This document provides a biography of Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Lambrini Diamandis. It details her upbringing in Wales and Greece, her early attempts at pursuing a career in music and dance in London which she eventually dropped out of, her stage name "Marina and the Diamonds," and the independent release of her early EPs leading to her record deals. It continues to outline the release of her first two albums The Family Jewels and Electra Heart, as well as her subsequent tours. It provides background on her musical style and themes, fashion line, and thoughts on her career and third album Froot.

1. By Anam Raza

2. Marina Lambrini Diamandis is a Welsh singer/songwriter born in
Brynmawr in Wales and grew up in the nearby village of Pandy. She
has one older sister. Their mother is Welsh, while their father is
Greek. Marina's parents divorced when she was four. In her
childhood, she attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls.
Her parents separated when she was 16 years old; she initially
moved to Greece with her father and earned an International
Baccalaureate, then returned to Wales two years later; she and her
mother then moved to Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, where she
worked for two months at a petrol station in order to
earn money to move to London. Diamandis first began
writing music when she was 18 years old; she moved
to London to attend dance school, but quit two
months later. She studied music at the University
of East London and transferred to a classic
composition course in Middlesex University the
following year, but after two months she dropped out.

3. Diamandis later travelled for several unsuccessful
auditions. In 2005, she created the stage name
"Marina and the Diamonds"; after coming to
prominence, "the Diamonds" was established as a
reference to her fans, instead of her backing band.
Diamandis self-composed and produced her earlier
demos with GarageBand, and independently
released her debut extended play Mermaid vs.
Sailor through Myspace in 2007. She 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. In
October, Diamandis finalised a recording
contract with 679 Artists, a subdivision of
Warner Music Group.

4. Diamandis' debut single "Obsessions" was released on 14 February 2009, while her
second extended play The Crown Jewels EP followed on 1 June. That summer, she
performed at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, the Glastonbury Festival, and the Reading and
Leeds Festivals. Diamandis was ranked in second place on the Sound of 2010 poll
organised by BBC. "Mowgli's Road" was released as the lead single from Diamandis'
debut studio album. It was followed by "Hollywood“ which reached number 12 on the
UK Singles Chart.
Diamandis' debut studio album The Family Jewels was released on 15 February 2010; it
debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 27,618 copies,
and was eventually certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry. Atlantic Records
signed Diamandis in the United States. Through the label, she released her third
extended play The American Jewels EP, and later released The Family Jewels in the
United States. The latter project debuted at number 138 on the US Billboard 200 with
first-week sales of 24,000 copies.
"I Am Not a Robot" was serviced as the third single from The Family Jewels, after
originally being included on The Crown Jewels. Diamandis commented that she decided
to re-release the track because "people seem to empathize and relate with the song,
regardless of gender or age." The song peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Oh No" followed as the fourth single from the record, and reached number 38 in the
United Kingdom. The fifth and final single "Shampain" peaked at number 141 on the UK
Singles Chart, consequently underperforming by comparison with its preceding singles.
To further promote The Family Jewels, Diamandis embarked on The Family Jewels Tour,
which visited Europe and North America throughout 2010 and 2011.

5. In summer 2011, Diamandis performed as the opening acts for American recording artist
Katy Perry's California Dreams Tour. Diamandis released the track "Radioactive" through
the iTunes Store; it peaked at number 25 on the UK Singles Chart. Her second studio
album was preceded by its lead single "Primadonna“. The song is notable for being
Diamandis' highest-charting track on the UK Singles Chart, where it reached number 11.
The final product Electra Heart is a concept album lyrically united by the ideas of "female
identity" and "a recent breakup". Diamandis created the titular character "Electra Heart"
as a protagonist for the project; she portrays the personas "Teen Idle", "Primadonna",
"Homewrecker", and "Housewife ", which represent several female archetypes of
stereotypical American culture. The project debuted at number one on the UK Albums
Chart with first-week sales of 21,358 copies. It became Diamandis' first chart-topping
album in the United Kingdom. The album was eventually certified silver by the British
Phonographic Industry for exceeding shipments of 60,000 units.
"Power & Control" was released as the second single from Electra Heart. Later that
month, it was announced that "How to Be a Heartbreaker" would be released as the
second single in the United States and the third single in the United Kingdom. Diamandis
commented that the track had not made it onto Electra Heart however it was featured in
the revised track listing for the American version. Throughout 2012, Diamandis travelled
for The Lonely Hearts Club Tour, her second headlining concert tour, and opened for
Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto Tour. Diamandis released a music video for the previously
unreleased title track "Electra Heart"; it depicted the death of the character, and
symbolically ended the promotional campaign for Electra Heart.

