51 Facts About Marina Diamandis

Marina Lambrini Diamandis, known mononymously as Marina, and previously by the stage name Marina and the Diamonds, is a Welsh singer and songwriter.

Marina Diamandis's follow-up record, Electra Heart, was a concept album about a character of the same name which became her first number one project in the United Kingdom.

Marina Diamandis's synthpop-inspired third studio album, Froot, became her third top 10 album in the UK and her first top 10 entry on the US Billboard 200, where it charted at number 8.

In 2021, Marina Diamandis released her fifth studio album, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land, which debuted at number 17 in the UK, and was followed by a deluxe version in 2022.

Marina Lambrini Diamandis was born on 10 October 1985 in Brynmawr, and grew up near Abergavenny.

Marina Diamandis has one sibling; an elder sister named Lafina.

Marina Diamandis described her childhood as "simple and idyllic" and "peaceful, very normal, poor".

Marina Diamandis first began writing music when she was 18 years old; she moved to London to attend dance school, but quit after two months.

Marina Diamandis studied music at the University of East London and transferred to a classic composition course in Middlesex University the following year, but dropped out after two months.

Marina Diamandis travelled for several unsuccessful auditions, including opportunities with the musical for The Lion King and a boy band organized by Virgin Records.

Marina Diamandis self-composed and produced her earlier demos with GarageBand, and independently released her debut extended play Mermaid vs Sailor through Myspace in 2007.

Marina Diamandis met with fourteen music labels, only being offered one deal, which she believed was the only one which would not dictate her image.

Marina Diamandis came to the attention of Neon Gold Records' Derek Davies in 2008, which managed her for six months, and was hired as the supporting act for Australian recording artist Gotye.

Marina Diamandis performed at iTunes Live, releasing a second EP in July 2009 of performances from that festival.

In December 2009, Marina Diamandis was ranked in second place on the Sound of 2010 poll organized by BBC, behind Ellie Goulding.

Marina Diamandis was one of three nominees for the Critics' Choice Award at the 2010 BRIT Awards, which went to Goulding.

Marina Diamandis put this down to inaction by her label and American listeners' contemporary taste for "pumping beats" by artists such as Lady Gaga.

Marina Diamandis created the titular character "Electra Heart" as a protagonist for the project.

In early 2015, it was announced that Marina Diamandis would perform at Lollapalooza Brazil, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Boston Calling Music Festival that March, April and May respectively.

Marina Diamandis returned to performing two months later, clarifying that she would rather work on a consistent basis than a cycle of touring and resting.

In June 2016, Marina Diamandis told Fuse that she had begun writing new material for upcoming songs.

Marina Diamandis explained that "It took me well over a year to figure out that a lot of my identity was tied up in who I was as an artist and there wasn't much left of who I was".

On 31 January 2019, Marina Diamandis teased the new album by posting a picture on her Instagram with the caption "8 Days".

On 29 April 2019, Marina Diamandis embarked on her Love + Fear Tour with six UK gigs, including sold-out dates in London and Manchester.

Marina Diamandis was featured on Gryffin's song "If I Left the World", released on 23 October 2019.

On 16 January 2020, Marina Diamandis posted two photos on Instagram with the caption "Writing songs in Paris".

On 12 April 2021, Marina Diamandis announced a new single, "Purge the Poison", alongside a website and a mailing list to accompany it.

Marina Diamandis released the single cover and release date soon after, possibly as a result of the early leak.

On 1 October 2021, Marina Diamandis announced on Instagram that she started working on her sixth studio album.

On 27 April 2022, Marina Diamandis announced that Electra Heart would be getting an expanded version, which was called Electra Heart: Platinum Blonde Edition.

On 22 May 2022, Marina Diamandis announced while performing in London that Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land would be her last album with Atlantic Records.

Marina Diamandis had been signed to the record label for the past 14 years.

Marina Diamandis has a musical style consisting of indie pop, art pop, electropop, synth-pop, experimental pop, bubblegum pop, and disco-pop.

Marina Diamandis has said that "Madonna was the reason I wanted to be a pop star from the age of 15"; however she stated that she did not listen to music "properly" until the age of 19, when she took influence from acts including PJ Harvey, Fiona Apple and the Distillers.

Marina Diamandis has cited Dalle and Spears as her musical influences, and has expressed a particular interest in Daniel Johnston and the lo-fi production he uses.

Marina Diamandis cited Katy Perry as an influence, saying she learned from Perry after going on tour with her.

Marina Diamandis has synesthesia, and as a result associates particular colours with musical notes and days of the week.

Marina Diamandis opined that the United States was more welcoming of said musical transition than the United Kingdom, and suggested that the American audience embraced the humour behind the latter "tongue-in-cheek record".

At the start of her career, Marina Diamandis was compared to other British female singer-songwriters, with Paul Lester from The Guardian writing that she had a "zeitgeist-y female essence".

Marina Diamandis's vocals have been compared to those of Karen O, Regina Spektor, Kate Bush, Florence Welch, Britney Spears, and Siouxsie Sioux, with an androgynous timbre akin to those of Annie Lennox and Heather Small.

Marina Diamandis has noted that she would have become a psychologist had she been unsuccessful in the music industry.

Marina Diamandis has identified Sophia Loren, Leigh Lezark, Shirley Manson and Gwen Stefani as her fashion icons, with Asli Polat and Mary Benson being among her favourite designers.

In 2011, while promoting The Family Jewels, Marina Diamandis described her fashion styles as "vintage, cheerleader, and cartoon".

Marina Diamandis has been described as a "pop enigma", an artist who "never felt like she belonged to the masses" and one with a cult following.

Marina Diamandis headlined an NYC Pride event in June 2016 in the aftermath of the Orlando nightclub shooting, wearing a rainbow-striped cape.

Marina Diamandis dated Jack Patterson for five years before splitting in 2020.

Marina Diamandis has frequently been an advocate of feminism and equal gender rights, sharing her social views in music, interviews and on social media.

Marina Diamandis had been named "the sound of feminism" in Nylon magazine.

Marina Diamandis explained that "this story can only be told by women".

In 2020, Marina Diamandis started speaking openly about growing out her grey hair on Instagram to challenge unhealthy beauty standards.

Marina Diamandis has openly spoken about dealing with depression and anxiety.