'Radioactive' New Marina and The Diamonds Single Due in October

Since releasing her debut album in 2010, I've been eagerly anticipating new material from Welsh singer/songwriter Marina Diamandis (AKA Marina and The Diamonds). Her last album, The Family Jewels, was different from anything else I'd ever heard so naturally I latched on to her unique sound and incredible knack for honest songwriting. In addition to being a talented songwriter, I was mesmerized by Diamandis' stunning beauty.  Announced earlier this year as the face of Max Factor, Diamandis is absolutely gorgeous.  At first glance, you wouldn't expect such a deep, rich sound to come out of that body.  Exhibiting seemingly effortless range, Diamandis slips into her head voice easily and naturally which almost gives her sound texture.

When the Family Jewels debuted in the UK back in February of 2010, it entered the chart at #5, which is pretty dang impressive if you ask me. Not only that but the album was a top ten hit in both Ireland and Greece as well. Over here in America (where we're always behind the times) The Family Jewels was preceded by an EP called The American Jewels, released in March. The album followed in May where it ultimately went on to peak at #138 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, likely thanks to a couple of high profile TV appearances and Internet buzz surrounding her debut single "I Am Not a Robot."

She followed the release of her album with a late summer/early fall club tour, even making a stop here in Boston on September 1st, which I unfortunately had to miss as I had just moved to a new apartment. In January it was announced that Marina and The Diamonds would be one of the supporting acts on the U.S. leg of Katy Perry's California Dreams Tour, which was a huge honor for the singer/songwriter who had in the past expressed disappointment in her label, Chop Shop, for not promoting her properly in America.  Viewing 2010 as a failure, Diamandis was angry and ready to move forward, channeling that anger into her craft.  After cancelling a U.S. tour in the Winter of 2011 due to a shift in her recording schedule, Diamandis got to work on her follow up.  Describing the new material to NME, Diamandis told the magazine that her second album would be more lyrically driven, delving deeper into hot button topics like like politics, feminism and sex, calling the album "an abrasive pop record." Between then and now, Diamandis did face several demos leaking but was quick to dismiss them as having nothing to do with the concept of her album.  And so we wait.

Now here we are and a new Marina and The Diamonds album appears to be taking shape.  In early August, Diamandis released a song and video called "Fear and Loathing," Part 1 from her forthcoming project called Electra Heart, which is described as embodying "the lies, illusions and death of an American Dream."  Hmm...I hope this isn't telling of Marina's future plans for U.S. promotion of her new album.  Despite releasing a beautiful video, "Fear and Loathing" was not an official single, though it was confirmed to appear on her sophomore release.  The song, a beautiful, heartfelt ballad, was written by Diamandis and produced by Liam Howe (Natalie Imbruglia, Nerina Pallot).  In the video we see the singer/songwriter going through a transformation.  Two weeks later, Part 2 arrived in the form of a pulsating club track called "Radioactive," pegged as the official first single from Electra Heart.  Like "Fear and Loathing," Diamandis wrote the track, this time alongside Dutch DJ Chuckie, Fabian Lenssen and Stargate, all three of whom also produced.

Now...as of yet I haven't really heard much in the way of politics, feminism or sex but maybe I'm not delving deep enough.  That being said, the material is definitely different than anything Diamandis has released before but I wouldn't call either of these songs "abrasive pop," far from it in fact!  "Fear and Loathing" is saturated with emotion, an absolutely stunning introduction to Electra Heart, while "Radioactive" takes things in a completely different direction, straight to the dancefloor.  Unlike a lot of dance-driven pop music out these days, "Radioactive" actually has some substance behind those dance beats and I love that!  If these two songs are indicators of what Electra Heart is going to sound like, I think Marina and The Diamonds might have another hit record.

While we don't have a release date yet for Electra Heart, Diamandis has been hitting the studio with a number of influential pop hitmakers, in addition of course to Liam Howe and DJ Chuckie.  Some of those (rumored) names include Guy Sigsworth (Imogen Heap, Madonna), Labrinth (Tinie Tempah, Ms. Dynamite), Greg Kurstin (Lily Allen, Kylie Minogue), Diplo (Robyn, Beyonce), Dr. Luke (Katy Perry, Ke$ha) and Stargate (Ne-Yo, Rihanna).  I absolutely cannot wait to see what she has up her sleeve for this album. Due October 2nd on 679 Artists, UK fans can pre-order "Radioactive" on UK iTunes HERE including remixes by Tom Staar and Chuckie, an acoustic version of the single and more.  No word yet on a U.S. release but hopefully we'll get some love too.  In the meantime, check out the super hot Chuckie remix below. Also, make sure you go back and watch the two videos above, both directed by Caspar Balslev.

Marina And The Diamonds - Radioactive [Chuckie Remix] by 679artists

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