Cultural Life: Marina Diamandis, singer

News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
Arts & Ents blogs

Looking Forward To The Past: A chat with Poker Flat boss Steve Bug

One of the main reasons I became so obsessive with house and techno music was a live DJ set by Germa...

Mario & Vidis: An album makes you rethink what you’ve been doing

In 2007 Marijus Adomaitis teamed up with Vidmantas Cepkauskas to form Mario & Vidis – Lithuania...

Beth Jeans Houghton interview: “I hate London”

Falling from the limelight is often damaging to any artist and devastating at the start of a career....


Books: I only read books which are factual. At the moment, I'm reading 'Stumbling on Happiness' by Daniel Gilbert. I'm half-way through it. It's about how to measure happiness. Really, it's a sociology book. My Dad's half Greek and I've been reading a lot about Greek mythology. Greek mythology is so rich in ideas, especially about morality – which can inspire my work.

Visual Arts: One of my favourite places is MoMA in New York. Every time I go to New York I visit MoMA because it's filled with inspiration. I discovered an artist called Jessica Stockholder and she's influenced my UK tour – it's a really good place to get ideas. During GCSE and A-Level art I was drawn to Pop Art which is how I got into modern art.

Films: I hardly watch any films. The last film I saw was a French film called 'Fear and Trembling' which is about a Belgian woman working in Japan. It's a brilliant film for anyone interested in Japanese culture as I am. My favourite film is 'Life Is Beautiful'. I like war films – another of my favourite films is 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'.

Music: The last album I listened to a lot was 'Nobody's Daughter' by Hole. It's absolutely brilliant. It's the best album Courtney Love has done in ages, it's really nice to hear her back to her early Nineties' form. It's a record that anyone who loves Nineties' grunge will love. Every track is strong. I'm a massive closet fan of Eminem. I have been for years. His most recent album is quite different to his previous work as there's not so much humour in it, which might be a good thing. I think he's one of the most honest artists around and so talented it's not true.

Marina and the Diamonds' new single, "Oh No!", is out on Monday

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

Picture preview: Portrait of London

Portrait of London

Picture preview
No secularism please, we're British

No secularism please, we're British

Arguments about the role of religion in national life have recently acquired a new urgency
Harold Tillman: 'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'

Harold Tillman interview

'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'
Working as a jail torturer ruined my life

Working as a jail torturer ruined my life

Meet the former soldier who has joined the political prisoners he tortured in Turkey's Mamak prison by suing the generals who led a regime of terror
The local high street jet shop

The local high street jet shop

Got a spare $50m and can't stand the queues at Heathrow? Get yourself down to London's first private plane dealership
Do you like your doctor? It could be the death of you

Do you like your doctor?

It could be the death of you...
The mysterious affair of how Agatha Christie is teaching foreigners English

How Agatha Christie is teaching foreigners English

Twenty of the author's novels have been adapted and presented with learning notes and a CD
Six Grammys, five years off: Adele puts love before career

Six Grammys, five years off

Adele puts love before career
The 10 Best binoculars

The 10 Best binoculars

From no-frills to bins with digital cameras
Milan for £300

Milan for £300?

A cultural family holiday - on a budget - to Italy's most stylish city
'Black-hole' resorts: Turn up, tune out, log off

'Black-hole' resorts

Turn up, tune out, log off
New Arsenal face an old question of credibility in San Siro

New Arsenal face an old question of credibility in San Siro

Remodelled since winning in Milan in 2008, for all their consistency – and prize-money – Wenger's side are yet to claim a European title
James Lawton: This prodigal son deserves no forgiveness

James Lawton: This prodigal son deserves no forgiveness

City would be putting their desire to win title ahead of morals if Tevez plays for them
Mark Cavendish: Is Olympic gold at end of the rainbow?

Mark Cavendish interview

Is Olympic gold at end of the rainbow?
Apple admits it has a human rights problem

Apple admits it has a human rights problem

After years of complaints and workers' suicides in China the technology giant faces up to the human cost of its gadgets