of being grouped together with other emerging artists, especially when she had nothing in common with them except gender. The variety in her about music made it hard to classify or pigeonhole, and compari- sons were made with artists as marina diverse as Regina Spektor and arina and the Diamonds, Elvis Costello. Mreally just Marina Diaman- Her first single, “Obsessions/Mowgli’s dis, was born in 1986 to Welsh and Road,” was issued by indie label Neon Greek parents, although she has often Gold in the U.S., also home to elec- claimed to be from Ancient Greece. tro-indie Americans Passion Pit. It was After dropping out of four different followed later in 2009 by The Crown music courses at four different uni- Jewels EP, which contained three new versities, she decided to make her own songs, including an electronic remix way in music, and began writing left- of fan favorite “I Am Not a Robot.” Af- field pop songs. Early on, she claimed ter playing the British festival circuit that her inspirations were Britney during the summer of 2009, Marina Spears and Gwen Stefani -- who she briefly retired to the studio to polish often covered at live gigs -- but her her debut album, 2010’s The Family songs have a soulful edge pointing to Jewels, before quickly hitting the road a deeper source of influence. Dia- again. The album hit number five in mandis’ piano/keyboard-driven songs the U.K., but made only a small splash vary from melancholic ballads to throughout the world. Her second out-and-out glam pop, but her voice full-length studio outing, Electra and melodic style are what make her Heart, was preceded by the singles unique. “Primadonna” and “Radioactive.” It topped the charts in the U.K., led by a Essentially a solo artist, Marina wrote strong showing for the “Primadonna” the bulk of her early material alone, single, and also cracked the Top 40 in arranging it for a band to ensure her America. live shows carried the full energy of her studio recordings. Quick to Diamandis’ third album, 2015’s Froot, distance herself from comparisons to was a radical departure in working the rest of the female solo artists who style; instead of a large cast of produc- broke through in 2009, Marina was ers, she co-produced the album with also open about voicing her opinions David Kosten (Brooke Fraser, Bat for on more established musical peers Lashes) and wrote all the songs herself. including Lily Allen and Kate Nash. In While still packed with memorable, interviews she often showed a dislike new wave-inflected pop hooks, Froot was a more personal and evocative production that showcased Diaman- dis’ maturation as a performer.