We had a chat with rising London based artist MARIANNE following the release of her captivating debut single ‘Your Side of the Bed’
With the release of her engrossing debut single ‘Your Side of the Bed’, London based singer-songwriter MARIANNE has immediately established herself as an exciting rising artist with a thoughtful appeal that is sure to resonate with listeners all over, thanks to her emotive delivery and the relatable charm of her narratives.
This first single is a track that delves into a relationship where you struggle to open up about how you feel about certain things and lay your honest emotions on the table. The vibrant and captivating nature of the soundscape and MARIANNE’s empowering vocals make for a truly memorable listening experience that packs a real punch while feeling atmospheric, catchy and awe-inspiring throughout its duration. Following such a statement debut release, we had a chat with MARIANNE to find out a bit more about her sound, her journey so far, and her future plans as she looks to establish herself as an artist.
Who TF is MARIANNE?
A woman in her 20s of average height, who sings, writes songs and eats a lot of bagels. I’m an indie pop singer-songwriter from London but I’m actually half-British half-French. I’m also an actor so have always loved telling stories be that on stage or through music.
How long have you been making music?
Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved singing. I think the first actual song I wrote was when I was about 10 and it was called ‘The girl in black’ where I just listed all the colours of the rainbow then screamed ‘NOOOOO SHE ONLY WEARS BLACK’ – needless to say not a hit. I guess I’d call it my emo phase. I started writing a bit more seriously when I was 15 and then during the pandemic I had a sudden ‘f*ck it’ moment where I decided I really wanted to pursue music and songwriting and get my songs out there. When things started opening up, I went to a music event in London where I met my incredible producer Tragic Sasha. We got some sessions in and started working on my EP.
Why do you make music?
I make music because it helps me process things. It gives me an outlet to express myself and whatever my life is like at that moment and also connect with other people. I’ve always been amazed by how you can feel instantly connected to a song written by someone you don’t know. It’s gold-dust really.
What are your biggest influences?
I grew up listening to Adele, Emeli Sandé and Amy Winehouse. They can make you feel everything they’ve experienced in one note. They are definitely huge inspirations to me as well as Birdy, Sigrid, London Grammar, Griff, Holly Humberstone, Olivia Dean… They all manage to craft such anthemic melodies with really beautifully detailed lyrics.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
Honestly having complete strangers stream my song. It’s actually insane to me that people in countries I’ve never been to have been listening to it. I mean it’s mental.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
Someone once described my sound as “Sigrid on steroids” – I don’t know if I can call it that haha but I’m a massive fan of hers so this is such a huge compliment. Like she does, I always try and figure out how to build a sonic landscape around a certain feeling. I try to combine introspective lyrics with anthemic indie pop soundscapes.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
Getting to do a BBC live lounge session. I watched them religiously when I was growing up and it would feel like a huge milestone.
We love your new single ‘Your Side of the Bed’, what more can you tell us about it?
I wrote ‘Your Side of the Bed’ about struggling to open up to someone and actually tell them how I feel. It feels like a diary entry and is based on how I felt at the start of my relationship. It’s for anyone who sometimes has trouble bringing down their walls and who loves a bittersweet indie pop song.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
‘Your Side of the Bed’ is part of a bigger project that I’m so excited to share over the next few months. It’s an introspective collection of songs about growing up and finding yourself, I’m hoping it will connect in a way that feels authentic with people listening. I’m planning a few shows and I have been working on new music to share when it’s ready. Follow along @marianne_music_official on social media to see what I get up to!
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
My best friends. They’ve been so supportive ever since I started this journey. They’re always the first to listen to my song ideas and come to my gigs. I’m so grateful for them.