6. After spending one month in New York City, Diamandis
announced that she had begun writing material for her
upcoming third studio album in February 2013. In July
2014, Marina posted a snippet of "I'm Not Hungry
Anymore", a song that was ultimately cut from Froot. In
September 2014, she shared a part of her new song
"Froot" on Instagram. The song was released on 10
October to celebrate Marina's birthday and announced
to be the title track.
The album was announced for
release on 3 April 2015 with a
new track from the album being
announced each month. The
album debuted at number 8 on
the Billboard 200 chart.
Currently, Froot is her highest
charting album in the United
States.

7. A self-described "DIY musician" and "indie artist with
pop goals", Diamandis considers her music to be
"alternate pop". Whereas The Family Jewels
incorporated prominent elements of new wave music,
Electra Heart was heavily inspired by electropop
musical styles. 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".
She has jokingly stated that "I probably have a bit of a different sound
because I don't really know what I'm doing!", referencing her lack of
formal musical training. Diamandis' lyrical content typically analyses
components of human behaviour; she has noted that she would have
become a psychologist had she been unsuccessful in the music industry.
Diamandis is also a feminist and wrote her song "Sex Yeah" as a "feminist
statement”.

8. Diamandis is notable for her
"experimental" clothing; she has
described her fashion styles as
"vintage, cheerleader, and
cartoon".
On 11 August 2013, Diamandis
launched her own fashion line,
11 Diamonds. Her first line of T-
shirts were designed in
collaboration with DEER DANA,
Francisco Canton, and Yippy
Whippy, and distributed by
Diamandis' label, Neon Gold
Records. In December 2013,
Diamandis released a shirt
referencing her "Anti-socialite"
lyrics, featuring artwork by Baron
Von Fancy.

9. "I created the name 'Marina and the
Diamonds' 5 years ago and I never
envisaged a character, pop project,
band or solo artist. I saw a simple
group made up of many people who
had the same hearts. A space for
people with similar ideals who could
not fit in to life's pre-made mold.
I was terribly awkward
for a long time! I really
craved to be part of one
thing because I never
felt too connected to
anybody and now I feel I
have that all around
me."

10. "It was almost like I had been burdened by something my whole life and then suddenly
that went away..." she added. "I can't even describe how amazing it is... you suddenly
realise why people are happy and why people enjoy things. I think I used to believe that
being depressed was part of my personality or that I was born like that, but it's quite
shocking to realise that perhaps that isn't the case.” –About her third album ‘FROOT’.
“Teen Idle” is an anamnesis of Marina’s high school years, speaking in hindsight of the
remorse and sadness that had plagued her throughout. Marina’s ingenious title exudes
the double meaning towards her convictions of an idolized teenage dream with an
empty reality.
“Instead of being sixteen and burning up a Bible”
She’s saying that when she was 16, she didn’t do what anyone else did. She wasn’t out
sinning. She regrets it. Alternatively, she could be saying that she was so outcasted,
instead of doing things like running for prom queen, she was out burning bibles.
Meaning, she was out looking for answers to religion, life, etc. instead of enjoying the
life of a teen; an idle teen.
“Feeling super super super suicidal”
Marina explained to Amazon that this song is the “Story of my suicidal cheerleader
youth! This song was like my last hurrah of adolescence.” The third “super” is exclaimed
in an overly perky way, similar to the way cheerleaders shout their cheers. A bit of irony
since she’s saying she feels suicidal, and a nod to the cheerleader she wishes she was.