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While you're checking out this spring and summer's crop of music festivals, be sure to make room in your schedule to listen to Marina Diamandis, better known as Marina and the Diamonds. The singer's third album, Froot, dropped yesterday, and it's full of thoughtful, swelling pop songs. We chatted with Diamandis about her new album, festival must-haves, and more. Tune in:
Tell me about the new album.
Marina: It's very different than my last one. My last one was kind of electronic and pop in its production, whereas this one I coproduced it with one guy. I wrote it entirely alone and had some great musicians on it, so it's a very different process.
Did you like having that more intimate experience with it?
Marina: Yeah, I think I needed it. I cowrote the second album with a lot of people, and it was more of a commercial project—whereas this one I just kind of did what I wanted to do.
What was your inspiration for the songs? Any major themes?
Marina: Some of them are about social issues, a few are about relationships, but I'm always interested in things that are very universal. You know, things that represent the human condition. But, yeah, it's kind of all over the place, as usual.
And you'll be touring this summer on the festival circuit?
Marina: Yeah, touring actually starts with South by Southwest, and then I'm doing Coachella, Governors Ball...
Do you have a favorite festival?
Marina: I love Glastonbury. I like Coachella. It's very...ritzy. [Laughs] It's very glamorous for a festival, let's be honest.
What's the experience like performing at a festival versus in a smaller venue?
Marina: It's very different because people who come see you on tour are die-hard fans, whereas in festivals it's much more dispersed. But it's a good thing because some people will just be walking by and find out about you that way. Also, the energy is very different because people are so up—or drunk. [Laughs] It's different, but I love them both. I love being on tour. Festivals are a fun, novelty thing to do.
How do you dress for festivals?
Marina: In the U.K. we don't have the greatest weather, so sometimes it can piss down and you just want a bag over your head. [Laughs] So that's my festival must-have! Literally.
What about in the heat, like Coachella?
Marina: Well, this year I'm performing [at Coachella] in the early evening, so I might have some kind of thin cape number. You can never go wrong with a cat suit, something like that. Something short-sleeve with a sun visor, if you don't want to get freckles.
When it comes to shoes onstage, do you go for comfort or look?
Marina: A little bit in between. I try and do some kind of a heel. I wish I could wear trainers. You know how some people just look very good in trainers? I just can't do it.
Do heels give you more confidence onstage?
Marina: Oh, yeah, whatever you're wearing can really effect how you feel. I've only just figured out I don't like wearing dresses, like five years into my career. So I'm really starting strong with a pantsuit because you can still wear crop tops and feel feminine. It looks flattering, and it's much more enjoyable to wear trousers.
Why is that?
Marina: I don't know! I just feel more powerful and a little bit freer as well. It's like, if you're in a dress, suddenly you become—for me, anyway—more sexual, and that's not the vibe that I want. I feel much more dynamic in a suit.
So how has your look changed from the last album?
Marina: It has changed wildly. I'm 29 now—I'm not 22 like when I started out. I like playing with very classic shapes and classic '50s beauty, and then melding it with something that's a little futuristic—like having a neon liner.
Do you change your look each album or is more of a subtle difference?
Marina: Yeah, I think I do. It's less specific for this album, but I suppose I've been pulling a bit from the '70s and a little bit from the '50s. Fifties are in everything, really. It's the best era, I think.
For more tips on dressing for a music festival, check out Glamour's video:
