The much anticipated Katy Perry “California Dreams” Tour finally comes to Mohegan Sun Arena Saturday night. Millions of fans worldwide know and love Perry’s catchy music, but those same fans may not know nearly as much about her opening act, Marina and the Diamonds.
Marina is a Welsh singer-songwriter who has been making music since 2005. Like many singer-songwriters before her, Marina is a solo artist who created a stage name that makes many think she is a full band. Taking the Greek meaning of her last name — Diamandis — she came up with Marina and the Diamonds and, as she explains to her fans via her Myspace page, “I am Marina. You are the diamonds.”
Still, it’s not just her name that is quirky. Marina herself has done some interesting things to get herself in the music business. She told MSN UK she once dressed like a man to audition for a reggae boy band Virgin Records was looking for in 2005. Though they didn’t let her in, a week later she got an audition of her own. An audition she botched.
However, eventually Marina was signed to Neon Gold Records and released her second extended play, “The Crown Jewels” EP, in 2007. By 2010, Marina had a new record label, 679 Artists, and had released her first full-length studio album, “The Family Jewels,” which produced five singles, including “Hollywood.” It was her most successful song to date and reached No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
Hoping to cross over on the other side of the pond, Marina released “The American Jewels” to give fans a taste of what was coming on the American release of her studio debut. She followed that up with five U.S. performances and has been on tour since.
After two smaller tours of her own, Marina is now playing for far bigger crowds as the opening act on Perry’s tour. Her short stint with Perry begins tonight in Pittsburgh and quickly wraps up July 9 in Minnesota.
Though her time with Perry will be short, it will undoubtedly expose Marina and the Diamonds to thousands of possible new fans. Influenced by everyone from PJ Harvey to Madonna, Marina is often categorized by critics as a new wave pop artist. She told The Guardian, “I suppose I’m an indie artist with pop goals.”
You can hear Marina and the Diamonds’ wide range of styles and influences Saturday night when her mix of simple ballads and upbeat, quirky new-wave numbers opens the “California Dreams” Tour at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Marina is a Welsh singer-songwriter who has been making music since 2005. Like many singer-songwriters before her, Marina is a solo artist who created a stage name that makes many think she is a full band. Taking the Greek meaning of her last name — Diamandis — she came up with Marina and the Diamonds and, as she explains to her fans via her Myspace page, “I am Marina. You are the diamonds.”
However, eventually Marina was signed to Neon Gold Records and released her second extended play, “The Crown Jewels” EP, in 2007. By 2010, Marina had a new record label, 679 Artists, and had released her first full-length studio album, “The Family Jewels,” which produced five singles, including “Hollywood.” It was her most successful song to date and reached No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
Hoping to cross over on the other side of the pond, Marina released “The American Jewels” to give fans a taste of what was coming on the American release of her studio debut. She followed that up with five U.S. performances and has been on tour since.
After two smaller tours of her own, Marina is now playing for far bigger crowds as the opening act on Perry’s tour. Her short stint with Perry begins tonight in Pittsburgh and quickly wraps up July 9 in Minnesota.
You can hear Marina and the Diamonds’ wide range of styles and influences Saturday night when her mix of simple ballads and upbeat, quirky new-wave numbers opens the “California Dreams” Tour at Mohegan Sun Arena.
