed her own window display for the London's Oxford Street
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, United Kingdom. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, as well as its most dense, and currently has approximately 300 shops. The street was formerly part of the London-Oxford road which began at Newgate,...
branch in May 2010. She also appeared as a "live mannequin" for the display. Marina was featured on VOGUE.CO.UK throughout November 2010 for a popular sartorial section called Today I'm Wearing - where she blogged her daily style choices for the fashion website. On 20 December 2010, Diamandis announced on her Twitter that she would be the new face of the new make up range "Max Factor Max Colour Effects" and performed an intimate gig at London's Cuckoo Club.
Discography
- 2010: The Family JewelsThe Family Jewels (album)The Family Jewels received mostly positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 68, based on 21 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews"...
- 2012: Electra Heart
Touring
In 2009, Marina and the Diamonds played at BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's Big Weekend in Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
early in May 2009, Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
in June 2009, and the Reading and Leeds Festivals
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
in August 2009.
In promotion for her album and "Hollywood", Diamandis performed at Brand New: 10 for 10 at London's Dingwalls
Dingwalls
Dingwalls is a venue adjacent to Camden Lock in London, England. It houses bars, cafes, clubs . The building itself is one of many industrial Victorian buildings that were put to new use in the 20th century. The original owner of the building, T.E...
, had an eleven minute 4Music
4Music
4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland - its web component can be found at with its own and pages. It is the only channel within the Box Television Network to be branded under Channel 4 and...
special - 4Play: Marina and the Diamonds - on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, performed at T4's Outside-In Festival
T4 (Channel 4)
T4 is a scheduling slot on Channel 4 from about 09:00 until 14:00 on Saturdays and 17:00 on Sundays. It also airs on weekdays in the school holidays. The slot has a separate station identification on screen graphic from Channel 4 and E4. The logo of T4 is noticeably the top right segment of the...
, New to Q Sessions
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
in January 2010, was a musical guest on GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross was a British comedy chat show presented by Jonathan Ross. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 2 November 2001. The programme featured Ross's take on current topics of conversation, guest interviews and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
, The Review Show
The Review Show
The Review Show is a British discussion programme dedicated to the arts which airs on Friday evenings at 11:00pm on BBC Two. The programme features a panel of guests who review the week's developments in the world of the arts and culture.-Background:...
in February, 2010 and Later... with Jools Holland and T4
T4 (Channel 4)
T4 is a scheduling slot on Channel 4 from about 09:00 until 14:00 on Saturdays and 17:00 on Sundays. It also airs on weekdays in the school holidays. The slot has a separate station identification on screen graphic from Channel 4 and E4. The logo of T4 is noticeably the top right segment of the...
's Frock Me!
Frock Me!
Frock Me! is an exhibition that specialises in vintage fashion. Frock Me! was created in 2004 and takes place in Chelsea, London and in Brighton, East Sussex. Frock Me! has been influential on modern fashion trends with many buyers from High Street fashion stores sourcing inspiration for their...
in April, 2010. She performed at the Isle of Wight Festival 2010
Isle of Wight Festival 2010
The Isle of Wight Festival 2010 was the ninth revived Isle of Wight Festival to be held at Seaclose Park in Newport on the Isle of Wight. The event ran from 11 until 13 June 2010...
and Glastonbury Festival 2010
Glastonbury Festival 2010
The 2010 Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts took place in Pilton, Somerset, England in June 2010.The festival was headlined by Gorillaz, Muse, and Stevie Wonder. U2 were initially announced as headliners, but withdrew on 25 May 2010 citing Bono's recent back surgery...
in June 2010 and is planned to appear at other music festivals across the United Kingdom, mainland Europe and North America.
Diamandis had already sold out the first leg of her first headlining tour, The Family Jewels Tour
The Family Jewels Tour
-Tour dates:...
(including the third leg of her tour, The Gem Tour) before the release of her debut album. Her entire tour currently consists of seventy dates across six legs around the United Kingdom, North America, Ireland and mainland Europe. Diamandis was accompanied by support acts Clock Opera and Alan Pownall
Alan Pownall
Alan Pownall is a singer-songwriter from South West London, UK. He is signed to Mercury Records and released his debut single, Chasing Time, on 22 March 2010....
for the first leg of her tour and Spark
Spark (singer)
Jess Morgan , better known by her stage name Spark, is an English singer-songwriter from London.-Life and career:Spark was born in Fazakerley, Liverpool, England, and grew up in Walthamstow, London. At the age of twelve, she learned how to play the guitar and started writing her own music. She grew...
on The Gem Tour.
