Photographer Ralfs Cimermanis
I have been joined by MARTA who has answered some questions about her musical career so you can find out a bit more about her music!
Welcome to Totally Music would you like to introduce yourself?
Hey, I'm MARTA, a singer and songwriter from Latvia. I attended university in London, where I studied musical theatre. After returning home, I initially pursued acting, but eventually realised that my true calling and biggest passion lie in creating music.
What got you into music?
I've never not been into music to be honest. Interestingly, nobody in my family has ever been involved in music. My mum, during her pregnancy with me, had come across a scientific study suggesting that playing music do a developing baby (putting headphone on the belly) could lead do musical talent. She wanted to prove it wrong, but as it turns out, they weren't! My desire to become a singer has been with me for as long as I can remember. However, during my teenage years, I drifted away from it, feeling like I wasn't good enough to do it (or even want it...). Still, I was so drawn to the stage, so I thought that theatre might be it. Yeah, it's been quite a journey, filled with self-discovery and life lessons along the way. I'm truly grateful that I eventually found my way back to music in the way that I did. Who are your musical influences?
I love women in music. Sorry guys, but I listen to female artists 99% of the tame. To name a few that have been on repeat for me recently: Ashe, Maggie Rogers, Taylor Swift (of course!), Holly Humberstone, Maisie Peters, Olivia Rodrigo, and Chappell Roan.
You have just released your first song in English after doing music in Latvian for 7 years ‘Loosing Game’ would you like to tell us the about the song?
I was craving a change, but wasn't sure exactly what it should be. Then, this spring, I was super lucky to be invited to an international songwriting camp to write for one of the biggest Bulgarian artists. This camp was a game-changer for me because it completely transformed my creative life. It was there that I realised I could write in English, and my self confidence grew massively. Losing Game is one of the first songs I wrote after the camp. The song is an ironic yet truthful description of how I feel as a woman in 2023 trying to navigate through it all - it seems like an impossible game to win, but we must keep playing, right?
What did you find most challenging about writing the song?
As usual - the second verse. I don't know what's the deal with second verses but they are usually the most tricky ones because the melody is already there as well as the storyline and it's a real puzzle to solve. But when you finally crack it, it feels great. Like crossing the finish line of a race!
How did you come up with the art work for the song?
Actually I first found a photographer that I wanted to work with. We hadn't met but were following each other on Instagram. I showed him my mood board, and he was quite enthusiastic about the concept so that's what we decided to create - using a flashlight in the dark, making it look playful yet edgy.
Is the song the start of a bigger project?
I guess it is, yeah, I'd like to do an EP in English, not just this one song. We'll see how it goes but I'm feeling full of energy to keep going and see where this "new music era" takes me.
What has been your best performance and why?
Probably my headline show in Riga earlier this year. But I would like to believe that my best performance is still ahead of me.
If you could perform anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
I keep coming back to London, and a piece of my heart will always belong to this city. So, if I were to choose a dream venue, it would be 02 Academy Brixton. That would be an absolute dream come true!
What’s next for you?
I am currently working with British producer Kristofer Harris on my next set of songs. They're gonna have more of an indie vibe (which is exactly what I wanted) and I'm incredibly excited to release them. However, in the meantime, I'm fully dedicated to doing everything in my power to promote Losing Game.
If you would like to check out 'MARTA's' Music you can find their music here:
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