Marina And The Diamonds

Foundation: Marina is blessed with good skin, so drink lots of water to achieve her flawless complexion! Failing that, tinted moisturiser will act as a foundation base without being too heavy.

Eye Shadow Colour: Black Kohl Eyeliner, use eyelash curlers before applying mascara for maximam lashes.

Lipstick: For a dramatic effect try bright red lipstick, but if eyes are to remain the focus keep the lips nude.

Lipstick Rating:

“Drinkin’ champagne, to forget yesterday” is my motto for this year, and is inspired from a very endearing artist. 2009 was the year of Florence, Little Boots and La Roux, 2010 will be known as the year of Marina And The Diamonds. Innovative, creative and completely refreshing, she’s making her way through mainstream ears after years of climbing the ladder of a harsh industry.

Marina has been compared to Kate Bush and Annie Lennox, but personally I think her sound is an entity unto itself. Her songs are crafted, moulded and then polished, cleaned out, spruced up and dressed to the nines.

The best song on The Family Jewels album is Mowgli’s Road which showcases Marina’s wide dynamic range and theatrical song writing, whilst Obsessions is simple with the piano and vocal to the fore and the backing largely unobtrusive, similar in the style of the power pop ballad I Am Not A Robot, in that you can let the music wash over you.

The Greeks can keep Calliope; in modern-day mythology she is the closest thing to a Goddess, albeit one with a very earthy appeal. Hollywood is sure to be a favourite among teeny-boppers the world over, with a sassy video and cheeky lyrics including, "Oh my God, you look just like Shakira. No no, you're Catherine Zeta. Actually, my name's Marina” and she is one of those rare gems who sound better live than on record.

The Family Jewels is an album purring with influences which Marina states are Old Hollywood icons, 1970's Barbie dolls, Episodes of Ab Fab, Crimped hair & Knitted Strawberries, yet it never mimics or turns into a pastiche.

I cannot stop listening to this album, it is a sickness! And when I'm not blasting it through my speakers it plays continuously in my head...!

Guilty, Oh No, and Girls are all growers, I have no doubt in my mind that, despite it being only February, this will most certainly be in my top 3 albums of the year.

This record is full of surprises, twists and turns; is it pop art? A postmodern experiment? A little bit of both perhaps. One thing certain is: Marina will be the sound of 2010 and beyond.