“Some record labels won’t even glance at a new artist unless they have a massive following on TikTok now. It’s always been this way; a social following is important, but it’s unique now,” says MarMar, an American producer now living in France. This honest insight into the music industry sets the tone for understanding the artist beyond the numbers and the buzz. MarMar has been carving out a niche for himself with his atmospheric, indie-dance music, and his latest release, “You,” is a confirmation to that.
As he says the track was written on a sunny afternoon in the middle of the forest. And as an absolute nature lover, I can kind of feel it. “You” radiates a sense of lightness and a feeling of well-being that envelops me just as the forest does. The silence around me, which is far from empty, allows me to breathe completely. MarMar adds, “I just needed a break from everything. I found a little place in the trees and just felt this peace sitting on the forest floor.” This intersection of natural serenity and the rigors of artistic creation offers a glimpse into MarMar’s unique approach to music and life.
In our interview, we delve into MarMar’s journey from the US to a small French town, his insightful observations on the current state of the music industry, and the creative process behind his new release. His thoughts offer a nuanced look at the challenges and opportunities facing young artists in an industry where algorithms often drown out artistry.
What inspired you to move from the US to a small town in France?
My girlfriend at the time of my move, now wife, is actually French. She lives up north here in France with her family. I was beginning to really focus on my music career last year and was able to travel a lot while writing, so it made sense for me to spend the summer over here last year with her. The long distance was really killer, so we were grateful to be given the chance to be together just for a few months. I wasn’t sure exactly what was next then, but was fortunate enough to be granted a work visa here for a year after that, and now am in the process of applying to stay here permanently. I just love it here truly, it’s been such a beautiful and unexpected adventure.
What’s the story behind the name “MarMar”?
I began my music career when I was 20 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a lot of my friends there started calling me “MarMar.” It ended up just sticking as the project name, as my best friend especially just called me “MarMar” all the time there.
You mentioned writing your latest track “You” in the middle of a forest. Can you describe that moment a bit more? What was running through your mind, and what pushed you to open up your laptop and start producing then and there?
I was in a particularly tough time of stress that week and sort of set up a little solo write session by Lac du Héron up here, which is just surrounded by forest and trails. I just needed a break from everything. I found a little place in the trees and just felt this peace sitting on the forest floor. As for writing the track itself, I’ve been really fascinated by granular synthesis recently. I started with a little choppy vocal grain layer that’s barely even audible in the final track, but it was the basis for the chords, drums, everything. I recorded some birds who were nearby, and it was just a lovely moment out there.
“I just needed a break from everything. I found a little place in the trees and just felt this peace sitting on the forest floor.”
You’ve also said “You” captures the peacefulness you were experiencing at the moment. How do you hope listeners will feel or what do you hope they will take away when they listen to the track?
I hope the final track just makes people feel lighter. A bit less stressed and maybe inspired. The vocals sort of turned the track into a love song, which was something so cool too, so really I just hope it makes people feel something peaceful!
How did the collaboration with Mammal Sounds Records come about? What’s the synergy like between your musical direction and their vision?
I’ve been a fan of Mammal Sounds and their artists for forever, so it was such an honor to get to work together for “You.” I’ve built this relationship/friendship with the founder Jez over the past year or so, and we’ve been working behind the scenes on the direction for the MarMar project. The synergy is natural and organic and something I’m super grateful for; the general atmosphere of the label and its aesthetic are just so incredible.
“Half of us are writing our music from a place of pain or difficult emotion, so when you need to turn that into a viral video, it gets tough.”
As a young artist, what are your thoughts on the music industry’s current state, especially in terms of digital releases, streaming, and the changing nature of album drops?
Massive question, I could talk about this forever. The music industry is in a very odd place since the advent of short-form content. We’ve all seen this massive shift between artistry speaking for itself with streaming, and this current need to be a digital marketing genius to stand out. I have a lot of love for video content, but I think in a way it has reshaped the music industry. Some record labels won’t even glance at a new artist unless they have a massive following on TikTok now. It’s always been this way; a social following is important, but it’s unique now. It’s interesting because I think the changing nature of all this creates so much frustration among the creative community. Half of us are writing our music from a place of pain or difficult emotion, so when you need to turn that into a viral video, it gets tough.
On Instagram, you’ve expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to make music daily and how it feels like a dream. Beyond your music, what else in life are you particularly grateful for?
Absolutely, I am so thankful for that, it’s truly a dream. I’m so grateful for the ability to be here overseas, to be safe and healthy in this insane world. I am so thankful to have love around me.
