Marina Ammouri
Interview conducted on March 16, 2021
By Dan Locke
“The only person I compete with is the woman I saw in the mirror every morning” (Marina Ammouri)
These words fully reflect “Marina Ammouri” both as a musician and artist, but also as a person in general. Marina has always gone her own way, which becomes noticeable when you listen to her compositions, the transmission of her lyrics and her universal personality and image. With the album “Dare to Be Happy” (2018), Marina debuted as a solo artist, an album that generated the award “BEST FEMALE ROCK ARTIST OF THE YEAR” (2018) at IMC AWARD in Hollywood, Los Angeles. At the same Award, she was also nominated for “Album of the year“.
With the new single “LATITA” which sees the light of day on 14/2, Marina clarifies what she wants to convey to her audience. “Latita, let’s do what you want!“; To dare to give love and to be yourself in whatever you create and want to convey.
With “LATITA, Marina shows that she wants to remain genre-free with the music she creates, to dare to mix influences and write lyrics and music that comes straight from the heart. I think first and foremost good music and melody with a rewarding message. A song should not only be adapted to a special audience, it should be able to convey something regardless of who the listener is”.
What is your upbringing?
My parents are scientists in chemistry in physic but my mother is a very creative and musical soul, I remember piano since I remember myself
How did you discover music?
Like I mentioned, I’m raised with a very musical mother who played the piano and wrote songs for us children so I discovered the piano and music since I remember myself and I started to okay the piano in the music school at the age of 5.
How did you start to write music?
It started very naturally, the more I played the piano than more I started to compose my own, music was an expression for my own feelings. Since I went in classical music school, I played Bach, Rachmaninov, and Beethoven at that time and my first compositions were inspired by them.
What was your first performance at like?
My first performance was when I was 7 years old and, I played piano on the classical concert and I was very nervous my hands was shaking and I was afraid that I would forget what I am supposed to play.
You studied Audio Engineering at SAE Institute Stockholm. Do you think by going there helped you developed your sound?
Learning about both vocal and instrumental recordings, mixing, and the rules of arrangement, definitely helped me to develop my sound, It also gave me a good ear rehearsal.
How was it to be debuted as a solo artist and winning Best Female Rock Artist of the Year 2018 at the IMC Awards in Hollywood, CA?
Well, it was fantastic. I worked hard many years and for several reasons, it took time for me to realize my dream about starting my solo carrier, so to be invited to the ceremony at Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood as a Nominee in the Best Female Rock Artist category and finish the evening with an Award in the hands was a really great feeling, but I also have to admit that I’m very relaxed when it comes to prizes and competitions, I never commit with anyone or anything and just doing my things and also I know that there are so much more important things in life than this, so I was very happy and proud that evening but very relaxed and celebrated with my son in silence on the balcony at our hotel.
What makes a good songwriter?
Good songwriter I think It’s a person who think first from all good melody and a good song message and balancing well his musical skills, creative freedom, openmindess for the new things and the rule breaking but at the same holding on to some specific rules.
What is the process of writing your music?
It’s very different, sometimes I get an idea of the refrain melody or the bass hook or something and then I go to the piano and develop it and then thinking about the lyrics, and sometimes it’s totally opposite. I know exactly the lyrics subject of the song and almost have all text in my head and then going around and singing on the melody for it. And sometimes I have both. Sometimes I plan for a long time that I have to write a specific type of song and sometimes I get ideas spontaneous when I’m walking in nature or cooking at home. When it comes to my solo albums, I usually compose the songs, recording a rough demo, and then sending to producer Staffan Österlind, then he sending them back to me his arrangement idea and usually making me blown away and then we exchanging ideas and Continue to develop the songs together.
How did your band form?
Pontus Egberg played one The Poodles, Kryptonite, now in King Diamond, Treat and Wolf. Johan Kullberg played in Therion and Hammerfall, now in Wolf. Staffan Österlind
Well, we get in contact with Johan Kullberg, Pontus Egberg and later with Staffan Österlind and I thought that we got a great team for collaboration. They are absently top musicals and I’m happy that they stand with me, haha.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
Yes, I belong to STIM, organization for songwriters.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
The first title of my original song is Never Say Good bye. I wrote it in the early teens and then rewrote and re-recorded it many times
How was it to write Opera Light True Love is Always Pure?
True Love is Always Pure. Opera Lights Founder Alla Luxe and I spoke about that I would compose a song for her ensemble and it should be about love. So, I was just set at my piano and composed, I had a good inspiration flow. And then I made cello and strings arrangements for it. Opera Light Team liked it and later I recorded the singers and Musicians. The release of the song was very special, in Livslustkammare at the Royal Palace on the event arranged by Royal Magazine.
How did you get involved with Adelleide?
Adellaide singer Daniel Vargas found me and it didn’t take long time to understand that we have many things in common although some differences and we want to make many things together. Adellaide is a unique AOR band and Daniel Vargas must be one of the greatest singers on the modern Rock Scene.
Tell me about “Latita (Let ‘s Do What U Want)”?
