Marina & the Diamonds faces death on 'Immortal'

Marina And The Diamonds unveiled the arty music video for her spiritual song "Immortal," the final track from the Welsh singer-songwriter's upcoming third LP, "Froot," which is a contemplative stunner focused on the undying power of love, due out worldwide on April 6. Searching for a slinky pop track to start 2015 on the right foot? Marina And The Diamonds have you covered with "Immortal," which darkens the fizzy electro-pop of the 29-year-old's previous two albums.
The 5-minute long track "Immortal," which Marina described as "arguably the darkest thing" she's ever written, is another delicate, stripped-back ballad that finds her contemplating the transitory nature of life. "I wanna be immortal/ Like a god in the sky,” sings Marina about that impossible but would-be-damn-cool dream of becoming a deity and enjoying all of their powers. It's definitely dark, slow-tempo with a few synth elements and a recurring theme in the diva's occasionally morbid oeuvre, but she always manages to examine the topic from an original perspective.
But while the subject matter might be depressing (death is inevitable, after all), there is an underlying sense of hope. The simple-but-stylish video that reverberates heavy Lana Del Rey vibes over its five-minute-plus running time, finds the quirky songstress performing the song while swaying in front of projected nostalgic home videos and reaching out to the memories that reflects on the circle of life. There are happy childhood scenes, a wedding and ultimately footage of old folks. She takes us through the circle of life without being overly sentimental.

Marina and the Diamonds sparkles in "Froot"

Marina And The Diamonds channels her inner Old Hollywood starlet in the glamorous, highly stylized video for her latest track "Froot," the lead single and title track from Welsh singer-songwriter's upcoming third studio album. The 29-year-old songstress looks absolutely flawless while wearing a Marilyn Monroe-inspired slinky dress and striking fierce poses in a hotel room.
Marina And The Diamonds has flouted spelling conventions once again with this offering, but doesn't stop her tongue in cheek wordplay at the title. "Froot" is laced with stinging metaphors and devilishly clever double entendres. This synth-pop disco anthem is an '80s video game-inspired electro-pop track with a shining beacon of pop loveliness. As a sovereign of thoughtful pop music, Diamonds tells a delightfully ambiguous yet amusing tale in "Froot." At face level she is clearly conveying a story of love but is perhaps also alluding to the overall cycle of life's ups and downs, or even just speaking of sex at a more carnal level.
Throughout the song Diamonds is "living la dolce vita" comparing herself to a luscious fruit on a branch waiting to be picked and "juiced" before she's left to rot for the "birds and worms." Graphic, colorful and full of imagination, Diamonds never fails to paint a perfect picture for her audience. A dance floor ready track, it is big and bold, full of retro-inspired sounds and Diamonds' deep, sultry voice. Over some breezy 8-bit production, she sings that "good things come to those who wait," although she "ain't in a patient phase." Diamonds is sick of "hanging around like a fruit on a tree," and she demands that someone cut her from the vine, turn her into wine and fill [their] cup up.
"Froot" is full of surprise fruit imagery, but the retro video contains less fruit in favor of sultry lighting and glittering gowns. Helmed by St. Vincent's "Digital Witness" director Chino Moya, the shadowy and ultra-glamorous video stuffed with old school Hollywood outfits, shimmering dresses, and furtive glances as we see the singer slinks around a regal house and even recruits some dancers clad in matching gold lamé to back her up, which go along perfectly with the song's quirky electro-pop vibe and it calls to mind Madonna's Vogue, casting the singing vixen as a sort of fruit femme fatale.

Marina & the Diamonds: "The State of Dreaming"

Life is such a nightmare sometimes we all wish we could be in "The State of Dreaming." As the saga of “Electra Heart” continues, Marina and the Diamonds are back and deliver ethereal-like visuals for their latest mid-tempo and appropriately dreamlike cut off of the exotic pop goddess' most recent sophomore album, "Electra Heart." The vampish new video consists of Marina and the Diamonds singing the song in both color and black-and-white on the same set of her "Wedding Bells" video, which is served as part 9 of the "Electra Heart" video series.
In the stirring ballad, the 27-year-old pop-influenced songstress excels at slower tempos and croons about "living in a make-believe land," of somewhat living in fear and insecurity in reaction to a cruel society, where her swooping vocals over an electro-pop beat bring to mind Kate Bush taking the easier option of her earlier days. And although we're a little bummed the whole aesthetic is so stationary, it does compliment the melancholy, hypnotic vibe the songs gives off pretty well! Marina explained the song's meaning on Amazon.co.uk as: "Fantasy protects us." Our heroine performs the mournful yet stirring tune amid a simple backdrop of pillars and drapes, not unlike an old abandoned movie set.
The Welsh songstress and Co. just keeps on churning out those sexy "Electra Heart" videos, and given the singer's new antihero pop vibe and alter-ego, we're not exactly complaining. Even in her pre-heart tattoo days, Marina's had us hooked for quite some time. The majestic clip opens in vintage black-and-white, and solely focuses on Marina looks stunning in an old Hollywood scarlet red Hasan Hejazi dress and veil, and singing the ethereal track in her thick, accented voice on a lonely perch amidst a regal setting, as she channeling Jane Olsen in "The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari" - she's all dramatic expressionist eye makeup, pale skin, and dark, dark hair.
Flower petals and feathers float around her, and the editing makes it a trancelike experience. Combined with her haunting voice, Marina and the Diamonds takes the viewer and listener into their own state of dreaming. As the mid-tempto dance track gains power and kicks into gear, the alluring Marina stays put but sings into the camera, raising up her arms for emphasis, making sure we see every inch of her perfectly drawn red lips. The visuals then shift from monochrome to technicolor as she becomes more animated during the performance. Towards the end, it returns to its monochromatic look. Step into the dream below.

