Today we’d like to introduce you to Marina Swann.
Hi Marina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a singer, songwriter, and music producer, and music is the air I breathe. It has been for as long as I can remember—I’ve always sung and experienced all my emotions through sound and dance. I was born in the crumbling Soviet Union, surrounded by an eclectic mix of music—from folk songs to Madonna, Queen, and Michael Jackson, and from Disney tunes to punk rock. After a not-so-brief pause to earn a living and sort out my life, I made a decision to pursue music on a professional level about five years ago.
I started writing songs and simply never stopped. After I moved to Mar Vista from Hollywood, I enrolled in a vocal class taught by Dr. Selvey at Santa Monica College, which I can’t recommend enough, and then sang in the Jazz Ensemble with them.
Initially, production felt intimidating, but I always wanted more than just an instrument and a voice, so in 2024 I applied for the Music Production program at ICON Collective and got accepted. I graduated just a month ago, and it has been—and continues to be—a wild and wonderful ride.
Currently, I’m working on my first EP: a collection of ethereal, immersive synthpop songs. With my music, I want to blend emotional depth with visceral sensations, allowing listeners space to reflect and reconnect with their bodies. I’m super excited to finally get to share my music with the world.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve been working full-time while studying, so it has felt like quite the bootcamp—proof to myself that I can push extremely far when it comes to music. It’s been no weekends, two-hour commutes, and lunches consisting of vending-machine cup noodles, but I just kept going. Now, after graduation, I eagerly consume information on production and songwriting every day, find tremendous joy collaborating with other artists that I met at school, and have an amazing vocal mentor – Courtney Knott – who helps me strengthen and further develop my voice.
The music journey itself has been a beautiful struggle. It’s a leap of faith, and—as cheesy as it might sound—one must sacrifice a lot to live life the “artist’s way.” This path is vulnerable, embarrassing, heart-wrenching, competitive, devastating, immensely heart-opening, and joyful—all at once. Inevitably, we sometimes fall short of our own expectations and must continually rediscover the fire within ourselves, remaining humble through it all. Music is endless; there aren’t enough hours in a hundred lifetimes to fully explore its depths.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m equally a songwriter, music producer, and vocalist. I mostly make synthpop and organic bass, and I love combining live instruments with electronic elements in my productions. Imagine Sylvan Esso meets Fever Ray meets Alt-J. I also write toplines and record vocals for other artists, and I’m always excited to experiment and collaborate with fellow musicians. I greatly admire artists like Brian Eno and David Byrne for their constant experimentation and for pushing creative boundaries.
What sets me apart is my approach to songwriting and production. I craft immersive, cinematic soundscapes, merging them with abstract, evocative, and emotional storytelling. My soprano voice has a distinctive Scandinavian flavor, giving my music a unique sound. I play guitar and piano, and typically compose everything at the piano. Another passion of mine is performing live, and I’m eager to do more of it this year. I have a high sense of visual aesthetics because of my 20-year background as a Visual Designer, and I aim to involve more visual elements in my productions.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success to me, above all, means being able to make music all day, every day. I’m fortunate enough to already dedicate time daily to music, though I currently balance this passion with my day job as a Staff Designer at a creative agency. Ultimately, my dream is to fully develop my own artist project, collaborate with many talented people, regularly perform on stage with a live band, and someday compose movie scores and soundtracks for contemporary dance performances. I trust that music will guide me exactly where I’m meant to be.
The ultimate success would be reaching a level where I can meaningfully give back to the music community—organizing songwriting retreats and providing a supportive space for musicians who are just starting their journey.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marina__swann
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/marina-swann
Image Credits
Seth Godwin
Ruslan Saitov
Brien Swann
