Marika is a fresh new artist out of London. Her voice is tranquil, therapeutic, and comforting. Growing up in London, Marika had been exposed to a vast variety of musical genres which she has come to appreciate and learned to use it to her advantage. With this being said, her Caribbean background had the greatest impact on her musical career. With Caribbean culture being so deeply rooted in music, Marika fell in love with the drum and bass in reggae and dancehall, the unforgettable melodies in R&B, and the heart throbbing vocals in jazz and soul. Marika has embraced these timeless genres into her own music, whilst successfully creating an entire style of her own. Marika is inspired by powerful artists such as Erykah Badu, Bob Marley, Lauryn Hill, and Mary J. Blige. Marika has endured many challenges and reaped many triumphs, and at the end of the day she had music and God by her side. God is her biggest inspiration and she is the woman she is today as a result of her strong faith.
Marika’s single “U.F.O” is the result of her hard work, talent, and upbringing in music. The track has a mysterious, exciting, sensual vibe to it that transports your mind into a dreamlike state. Marika pushes the boundaries using taking extra-terrestrial references and them relatable yet mystifying. “U.F.O” has a Jhené Aiko vibe to it that makes it great for a night of destressing. Keep an eye out for Marika and her future releases!
Listen to U.F.O. here and get to know more about Marika below!
What was your inspiration behind your single “U.F.O.”?
The inspiration behind UFO was self love and self acceptance. I was inspired by the positive changes that were occurring in my life, physically and mentally and I needed to translate that into my music. I wanted to create a song that came from a place of happiness rather than pain for a change.
Is there a message behind “U.F.O” that you want listeners to know?
The message behind UFO is about having faith. Faith in yourself, faith in God. You have to believe in your own talents and gifts, seek validation from yourself, before you can even expect it from anyone else. It’s about unlocking the next level of life, showing up for you and proving to yourself what you are capable of achieving, which takes faith. U.F.O. is almost like a letter from my future self.
What do you find to be the biggest challenge while making music?
I think the biggest challenge for me is allowing myself to be more vulnerable in my music. I sometimes struggle to tell my story due to fear of judgement, but I’ve learnt that it’s my responsibility as an artist to share parts of myself, in order to hopefully heal others.
What direction do you see yourself and your career going in the next few years?
I love being on stage and performing with a band, so I definitely see myself touring for sure. There’s nothing like experiencing a live performance, whether you’re the artist or fan and no better way to connect with the people who listen to my music.
Is there something in particular that you want your audience to know about you and your music?
I just want my listeners to know me as an artist and recognise me as a story teller. Music is so personal, yet so relatable. I just want my music to hopefully heal other people and let them know they are not alone out there.
Connect with Marika on social media
Instagram: www.instagram.com/marikabastien
Twtitter: www.twitter.com/marikabastien
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