Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I have always loved signing. Ever since I was very little I would beg my parents to put on the music in the car so I could sing. And almost at the same time, I started classes of theater at school which I also loved. So, I have been involved in some kind of performing forever! My parents were very supportive, they wanted me to be happy, and I think that has really helped me get here, be able to pursue a career in music independently.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Marina Ogalla”?
A: My plan to grow my fan base is to keep going. I’m planning on publishing my first full-length album, and market it, getting it into playlists, getting reviews and also using my own social media. Through tik tok and instagram, I’ll try to get the word out there and hopefully reach new people who had never heard about me before. I also want to do some concerts, maybe even try my luck into a festival!
My message to anyone who is discovering me for the first time would be that I try to write for everyone, from my personal experience. If you are going through a break up, but instead of sadness you feel a bit of everything, but mostly anger, I’d say my music is for you!
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: Of course, like everyone else, I feel, I’m a big fan of Taylor Swift, what she’s doing right now, her incredible impact. I wish one day I can achieve half of her level of success! But who I am listening to non-stop at the moment is both Chappell Roan and the new album of Sabrina Carpenter. I find their music really fun but what really calls me is the lyrics. They are very honest and raw, almost not caring what other people will think and I admire that, I still struggle with some self-censorship.
I find inspiration in my own personal life, I am a romantic, so I mostly focus on my relationships, either something that ended, a small but powerful moment with someone, or sometimes, wondering if what I’m experiencing with this person is real or it’s only me.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the EP, “All Alone.”?
A: The story about “All Alone” is simply that I was going through a break up, and right after that happened I moved from my small town in Spain to New York City, without knowing anyone. So, on top of dealing with the sadness and grief of losing a relationship, I was completely isolated and alone all the time. This gave me a lot of time to write and eventually, the songs you hear in this EP, were born. I named it “All Alone” because it said exactly what I was living through: reminiscing about someone who is gone, while in a place all by myself.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: I would describe my sound as the pop-rock, or pop punk of the late nineties or early 2000’s. I believe I am similar to Avril Lavigne, Paramore or more recentely Olivia Rodrigo, with the sensitive lyrics but a backdrop of pop and rock.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “All Alone”?
A: The writing and recording process of “All Alone” was actually really easy. I found a producer, Joey Auch, who I still work with, and he helped a lot. While I did the writing part by myself, he took over when it came to the production and he really understood my vision. By the end, I got exactly what I pictured in all four of my songs. If there was any struggle, it would have been the money, which I think, as an independent artist, is a normal struggle. When I was just starting this process, I was doing it by myself, and while that has changed now and I have some support from different small companies, it was challenging.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: I think my music just focuses on these emotions we all have, good ones and bad ones, and put them into words. My message with this particular EP is that it’s ok to feel whatever it is that you feel, the songs are sad, angry and happy, both blaming him for the break up and blaming myself. These contradictions can all coexist and be true, cause life is messy and that’s ok.
When I think about my goals I try to shoot for the stars, because why not. I’d love to go on tour soon, a U.S. tour for sure, but also Europe or the World, that would be incredible. I would also be able to become a bit more mainstream, the kind of growth that Chappel Roan has had would be the dream.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: An artist that I’d love to collaborate with now would be Olivia Rodrigo, I feel like our vibes go well together and we could do something really cool, bring back this 90’s rock into the mainstream. Another artist would be Jade, previously on Little Mix. I have been following her for a long time, and I love what she’s doing, a collaboration could be really interesting, I truly don’t know how it would sound but I’m sure it would be great!
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: My advice would be to just do it. If you have an idea you think is good, put it into motion! Sometimes we stop ourselves because we feel something is too scarry or complicated but, you might as well try. I have never gotten anything that I didn’t have to work for, or at the very least ask for. So, I would say to follow your instincts and do the thing, write the song, film the video and post it, who knows what will happen?
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
I’d tell her to chill. Which is still not an advise I follow today. I would tell her to relax, to breathe, and to realise that things aren’t as difficult as they seem, and that no matter what happens she would be ok. While this is something, I’m still trying to learn, when I was younger I felt like I was already behind, a failure and a complete mess, when the truth is I was simply a normal teenager, so yeah, I would tell her to relax, cause everything is ok.
