Bridging the gap between Florence and The Machine and Aretha Franklin, Marie is a truly multifaceted artist who thrives on being able to experiment with her music. Drawing inspiration from musical poets like Leonard Cohen and Alex Turner, Marie completely owns her own brand of soul-pop; captivating lyricism wrapped in a soaring delivery that manages to straddle the line between timelessness and the contemporary.
Marie was named MTV’s Unsigned Artist of the Year before even releasing her first song. Following the release of her debut EP ‘Golden State’ earlier this year, she has done more than most: from delivering her own TED Talk and touring the US to scoring a movie for the BFI Female Film Festival. Her string of sold-out London shows included iconic venues such as Omeara, The Lexington, Camden Assembly and the prestigious Ronnie Scott’s.
What first got you into music?
Piano lessons I hated, singing lessons I loved and my dad’s excellent record collection.
Have you got a ritual of sorts when writing and thinking about your music?
Recently, I’ve been writing a stream of consciousness every morning just to try and loosen up my thoughts. I write three pages. It helps me get to the heart of what I am really thinking about. Most of it is utter crap but sometimes something worms its way into a lyric. In such a fast-paced world, I feel like it’s important to carve out time to nurture our creativity.
How would you describe your music?
Soulful, honest, singer-songwriter pop.
Do you have any other plans relating to this release? A video, shows, etc?
We’re working on a really fun visualizer at the moment which presents the different moods of ‘Honey’ and ‘Air’ which I can’t wait for you to see. I’ve also got a show on 19th November at The Slaughtered Lamb in Clerkenwell – come, there will be wine.
What are your musical plans for the next 12 months?
I’m playing a headline show at The Slaughtered Lamb on 19th November, and more music is to come in 2022!
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
Anything by Whitney Houston is fine by me.
If you had to describe yourself as a flavor, what would it be?
Sweet like Honey but mainly for promotional purposes.
What do you think the greatest invention has been?
Pasta.
What was the last TV series you watched on TV?
With Succession being back, I’ve forgotten everything else.
If you were talking to a younger version of yourself, what advice would you give yourself?
Even when being yourself feels uncomfortable, just do it. Blending in is bullsh*t.
Hotly tipped as NME’s ‘Big 10’ ones to watch for 2021, London-based singer-songwriter Marie Naffah returns with a conceptual double single release for her songs ‘Honey’ & ‘Air’, out now on all streaming platforms.
Marie wrote ‘Honey’ first after being selected as an artist in residence at a 17th-century mansion in the South of Barcelona called Mas Palou, surrounded by a community of artists; and the energy of being surrounded by so many creatives really shines through on the track.
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