Marina And The Diamonds Debut Acoustic "Lies"

Ahead of the release of their upcoming sophomore electro-pop record "Electra Heart," the follow-up to the top five album "Family Jewels," on April 30th, Marina And The Diamonds has just premiered a naked astounding acoustic rendition of album track, "Lies," exclusively on Telegraph.co.uk. The 26-year-old talented Welsh songstress rose to fame after reaching number two on the BBC Sound of 2010 poll list, coming second to Ellie Goulding.
Although we haven't heard the original album version in full yet, which was co-produced by Dr. Luke, Cirkut and Diplo, the stripped down rendition of the song alone proves that this one's going to be a massive number. And, in the usual Marina fashion, the lyrics are simply devastating. "You're never going to love me, so what's the use?" Marina sadly croons in the opening moment. The singer recently opened up about the inspiration for her post-breakup album: "I wanted to create a cold, ruthless character who wasn’t vulnerable…On my new songs, I wanted to flick the situation around."
The heartbreaking album "Electra Heart" tells the story of identity, love, rejection, doomed romance, all tinged with humor and British eccentricity. Discussing the album, Marina said: "It's an Ode to dysfunctional love. I based the project around character types commonly found in love stories, film and theater, usually ones associated with power and control in love, as opposed to weakness or defeat. I guess it was a way of dealing with the embarrassment that, for the first time in my life, I got 'played.'. Rejection is a universally embarrassing topic and "Electra Heart" is my response to that. It is a frank album."
Marina And The Diamonds lie to us so sweetly, and We can't even with this one. This breathtakingly beautiful version of "Lies," is everything a song about dysfunctional love should be, and words can't describe its emotional core, you will cry. Paralyzing, really, so just click, sit back and absorb the force that is Marina. "I just wanted to be perfect..."

Marina and the Diamonds | "I Am Not A Princess"

Filmmaker Eugene Lee Yang was not hired by Marina and the Diamonds or her label to create this 10-minute video, using a medley of tracks from her debut full-length studio album "The Family Jewels." But after watching this enchanting mini-movie, I've been transported into a world of fairy tales and princesses and all things aesthetically stunning. Yang created the video entirely on spec, and according to his YouTube page, he felt truly inspired by Marina's album, and it's a journey of bright lights, beautiful colors, and the most beastly of all things beautiful and bewildering. "I Am Not A Princess" puts a modern, poptastic spin on several storybook tales, from The Little Mermaid to Cinderella to Alice in Wonderland, and uses Marina's songbook as the score.
The 24-year-old Marina Lambrini Diamandis, better known by her stage name, Marina and the Diamonds, is a Welsh singer of Greek descent. She rose to fame after reaching No.2 on the BBC Sound of 2010 poll list, coming 2nd to Ellie Goulding. Despite the name, Marina is a solo act, with the "Diamonds" being what she refers to as her fans. Her musical style ranges from keyboard-based ballads to more up-tempo new wave-style songs with full band backing. This new video is jaw-droppingly-amazing, and I get chills every time.
And here's full story about the video on Marina's YouTube page: "My original spec music video for the incredibly talented indie pop artist Marina and the Diamonds comprised of a supermix of tracks from her inspiring debut album, 'The Family Jewels.' The story reimagines a myriad of classic princess mythologies that every little boy and girl has grown up either adoring...resenting...fulfilling...(or a conflicted mixture of all those feelings), and writes each fairy tale its own unique, modern twist. This message: of carving your own path and ultimately following your heart, regardless of expectation or society, is very near and dear to me and hopefully reflected in the spirit of this film. Marina herself said it best when describing the origin of her musical identity: '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.'"
"My fairy tale dream was this: to produce and direct my ideal music video with no limitations...to allow a spectacular young cast and crew to perform solely off their own creativity...to encourage and embrace diversity on film...to direct a project both my grandmother and little sister could love and understand...and, if anything, to promote a new artist who sincerely deserves more international attention. Artists like her, especially in pop music, are indeed as rare as diamonds, and upon your first listen you'll understand why I chose to feature her music in this passion project. 'I know exactly what I want and who I want to be...'"