MARIANNA, the singer and songwriter from Rio, has stood out on the independent scene with striking singles and the release of the visual EP “Não Posso Te Esperar”. Directed by Leandro Rial (former director of Rede Globo) in the videos and Pam Martins (known for her work in “Escândalo Íntimo”, by Luísa Sonza) in the photos, the project is a skillful mix of influences from pop, R&B and carioca funk, combining autobiographical lyrics with a sophisticated and captivating proposal.
In 2022, MARIANNA had already attracted attention with the singles “Deixa Ir”, “A Culpa é Sua” and a praised cover of “Meu Vício é Você”, by Alcione – which received praise from the Brazilian music diva herself. Her versatility was evident in the MARIANNA: Ao Vivo project, where she presented versions of tracks by artists such as Jão and Rosalía, in addition to her own songs. His debut at Whiplash Bar, in São Paulo, was also critically acclaimed.
One of the highlights of the EP is the track “Sexta-Feira”, co-written with Number Teddie and Vivian Kuczynski, the album’s producer. MARIANNA, who had been saving the song since June last year, now shares a song that captures the spirit of freedom in modern relationships. “A Outra Eu” is another track on the EP that addresses self-love and incorporates influences from musical styles that marked MARIANNA’s childhood, such as Rio charm and funk.
What was your journey like from the first singles to the release of the EP “Não Posso Te Esperar”? Have there been any particularly challenging or inspiring moments along the way?
It was an anxious period! I wrote a lot of songs to find this EP, I was a little obsessed with the fact that it would be my first opportunity to release a work with a beginning, middle and end, I really tried to imprint my entire personality there. In the meantime, I ended a relationship, started reading a lot about love, understanding more about myself in this ending process, and using all of this as inspiration.
The EP reflects a unique blend of musical influences. What are your main sources of inspiration and what is your creative process when composing?
It’s difficult to choose the main ones, but I’m very inspired by Rosalía’s work. And I tried to bring an air of rethought Rio charm for 2023. Many of the melodies I create from scratch, as was the case with A Outra Eu and Hora de Acordar. An idea comes to me, a few words and I rush to write. Other times I look for a beat on YouTube and write it down, set aside a night, sit down just to do that. I use my life experiences to write and send messages.
“Sexta-Feira” is a song you’ve kept for a while. What makes it special and why did you decide to include it on the EP?
I was going to release Friday as a single in 2022, but I thought it deserved more! When it was ready, I realized that she had done something that was a little undefined, in terms of musical genre, and totally my style. I wanted to give more strength to the music and I thought it deserved a bigger project. When I put together the EP, I thought it made perfect sense to finally release it. And did. It’s the favorite of most people who listen to the EP.
You mentioned that the EP was born from reading and reflecting on love and relationships. How have these personal experiences shaped your approach to music?
Ah, I confess that I used the EP to get a lot of personal stuff out! This last breakup left me confused, you know when you break up and then realize you were with someone who has nothing to do with you? I took some time for myself because I didn’t want to fall into trouble anymore. So I decided to read to understand how love can be healthy, to seek experiences from people who have lived longer than me. All of this helped me build these songs. So many things I can’t wait any longer…
The track “Sexta-Feira” was written in collaboration with Number Teddie and Vivian Kuczynski. What was the experience of composing with other artists like? Did this bring new elements to your creative process?
It was really cool to write together! Being able to see my point of view unfold was very rich and after that I wrote with other people, including other artists. I discovered that I want to get more involved in the world of composition, I loved the process of sharing ideas.
His electrifying performance at Whiplash Bar in São Paulo caught attention. How does it feel to perform your songs live and how would you describe the energy of that moment?
It’s the place where I feel most comfortable shooting! Seeing how people feel about the songs, being able to ask questions, interact. Put me on stage singing, please! There’s nothing cooler than this in life. Apart from the opportunity to win new “Marianners” it was the highlight of my year, I am working to make others.
In addition to music, his work is also visually striking. How do you see the intersection between music and visual aesthetics in your art?
Aesthetics help me a lot to ambience my songs, to give them continuity. I already write thinking about what the audiovisual could be like. I’ve always been very addicted to music videos from pop artists, perfume commercials, which are things that have a very extravagant look. When I decided to launch my career, I knew I was going to rely heavily on my look.
What is it like to stand out in the Brazilian independent music scene? What challenges have you faced and what advice would you give to emerging artists?
It’s a dream, really. The biggest challenge is being able to do absolutely everything while making art. And supporting yourself financially is also complicated, so the thousand side projects often take my focus away from the main thing, which is composing and singing. My advice would be to value every fan of your work and believe in the process, believe in your art. The process is crazy and most of the time, long. Patience is everything on this path (which I confess I don’t always have, but we follow)
What can fans expect in the future? Are there any projects or collaborations you’re working on that you’d like to share?
2024 will be a year of exploring sounds, showing everything that makes up Marianna and releasing a lot of music. It’s going to be a year of singles, with several collaborations, feats and the first one comes out in January with a very danceable song in one of my favorite rhythms.
Lastly, what message would you like to send to your fans who follow and support your musical journey?
I love you so much. I thank you every day for finding me and identifying with my songs among so many. Thank you for spreading the word around <3 We are still together and giants!
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