Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I grew up doing musical theatre my whole life and recently started to find my own writing style within the past 5 years. I love writing music that tells a story, feels comforting and makes the listener feel seen and heard.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Carina Marie in three words?
A: Warm, comforting, soulful
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: Social media and performing live have worked in tandem for me to grow and stay connected with my audience. I use social media to find the people that connect with my music and then playing shows has helped me to build community and create a space where my audience can dive deeper into my catalog and feel the music in the actual room. It’s my favorite part!
Q: You have just released your new EP, ‘Scribbles’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Yes! ‘Scribbles’ is my newest 5 song EP that dives into the beauty and chaos of what it’s like to not care as much and learning to let go.
Q: What is your favorite track from the EP and why?
A: It’s so hard to choose one, but I have a strong and deep connection with All the Time in the World. I remember writing it and thinking it was my favorite song I’ve ever written. As much as I want people to connect with it as well, the timeless message of the song still stands so true to me and it was very therapeutic for me to write and it still comforts me when I listen to it.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the EP, “Scribbles”?
A: All of these song lyrics were pulled directly from my journal so it feels extra personal. Most of these songs were produced in Cincinnati, OH with a producer I met in college. We ended up finishing most of the EP in 5 days and it felt like throughout that time I was living and breathing in the EP.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for you so far?
A: 4 years ago I performed my own music live for an audience for the first time. It reminded me that my dreams are attainable and felt like I was doing what I was meant to be doing. Once I started I never wanted to stop!
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: One Night Only specifically stands out to me. I originally wrote it using my own voice as the only instrument on the track and then built it from that blueprint. It was a different way of writing for me as well as infuses a few different genres like soul, pop, country, and a little hint of jazz. I felt the most experimental with this one.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into Carina Marie’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: The most challenging part for me is always getting started. But once I do, everything usually falls into place. Sometimes I hear specific melodies in my head and I’ll put lyrics to them and other times I have lyrics that come to me first and then I end up adding the chords afterwards. The most important part though is allowing yourself to create even if you think it’s bad and no one will ever hear it. You have to start somewhere.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: My biggest dream is to bring my music on the road eventually. I hope my music finds the right audience that might need it and I hope to build community using my music as an outlet. I hope my fans know that they should always authentically be themselves no matter what other people tell them and if they have a dream, they should chase it <3
