NEW MUSIC: MARINA & THE DIAMONDS

Marina & the Diamonds is a confusing name. It's really just Marina Diamandis, but on her myspace page she explains she is Marina and her fans are the diamonds. The Welsh singer/songwriter has already released music in her native UK with her debut full length album Family Jewels, but she is now gearing up to come to the States and has released an EP on iTunes called American Jewels which you can find here. Named in EW as one of the up and coming artists to watch at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Marina & the Diamonds, desribing her as a "full-throated quirk-pop diva. Her voice is in fact quite unique. She comes off like a punky Sarah McLachlan or Tori Amos at times, but has a much heartier sound coming from her gut than those two ladies making a little closer to Bjork in tone. The music is hard and melodic at the same time with lots of synth and piano and attitude. It's hard to describe or pin down. Songs like Shampain and Oh No! go into dance territory, but not in a poppy way. Most of the album is lyrically intense, i.e. I Am Not a Robot, Hollywood and Obsessions and entirely satisfying both vocally and musically. Her album, Family Jewels, will be released in the States May 25th. Watch her video for her UK single I Am Not a Robot. What do you think?