Marina Diamandis has released her anticipated fifth album, ‘Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land’. The album follows from the Welsh singer-songwriters 2019’s album ‘Love + Fear’, with similar eccentricities but with more ambitious themes. Such themes provide a new political undertone to the singer’s music and can be seen expressing views on topics such as racism, misogyny, wealth gaps and climate change.
MARINA, who previously performed as Marina and the Diamonds, released ‘Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land’ yesterday – Friday June 11th. The 10-track album showcases the artists brilliant art-pop and musical talent – both for singing and songwriting. Each song was written by Diamandis herself and she also co-produced five of them. To predict the success of ‘Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land‘ after this hard-work would not be uncalled for, as all of Marina’s albums have previously awarded themselves a place in the UK Top 10.
In discussion with Michael Cragg about ‘Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land’ and the different perspective it afforded her as an artist, Diamandis explained that “I’m not here anymore to play it small or be worried because I’ve spent my whole life doing that. I’ve spent so many years in anxiety mode. Of course, there are going to be people who disagree with what I say. But what am I going to do? Just not express any views?”
Following on from this, she also stated that “I’ve just learnt that it’s nice to feel proud about things [I’ve done] because I’ve never really had that feeling up until recently. Writing this record allowed me to reflect on what my career has been like in reality.”
‘Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land’ provides a step up for the alt-pop artist, with bolder, confident claims about society and less anxieties around the reception such songs will have. This new-found confidence shows that MARINA’s successful reputation as a pop-artist is more than valid. This reputation, and the release of a new album and music which are helping to evolve it, will be showcased this weekend on a livestream event – along with a full band. It is the perfect celebration of Marina’s much awaited return.
In a separate interview with Billboard, Marina again expressed her freedom on the new album, which has in turn instilled each song on her new album with a unique depth – “I do feel very free on this record. And one of the good things about me is that, when I write, I don’t worry about anything that other people are going to say. That happens later in the process. [Laughs.] But when I’m actually making a song, I never feel any censorship”.
This freedom means that Marina, in the creation and release of ‘Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land’, “felt like [she] didn’t have anything to lose artistically”.
You can listen to Marina’s new album, which celebrates a new era of the singer, here.
