A lesson in love
Greek-Welsh singer and songwriter Marina Diamandis aka Marina is set to drop her sixth album Princess of Power tomorrow, June 6.
According to the 39-year-old artist, the 13-track album – which she described as 'freeing' to work on – is about loving her inner self, reflecting on ageing in the pop industry, finding one's voice and challenging patriarchal oppression.
The body of work is expected to feature an upbeat and energetic pop-oriented sound.
'We are meeting a Marina who is not guarding her heart so much anymore,' the artist said in an interview.
'I think part of why this album has felt so freeing is that I think I've really dove into my fear of love. That's why, for me, it's so powerful that this superheroine's biggest power is love. The album is about teaching yourself – or re-teaching yourself how to love,' she added.
Princess of Power marks the creative talent's first self-released project since her extended plays Mermaid vs Sailor (2007) and Froot Acoustic (2015), following her departure from Atlantic Records and starting her independent label Queenie Records.
Previously known by her stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds', the musician embarked on her career in 2005 and rose to fame for her song I Am Not A Robot off her debut album The Family Jewels (2010).
She garnered even more attention following the release of her 2012 studio album Electra Heart, which received mixed reviews from music critics but was favoured and uplifted by Marina's dedicated audience.
It eventually earned the status of a cult classic, with Rolling Stone magazine listing it among the 50 greatest concept albums of all time in 2022.
Marina's style consists of a combination of pop subgenres, including art pop and electropop, and she is known mainly for her mezzo-soprano vocal ability.
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Gulf Weekly
2 days ago
- Gulf Weekly
A lesson in love
Greek-Welsh singer and songwriter Marina Diamandis aka Marina is set to drop her sixth album Princess of Power tomorrow, June 6. According to the 39-year-old artist, the 13-track album – which she described as 'freeing' to work on – is about loving her inner self, reflecting on ageing in the pop industry, finding one's voice and challenging patriarchal oppression. The body of work is expected to feature an upbeat and energetic pop-oriented sound. 'We are meeting a Marina who is not guarding her heart so much anymore,' the artist said in an interview. 'I think part of why this album has felt so freeing is that I think I've really dove into my fear of love. That's why, for me, it's so powerful that this superheroine's biggest power is love. The album is about teaching yourself – or re-teaching yourself how to love,' she added. Princess of Power marks the creative talent's first self-released project since her extended plays Mermaid vs Sailor (2007) and Froot Acoustic (2015), following her departure from Atlantic Records and starting her independent label Queenie Records. Previously known by her stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds', the musician embarked on her career in 2005 and rose to fame for her song I Am Not A Robot off her debut album The Family Jewels (2010). She garnered even more attention following the release of her 2012 studio album Electra Heart, which received mixed reviews from music critics but was favoured and uplifted by Marina's dedicated audience. It eventually earned the status of a cult classic, with Rolling Stone magazine listing it among the 50 greatest concept albums of all time in 2022. Marina's style consists of a combination of pop subgenres, including art pop and electropop, and she is known mainly for her mezzo-soprano vocal ability.
Gulf Weekly
08-05-2025
- Gulf Weekly
Family matters
The third and final season of the Netflix animated series Blood of Zeus is out. Set in mythical ancient Greece, the series revolves around Heron (voiced by Derek Phillips), the son of Zeus (voiced by Jason O'Mara), who tries to save Olympus and Earth from a demonic army after discovering his true heritage. 'Greek mythology is just one big family soap opera,' Charley Parlapanides, who created the series with his brother Vlas Parlapanides, said in an interview. 'We grew up in a very big, tight-knit Greek family. So I think that was always, even subliminally, part of the draw for us making this show. It's about families and it all just meshed,' he added. First premiered in 2020, the series garnered a positive feedback and critical acclaim for having a fresh take on Greek mythology. It was praised for its imagery and voice acting and the two seasons received a 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes. 'We come from the theatre and the live-action space, so we wanted the story to have emotional truth,' Vlas explained. 'We wanted to take that authenticity that you normally find in live-action, feature dramas and bring that to the animated space. 'Some people who watch this show don't even realise it, but Powerhouse (the animation studio behind the series) and our compositors would manipulate the lighting and colour of the eyes to show expression. 'Every animated project is on a budget, and we all use cheats to help sell what we're trying to do. The eyes were a big part of that,' he added.
Gulf Weekly
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A symphony of cultures
melissa@ One of Bahrain's oldest choirs and young talents at a local university will come together as one voice for their debut collaboration, Chorus of Cultures, a spectacular musical concert set to be staged on May 23. Formed more than 50 years ago, Manama Singers, together with the RCSI Medical University of Bahrain Choir, will take enthusiasts on an exciting journey through language, rhythm, and harmony, across continents and cultures, conjuring an 'unforgettable evening of musical unity'. The two-hour concert presented by more than 70 singers will tell tales from around the world, presenting a rich tapestry of global choral and solo music – from the soulful call of African folk melodies to the dramatic flair of classical arias and the groove of contemporary popular hits. 'Manama Singers were looking for a conductor at the end of 2024, as our regular conductor Jo Dichiolla was taking some time out. We were lucky enough to find an exciting new conductor, South African Stefan Els, who is also the conductor and founder of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain Choir,' Manama Singers chairperson Susan Scott told GulfWeekly. 'We started rehearsing a number of South African songs and then Stefan suggested a combined concert, which we thought was a wonderful idea. The concert, being multinational and cultural, grew to showcase different songs, but was also named so because both choirs have a remarkable number of nationalities,' she added. Manama Singers, which celebrated its golden jubilee three years ago, comprises more than 40 members across nationalities, including English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, French, Italian, German, Swiss, Swedish, American, Indian, Pakistani, Malaysian, Kiwi (New Zealand), Jordanian, Lebanese and Zambian. RCSI Medical University of Bahrain Choir, formed last year, currently has 32 members. 'Teaching African songs was a particularly fun challenge,' choirs'conductor and RCSI Bahrain data analyst Stefan revealed. 'Getting everyone to learn the words, rhythms, and accompanying movements was a steep but rewarding learning curve,' he added. 'Manama Singers were initially quite hesitant to let go of their choir folders and memorise the music, but they have overcome that with great dedication.' This is the first time Manama Singers will be presenting without sheet music – printed notations meant to guide the performer about pitch, rhythm and other elements. 'While we've been rehearsing since mid-January, we've only had two combined weekend rehearsals, each about four hours long. We had to get creative with our rehearsal spaces at RCSI. Practising on staircases helped with acoustics, and the altos even worked on their projection techniques in a car park at one point,' the 34-year-old from Al Sayh, who has been living in Bahrain for the last six years, said, highlighting some memorable moments behind the scenes. US expatriate Amanda Pilmer, who moved to the kingdom in August last year, shared her experience and excitement for the show. 'It's been great meeting all these new people, who are so welcoming. I'm a mum of two so, spending that one day a week rehearsing has given me an outlet,' the 40-year-old from Adliya said, adding that she will be presenting some solo acts at the concert. The event will commence at 7pm at Downtown Rotana in Manama.
