Marina Diamandis has spoken about the depression she suffered after releasing her debut album.
Widely tipped by those in the know, Marina & The Diamonds appeared to be an addictive pop prospect. Heavy radio play and media coverage saw the group pushed into the mainstream, but the expected success failed to come.
Debut album ‘The Family Jewels’ failed to set the charts alight, leading to a very public spell of introspection from the singer. A fan of social networking, Marina Diamandis poured herself into a series of rather depressing blog postings.
“This industry = one, long, fake cringe fest,” she wrote at one point. “I feel like diving into a k-hole of cheetos and beer. I feel like an impostor/try-hard & awkwardly out of place in the world of pop… I wish I was back in my room in 2007 making cds in peace, not having people say ‘oh you’re not very successful'”.
Speaking to The Independent, Marina Diamandis admitted that she suffers from emotional yoyo-ing. “I just wanted to divorce myself,” she said. “I was so tired. I’m either on top of the world or I just think everything has gone down the tubes. It’s so easy to pick on the bad things because you’re so nervous about it working out – you want it so badly.”
Continuing, the singer explained that it wasn’t just commercial success that she lusted for – she craved the affirmation that would come with it. “Secretly, deep down, I want everyone to love me,” she said.
The period of depression fed back into the band’s second album, with lead single ‘Radioactive’ out now. However, Marina Diamandis does still harbour some regrets. “Instead of living in a bubble and worrying about stupid things, I wish I’d lived every day a bit more,” explained the Welsh singer. “I’ve never been reckless at all and I wish I had been. I’ve had this realisation in the past year. Now I think, ‘what’s stopping you?'”
Released last week, ‘Radioactive’ marks a new pop direction for Marina & The Diamonds. Entering the charts at number 25, the single sits two places above big hitters Florence & The Machine.
