So, Marianna! 

How has your year been? Any highlights?

This year has been a lot of traveling and performing.

I was fortunate enough to play at The Great Escape (UK), as well as being booked for Iceland Airwaves (IS) and Trondheim Calling (NO).

Meanwhile, I've traveled a bit with Jazzygold, as a part of her band and been to other festivals as a part of the delegation. I was asked to be a panelist at this year's Trondheim Calling, which was exciting for me, as well as experience by:Larm (NO) and Reeperbahn (DE). I did those two back-to-back and I think the others were pretty tired and home-sick by the end, but honestly, I could keep going for a couple more festivals...

Earlier this summer, I was surprised to hear that I was chosen as one out of twenty to win the Nordic Music Biz 20 under 30 price. This came as a huge surprise to me and I'm super grateful!

The year started with Vetrarjazz, an annual jazz festival that I arranged as head of the local Jazz organization, Havnar Jazzfelag.

This was also my first year as a part of the G! Festival booking team and the committee for the National Music Association (Tónleikasamband Føroya), where I actively work on bettering conditions for Faroese musicians and people working in the local music industry, as well as planning and arranging the Faroese Music Awards.

All of this has taken up most of the time I've had left this year when I'm not writing and releasing new music, or filming music videos, which is my main focus.

In the Faroe Islands most people know you as an artist, but you´re also working hard as a ´music industry person´. Do you find it difficult to balance the two roles?

Definitely. I think it started out pretty naturally, being self-managed as most Faroese artists are. I started working at Tutl Records three years ago and I've since learned a lot about the industry, but I think the business/practical side of being an artist is definitely a part of my dual personality traits. I'm kinda schizophrenic in that sense... I'm a very creative person naturally, but I also quite like the business side of it, which I don't think is a very likable thing to say I guess, because I feel like I'm supposed to be all "fuck the system" or something. I think in another life I would be a manager and visual content creator for an artist, but for now, I have a lot to say and I want to say it through my own music. It doesn't even really feel like a choice, because I don't think I would be able to give up on either one. One of my main insecurities is being labeled as one thing, so I can spend a lot of time wondering if people only see me as this or that. Living in a small country might contribute a lot to that fear, but I guess that's just life when you're good at everything. (I'm kidding, if that's not obvious)

For now, at least, I'm doing what I want and what I love and that works for now. 

What are the next steps in your artist career?

World domination!

Hehe, I'm working hard right now on my performance for Iceland Airwaves and I decided a couple of weeks ago that it's gonna be my best performance to date. I'm adding it here to strengthen the manifestation. 

I really hope to meet a lot of people in Reykjavik and later on in Trondheim as well, who like my music. I would LOVE a manager soon if I met the right person, as well as live booking. I know I said that I like the industry side, but it really sucks when the artist you're promoting is YOU.

I've been so fortunate to perform at these showcase festivals this year and I'm hoping for a couple more next year, as well as maybe some touring. 

I'm currently working on conceptualizing my debut album (!!!!) which I hope to release in 2024.

And on the music industry side?

My day-to-day is a diverse mix of music and industry work, which I'm sure it will be for a while. I'm hoping to get an opportunity to work for a more established label/publishing in the near future, where I can learn even more and have a daily mentor. I think this will be necessary for not only me but for Tutl Records as well, so we can widen our knowledge, as my daily work includes a lot of learning by doing, and we don't really have a big music industry locally yet.

Winning the 20 under 30 NOMEX prize gave me a really great opportunity to meet so many other youngsters hustling through the Nordic music industry. Some were also artists/musicians and some were just music-lovers. It was amazing to meet other like-minded people and I hope I'll be able to work with them in the future.

Anything else you would like to add?

I'm just really looking forward to performing my brand new set at Iceland Airwaves and Trondheim Calling and I hope to meet many new friends.

Thanks, Marianna! And best of luck with all your upcoming projects!

Thank you so much! I think I learned some more about myself by answering your questions and I hope others can relate to some of it.

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Photo: Aleksandra Milanovic