The story with Latita started on Janett Jensen Costa Tropical songwriting camp. I always believed in this song, it always symbolized freedom and I really wanted to take it to my album, so later I rewrote it and developed it together with Staffan Österlind.
Why did you release Latita on Valentine’s Day?
It just became like this that release came on Valentine Day. We discussed release dates in February and thought that The Valentine Days fitted very good for LATITA birthday.
How was it to work with your daughter Julia Ammouri on the video?
It was very special and absolutely great. Julia is a very creative and independent girl. I just told you the idea of the song and she got free hands to do what she wanted. We exchanged ideas of locations but She directed the video scenario and edited how she wanted. I’m so proud of her.
How do you stay healthy while performing?
The first rule is to sleep as well as possible before performing, avoid alcohol, and, on the other side one glass of Coca-Cola with rom is good, it keeps blood pressure in good condition for me. But only one glass. And for me personally I really need to avoid air-conditions, they make me easily sick.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Well, it’s a not easy question. On one side it became easier for artists to release the music and reach out to the audience worldwide thanks to steaming but on the other side there are many things I consider still unfair with the streaming
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, or (in North American usage) pound sign. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
And this is a very interesting question. Yes, it feels like people forgetting
Digital vs. vinyl?
Both. Digital is good in each way of listening the music and vinyl is in another. But frankly me personal prefer vinyl.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
At the moment the song from the past on my mind is “They don’t really care about us “, Michael Jackson.
Both (Pfizer and BioNTech) and Moderna have conclude Phase 3 Study of the Coronavirus vaccine. With the both vaccines, it takes two shots. How many people do you think will take it and how many will forget to take the second shot?
I love the feeling and the mix of the song, this awesome rock bridge which guitar hook, incredible dynamic although minimalism. It’s legendary and eternal. Such songs means creative freedom for me.
How long before the whole world will be vaccinated against the virus. You have to remember there only has to be a 70% for Herd immunity (Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune.)
Well, I think that people who decided to take vaccinations they will take both, and people who are sceptic to vaccinate will not take at all.
It’s difficult to say, but I want to believe that we will return to normality as soon as possible.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Well, it feels like Covid killed the live music at the moment but only at the moment. But I believe that it’s not permanent. So, I would rather say that Covid Putted the live music on a pause. And when this pause is over step-by-step live music will rebirth and will play louder and louder and it feels like performances will be even more interesting than before because musicians are longing to perform.
I believe Of course it will affect but I also believe that every side has its backside too, and in the end many positive things must come before or late.
During self-quarantine you worked with the International Collaboration- La Segrada Familia (Alan Persons Project) Collab/Lockdown/Quarantine. How did you get involved with this project?
Daniel Vargas and Me wanted to record something together long time. La Sagrada Familia song has a very especial meaning for Daniel, he wanted to make this song long time. So, when he started, he invited me and I proposed him to create an international concept which was very logic. So, i invited my friends’ musicians from different countries, he invited his friends and it became pretty successful, we got awesome response. I must also add that Daniel reminds of Alan Parsons himself in some way, many people consider it and I totally agree. Anyway, this project is definitely made with a full heart. I made some recordings also in the Orthodox Church in Stockholm because It fits to the song and our times of hope
Tell me about the creation of Monster of Our own Creation?
The creation of Monster Of Your Own creation started when I was sitting at the piano in my home and composed with the left hand the bass hook of the song which starts in the beginning of the song. And from this bass line I composed the whole song. Then We recorded drums with Johan Kullberg and Pontus recorded a bass. This is also our first collaboration with Staffan Österlind, i asked him to make the Guitar arrangement for Monster Of Your Own Creation and liked so much what he did. It’s there it started. And later we sent the arrangement to Pontus Egberg and he finalized the production. Pontus recorded also some back vocals and he helped and done so many great things on the track. There is a personal story behind in the song but at the same time I left pretty much metaphorical space for listener to feel their own stories in the lyrics.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
My new hobbies are to walk longer in the nature near water and forest than I did before.
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
Oh, I’m not sure if I have any favorite one. I usually like to watch different philosophical and historical programs directly on YouTube. Sometimes I watch the movies there too.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
Oh, that’s also very difficult to say. Well, I guess that people still will use FB like they do but for sure
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
I guess that the only way is to live stream and to sell the mercies online.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
I think that according to the huge economic situation in music industry there is no sense with pay to play thing, in my personal opinion it brings nothing. And it’s the same with playlists on internet, I would not pay to some playlist owner to be putting on anyone’s list.
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.”.
In the past if a musician stop doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
I would like to work with fashion or as a teacher in Religion.
What is your happy place?
My happy place is where my children and loved ones are. And another happy place is on a terrace in Spain with Janett Jensen, beautiful see views and a glass of Coca Cola with Rum.
Spotify just deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. Was your saved?
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
Perhaps yes.
Janett and I met at that time she worked as A&R on Warner; she published my song on Warner “If You Can” written for Therese Anderson. Since then we collaborated many times and developed a fantastic genuine friendship through the years. Janett is a unique person in all ways and inspired me to many creative things.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
I would like to thank you for a very interesting interview and wish all readers a beautiful 2021 with changes to the better
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