On 4 November 2011 it was announced via the Coldplay website that Marina and the Diamonds are supporting Coldplay at Manchester in their European tour.
Tours
- The Family Jewels TourThe Family Jewels Tour-Tour dates:...
(February 2010 — September 2010) - The Burger Queen TourThe Burger Queen Tour-Tour dates:-Opening acts:* CocknBullKid - * Hannah Yadi - * Hollywood Kill* Ra Ra Rasputin - 16 June 2011...
(October 2010 - onwards) - California Dreams TourCalifornia Dreams TourCalifornia Dreams Tour is the second concert tour by American pop singer Katy Perry, in support of her third studio album Teenage Dream. Beginning February 2011, the tour will visit Europe, Australasia, Asia and the Americas...
(Supporting - 22 June - 9 July)
Backing band
Current members- Peter Carr – electronic keyboardElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
- Dan Gulino – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Jonathon Shone - keyboard
- Sebastian Sternberg – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Past members
- Ben Epstein – bass
- Nick Harsant – bass
- Nick Johnson – drums
- Tom Holdroyd – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Chris Morris – drums
Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable"|-
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Organisation
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Nominated work
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Award
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Result
|-
|rowspan="12"|2010
|BBC Sound of 2010
Sound of... (BBC poll)
Sound of... is an annual poll of music critics and industry figures to find the most promising new music talent. It was first conducted by the BBC News website in 2003. A top 10 list is published each January.-Winners:-Sound of 2009:...
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Sound of 2010
|style="background:lightgrey" |Second place
|-
|2010 BRIT Awards
2010 BRIT Awards
The 2010 BRIT Awards took place on Tuesday 16 February 2010. It was the 30th edition of the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The awards ceremony was held at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. The ceremony was broadcast live on ITV1, hosted by Peter Kay with Fearne...
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Critics' Choice
|
|-
|SHREDnews
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Ten Artists To Watch in 2010
|style="background:lightgrey" |Fifth place
|-
|2010 NME Awards
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Hottest Woman
|
|-
|2010 BT Digital Music Awards
BT Digital Music Awards
The BT Digital Music Awards were created in the UK in 2001 and are held annually. Music industry professionals can nominate artists, venues and hardware into the Judge's Choice award categories...
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Breakthrough Artist of the Year
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|MTV Europe Music Awards
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards were established in 1994 by MTV Networks Europe to celebrate the most popular music videos in Europe. Originally beginning as an alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards is today a popular celebration of what MTV viewers consider...
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Best UK & Irish Act
|
|-
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Best European Act
|
|-
|UK Festival Awards 2010
UK Festival Awards
The UK Festival Awards are awarded annually, with various categories for all aspects of festivals that have taken place in the UK, and one category for European festivals. The Awards were first established in 2004, and are produced by Virtual Festivals.com. They are voted for by the public via the...
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Best Breakthrough Act
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|4Music
4Music
4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland - its web component can be found at with its own and pages. It is the only channel within the Box Television Network to be branded under Channel 4 and...
Video Honours
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Hottest Girl of 2010
|style="background:lightgrey" |Eighth place
|-
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Box Biggest Breakthrough of 2010
|style="background:lightgrey" |Tenth place
|-
|Hollywood
|Best Video of 2010
|
|-
||Virgin Media Music Awards
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Best Newcomer
|
|-
|rowspan="1"|2011
||Glamour Women of the Year Awards
Glamour (magazine)
Glamour is a women's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 in the United States, it was originally called Glamour of Hollywood....
|Marina and the Diamonds
|Best Band
|
|-
External links
- Marina and the Diamonds on BBC WalesBBC WalesBBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
- Fan news site .net
- Fan news site .org
- Fan site documenting Marina's live career
- Review of Marina and the Diamonds, Deaf Institute Manchester February 2010 Contact Music
- Marina and the Diamonds on VOGUE.COM's Today I'm Wearing
- Marina and the Diamonds Videography
- Marina and the Diamonds Discography and Collectors Guide